Lipid- and Polymer-Based Nanoscale Delivery of Anti-Aging Phytochemicals

Recently, nano-scale delivery approaches have been a field of focus to improve the limitations regarding current traditional delivery systems of phytochemicals to treat age-related disorders. Nanotechnology can help to overcome both the large and small-scale barriers associated with traditional drug and vitamin delivery techniques, such as poor biodistribution, instability, and intracellular trafficking, through cell-targeting and other methods. The main forms of nano-drug delivery systems can be classified under lipid-based nanocarrier systems, polymer-based nanocarrier systems, and inorganic carriers. This report focuses on the former two by presenting a comparative review of the advantages and disadvantages of each platform for the oral delivery of phytochemical-encapsulated drugs to treat age-related disorders. Nano-drug delivery systems were found to increase the anti-aging activities of curcumin, fisetin, quercetin, and astaxanthin. A variety of in vivo and in vitro studies show that nano-scale encapsulation methods have the potential to improve the delivery and bioactivity of anti-aging phytochemicals. This article is categorized under: Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Lipid-Based Structures Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.