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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
07:34
Use of Animal Model of Sepsis to Evaluate Novel Herbal Therapies
Published on: April 11, 2012
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Emerging biomedical applications of herbal extracts-based biomaterials
Jianling Mo1, Haolu Shi2, Kefeng Ren2,3
1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China.
Biointerphases
|August 6, 2025
Summary
Bioactive herbal extracts combined with advanced biomaterials like nanoparticles and hydrogels improve drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy. This integration addresses challenges in solubility, bioavailability, and targeting for enhanced clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Natural Products Chemistry
- Biomaterials Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Bioactive herbal extracts offer multitarget regulation and low toxicity but face clinical limitations due to poor solubility, bioavailability, and targeting.
- Key bioactive components include terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the pharmacological properties of herbal extracts.
- To explore synergistic integration of herbal extracts with biomaterials for improved therapeutic delivery.
- To highlight advancements in nanoparticle, microneedle, and hydrogel delivery systems.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of literature on herbal extracts and biomaterial integration.
- Analysis of functionalized nanocarriers, microneedle technology, and smart hydrogels.
- Examination of applications in antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and tissue repair therapies.
Main Results:
- Nanocarriers enhance stability and targeting of extracts like paclitaxel and berberine.
- Microneedles enable efficient transdermal delivery of agents such as curcumin.
- Smart hydrogels provide precise release for wound healing and osteoarthritis treatment.
- Integration with stents and bone cement shows potential in cardiovascular and bone regeneration.
Conclusions:
- Integrated systems demonstrate synergistic effects in various therapeutic areas.
- Challenges include scalable manufacturing, in vivo mechanisms, and long-term biosafety.
- Future research requires integrated smart biomaterial design and multiomics for a "component-carrier-efficacy" framework.
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