NANOTECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED DELIVERY AND BIOACTIVITY OF NATURAL PRODUCTS

The therapeutic potential of natural products is often severely limited by poor bioavailability, low aqueous solubility, rapid metabolism, and inadequate tissue distribution. Nanotechnology-based delivery systems have emerged as transformative strategies for overcoming these fundamental limitations, thereby enhancing the bioactivity and therapeutic efficacy of natural compounds. This review comprehensively examines the application of nanotechnology for natural product delivery, focusing on three major classes of nanocarriers: lipid-based nanoparticles (liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, and nanoemulsions), polymeric carriers (synthetic biodegradable polymers, natural polymers, and polymeric micelles), and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). We critically evaluate the design principles, formulation strategies, and performance characteristics of these nanocarriers for encapsulating natural products including curcumin, resveratrol, paclitaxel, quercetin, and various polyphenols. Furthermore, we assess the impact of nanocarriers on bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and therapeutic outcomes in preclinical models of cancer, inflammatory diseases, and other disorders. Despite significant advances, challenges including scale-up, long-term stability, and regulatory approval persist. This review identifies critical research gaps and discusses future directions for optimizing nanotechnology-based natural product delivery.