Phytonanomedicines, a state-of-the-art strategy for targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals: A review of improved pharmacokinetic profile and therapeutic efficacy

Owing to their eco-friendliness, natural abundance, cost-effectiveness, and organic nature, numerous phytochemicals are being traditionally used for treatment of different diseases. Despite their great potency, clinical translation of phytoconstituents is constrained due to their intrinsic physicochemical properties (i.e., low aqueous solubility, low permeation coefficient, and chemical instability), poor bioavailability, short plasma half-life, and ultimate sub-therapeutic efficacy. To mitigate these shortcomings, nanotechnology has been employed in the past few decades. In this review, we have mainly focused on significance of different nanodelivery systems in improving the physicochemical properties and targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals for treatment of inflammatory diseases. The encapsulation of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals in various nanodelivery systems (phytonanomedicine) has resulted in significant improvement in physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, pharmacokinetic profile, and therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, many recent adaptations including, PEGylation, surface functionalization with targeting ligand(s), and stimuli-responsive behavior of phytonanomedicines have also been pondered to maximize targeted biodistribution, cell uptake efficiency, prolonged localization, and therapeutic efficacy. Convincingly, phytonanomedicines have modernized therapeutic value of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals for treatment of various inflammatory disorders; however, one of the restrictions to clinical translation of phytonanomedicines is lacking of substantial evidences on their prerequisite safety and efficacy in human which needs further exploration.