Rational Design of Ferritin Nanomaterials for the Delivery of Phytochemicals with Health-Promoting Effect

Natural phytochemicals possess remarkable bioactivity, yet their practical application in functional foods is severely hindered by their poor aqueous solubility, environmental instability, and low oral bioavailability. Cage-structured proteins, particularly ferritin, have emerged as cutting-edge nanovehicles because of their unique reversible self-assembly, superior biocompatibility, and structural versatility, offering a promising platform for targeted nutrient delivery. This Review systematically summarizes the physicochemical foundations and structural engineering of ferritin-based nanocarriers. We highlight the rational construction of diverse delivery systems, detailing encapsulation modes ranging from single loading to complex co-encapsulation and compartmentalized designs. Furthermore, we evaluated the efficacy of these nanocomposites in health-promoting applications. This work provides a state-of-the-art overview of ferritin-based nanocarriers for encapsulation, which offers critical insights into the rational design and development of novel phytochemical-fortified functional foods.