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