An Evaluation of the Integration of Advanced Nanotechnology in Medicinal Plants

Nanoparticles are synthetic polymers with a very narrow range of one gauge to one hundred gauges that are both biocompatible and biodegradable [1]. Lipids, polymers, or nanoemulsions form the foundation of nanoparticles [2]. Nanoparticles are mostly transported via biodegradable high molecular polymers, both natural and synthetic [3]. The former usually includes polyvinyl alcohol, polylactic acid, polylactic-glycolic acid, poly-α- cyanoacrylate alkyl esters, and so forth. Polysaccharides (cellulose, starch and its derivatives, alginate, chitin and chitosan) and proteins (albumin, gelatin, and vegetable protein) are the two categories into which the latter are usually divided. A rapidly expanding field of study, nanotechnology deals with the creation and application of nanoparticles, which are gauged by pressure. Currently, numerous treatments are protracted and costly [4].

The integration of nanotechnology in herbal medicine facilitates the development of expedited and economical treatment modalities. Nanoparticle-sized pharmaceuticals enhance their overall surface area, promoting rapid dissolution in systemic circulation and reducing toxicity without compromising therapeutic efficacy [5]. Nanoparticles can traverse the Blood- Brain Barrier (BBB) due to their enhanced penetration and retention capabilities. Typically, herbal medicines exert effects throughout the body before reaching the targeted area [6]. However, nanotechnology-based herbal remedies can be directed to specific sites, thereby augmenting their efficacy and minimizing adverse side effects [7]. The two principal research domains where nanotechnology could prove most beneficial are targeted phytotherapy and methodologies for early disease detection.

Utilizing nanotechnology mechanisms for phytotherapy

Developing a medication delivery system that mitigates the adverse side effects of a natural medicine in vivo while augmenting its therapeutic efficacy is a formidable task [8]. In herbal medicine, these challenging tasks can be accomplished by the utilization of nanosystems [9]. Nanomaterials are commonly utilized in herbal medicine delivery due to their ability to enhance the solubility of compounds in herbal formulations and facilitate targeted or controlled drug administration. They are employed in cancer treatment, gene delivery, asthma inhalers, cutaneous and ophthalmic medication administration, oral and vaccine delivery systems, and hormone delivery [10]. Biological assays, microfluidics (manipulation of micro or nanoliter fluids), nano and micro electromechanical systems (NEMS/MEMS), and microarrays exemplify nanoscale devices known as nanodevices [11]. Biosensors and detectors are valuable instruments for identifying various biohazards and pathogenic bacteria [12]. Certain intelligent devices encompass DNA, proteins, cells, and antibodies as samples [13].

Classification of nanosystems employed in medicinal plants

An ethosome is a distinctive liposome that can be administered topically and transdermally. The encapsulation efficiency and deformability of entrapments enable their complete penetration into the skin, hence enhancing transdermal transport. Ethosomes are lipid vesicles characterized by a somewhat elevated concentration of alcohol (ethanol or isopropyl alcohol) in comparison to water and phospholipids. Numerous drugs have been asserted to be more effectively administered transdermally when encapsulated in ether. Furthermore, penetration enhancers such as propylene glycol have been used into the formulation of ethosomes, which have exhibited enhanced penetration efficacy. Age-activating agents, including sodium cholate and ethanol, when incorporated into lipid bilayers, markedly enhance the penetration of carriers through the stratum corneum, thereby promoting the effective distribution of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic herbal drugs (locally and systemically)..

Based on their physical properties and chemical composition, ethosomes are highly effective in delivering herbal medications into the deeper layers of the skin or into the bloodstream by traversing the stratum corneum. Thisproperty is essential as a transdermal delivery mechanism and topical medicine carrier. Furthermore, the ethosomal carrier can proficiently transport both hydrophilic and lipophilic pharmaceuticals into cells. Ethosomes have demonstrated efficacy as transport mechanisms in the transdermal zone. A range of excipients, such as phospholipids, polyglycol, alcohol, cholesterol, colorants, and carriers, are employed in the ethosomal formulation. Ethosomes exhibit a superior transdermal penetration rate compared to liposomes, attributed to the synergistic effect of phospholipids and the increased ethanol concentration in ethosomes. Figure 1 depicts the classification of nanosystems employed in medicinal plants with benefits of nano natural remedies in modern world.

Figure 1: Classification of nano-systems employed in medicinal plants with benefits.

A heterogeneous mixture of two distinct liquids, one of which disperses into the other as droplets and the other of which is used to disperse the other as a continuous phase, is called an emulsion. It appears as a transparent to translucent liquid. Sub-micro-emulsions (100-600nm), micro-emulsions (10-100nm), and general emulsions (0.1-100μm) are the three categories of emulsions. The micro-emulsion is also referred to as a nanoemulsion, and the submicro- emulsion is another name for the lipid emulsion. The in vivo drug distribution happens in a focused manner following the injection of herbal extract via nano emulsion due to its affinity for the lymph. Additionally, the therapeutically active component of a nanoemulsion stays in the interior segment.

