Green Nanotechnology: Chitosan Nanoparticles for Delivery of MedicinalPlant Extracts and Their Biomedical Impact

Chitosan Nanoparticles (CHNPs) have emerged as a promising nanocarrier system for the delivery of medicinal plant extracts, owing to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and mucoadhesive properties. This review outlines the eco-friendly synthesis approaches of CHNPs and their role in enhancing the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of plant-derived bioactives. Encapsulation of phytoconstituents in CHNPs significantly improves their solubility, stability, and bioavailability, and enables site-specific, controlled drug release. Plant-extract-loaded CHNPs have demonstrated broad-spectrum pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory effects. Additionally, CHNPs are being explored for wound healing, vaccine delivery, and cancer therapeutics. Despite certain formulation and scalability challenges, CHNPs represent a sustainable and versatile strategy for herbal drug delivery. Future perspectives focus on advanced functionalization and clinical translation, integrating traditional phytotherapy with modern nanomedicine.