Phytochemical nanoencapsulation and microfluidics drive gene and tumor microenvironment modulation

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Phytochemicals possess anticancer properties but suffer from poor bioavailability and limited tumor targeting.
• Nanoencapsulation enhances phytochemical stability, solubility, and targeted delivery, improving therapeutic outcomes and reducing toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in nanoscale phytochemical delivery systems for cancer therapy.
• To highlight the role of microfluidics in fabricating and evaluating these nanocarriers.

Main Methods:

• Review of lipid-based, polymeric, hybrid, and biogenic nanocarriers for phytochemical delivery.
• Discussion of microfluidic platforms for precise nanocarrier fabrication and biomimetic testing.

Main Results:

• Nanoscale delivery systems, including lipid-based and polymeric nanocarriers, improve phytochemical biodistribution and cellular uptake.
• Microfluidics enables reproducible fabrication of phytochemical nanocarriers and advanced preclinical testing in biomimetic models.

Conclusions:

• Integrating nanotechnology and microfluidics offers a promising strategy for developing effective and safe phytochemical-based cancer therapies.
• Further research is needed to address challenges in scale-up, standardization, and comprehensive pharmacokinetic/toxicological data.