Advances in Phytochemical-based Nanocarrier Approaches for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Challenges and Scope for...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Nanotechnology
• Herbal Medicine and Drug Delivery

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects a significant global population.
• Herbal bioactives show therapeutic potential for RA but face delivery challenges like poor solubility and low bioavailability.
• Current limitations hinder the clinical translation of potent phytoconstituents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and assess novel nanocarrier systems for delivering herbal bioactives in rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
• To summarize research on nano-formulations addressing the limitations of herbal compounds.
• To highlight advancements in preparation methods, in vitro/in vivo applications, and future prospects.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across databases: Science Direct, PubMed, Shodhganga, Google Scholar, and Google Patents.
• Analysis and synthesis of findings related to nanocarrier systems and herbal bioactives for RA.
• Focus on physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic improvements, and clinical relevance.

Main Results:

• Various nanocarrier systems including transferosomes, ethosomes, niosomes, Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN), and Nano Lipid Carriers (NLC) show promise.
• These systems improve aqueous solubility, reduce first-pass metabolism, enhance bioavailability, and enable sustained release.
• Nanocarrier-based herbal formulations demonstrate resistance to enzymatic degradation and improved therapeutic efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Novel nanocarrier systems offer significant advantages for delivering herbal bioactives in RA treatment.
• These advanced delivery systems can overcome physicochemical barriers, leading to improved pharmacological action.
• The development of nano-loaded herbal bioactives represents a promising therapeutic strategy for rheumatoid arthritis.