Two key benefits of that formulation are that there is no possibility of direct contact between the therapeutically active ingredient and the body or tissue fluid, and that the therapeutically active ingredient is released over an extended period of time. Once more, lipid-loving, oily, medicinally active herbal extracts are used to formulate O/W or O/W/O emulsions, which causes macrophages to phagocytose the oil globules. Thus, high amounts of the herbal extracts can enter the liver, spleen, and kidney, where a significant amount dissolves. Once more, hydrophilic herbal extracts that are prepared as W/O or W/O/W emulsions can effectively concentrate in the lymphatic system when injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously. The size of the emulsion particle influences its target dispersion.

Colloids that contain particles with sizes ranging from 10nm to 1000nm are referred to as polymeric nanoparticles, and the colloid itself is referred to as a nanoemulsion [14]. The mean particle size of the nanoparticles in this case is noticeably greater than 100nm. Nanoparticles in submicronic colloidal systems is another term for polymeric nanoparticles. The medicinally active plant extract in herbal polymeric nanoparticles is dispersed throughout the particles of the matrix-like structure of the nanosphere. The active substance is thus confined within the polymeric membrane of the nanocapsule. The polymeric nanoparticles’ passive tumor targeting properties make them an effective herbal drug administration system for herbal medicines, increasing therapeutic activity and reducing side effects of plant-derived cancer-healing pharmaceuticals.

Furthermore, the development of multifunctional nanoparticle systems for cancer treatment is made possible by the ability of nanoparticles to selectively collect in and around tumor masses, which provides a platform for improved tumor identification. The two types of polymeric nanoparticles are nanospheres and nanocapsules. Their size ranges from 10 to 500nm, making them colloidal solid matter. These nanoparticles guarantee this due to their inherent characteristics, which include an alternative to nanosystems, they are biodegradable, non-toxic, immunogenic, and biocompatible.

Microspheres represent an advanced formulation that has achieved considerable success in medication administration due to the various factors. This formulation is highly suitable for injection or oral ingestion. It allows for the anticipated release rate of medication. It is straightforward to formulate, as the release of medication occurs at specific sites and is contingent upon conditions within particular organs. Numerous active constituents from plants are utilized to create microspheres, including quercetin, rutin, camptothecin, zedoary oil, tetrandrine, and Cynara scolymus extract. In the contemporary period, the demand for magnetic and immunological microspheres has increased, with polymeric microspheres coated in antibodies and antigens to enhance immune functionality.

Utilizing natural remedies in nanotechnology

New protocols for the shipment of herbal drugs have recently been developed. Plant extracts can be successfully microencapsulated in nanoparticles to stop the deterioration, loss of volatile chemicals, or incomplete reactions of food or medication ingredients. When given as nanoparticles, small doses of herbal medications can exhibit improved absorption and greater solubility. For instance, sinigrin, a glucosinolate from the Brassicaceae family, has improved solubility and bioavailability when it comes to phytosomes. Its therapeutic activity is further enhanced by the sinigrin phytosome.

Another bioactive flavonoid with antioxidant properties is dihydroquercetin, often known as taxifolin. Taxol, a naturally occurring alkaloid derived from the stem bark of the toxic Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.), is a potent anti-cancer drug. The sustained release and bioavailability of the drug are increased by taxel-loaded nanoparticles with an entrapment effectiveness of 99.44%. The paclitaxel-albumin nanoparticle formulation’s altered pharmacokinetic profile makes it more soluble and improves tissue distribution. When given in vitro, paclitaxel liposomes have a 94% entrapment efficiency and are pH sensitive.

Taxifolin can lower the development of cancer cells in the human body and boost immunological function. However, because of their greater molecular size and water-loving nature, taxifolins have limited therapeutic use. However, when the ethyl acetate fraction of taxifolin-which was taken from the stem bark of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don-was prepared as phytosomes, the lipidloving properties of the active ingredients were strengthened. This enhanced the active compound’s ability to penetrate cellular membranes and boost its absorption. Phytosomes demonstrated more antioxidant activity and a lower IC50 value-the dose at which a substance loses half of its maximal inhibitory power-than ethyl acetate. The results of the TB test and the MTT test employing the MCF7 cell line impacted the conclusion that the phytosome dilution showed particular anticancer effect in comparison to the ethyl acetate fraction.

Once more, oral administration of 25 and 50mg/kg of Ginkgoselect phytosomes lowers the rate of Lipid Peroxidation (LPO) and stabilizes ROS, while 120mg of Silybin phytosomes exhibit seven times higher absorption, 150mg of Ginseng phytosomes, and 50-100mg of Green Tea phytosomes also exhibit higher absorption. The antioxidant parameters of blood trap and total radical-trapping are significantly higher in grape seed phytosomes 50-100mg compared to the control. NAR phytosomes 100mg/kg have a longer duration of effect, Hawthorn phytosomes 100mg boost therapeutic efficacy and absorption, Quercetin phytosomes demonstrate superior therapeutic efficacy, and Curcumin phytosomes 360mg/ kg increase antioxidant activity and bioavailability.

There are numerous examples of herbal formulations that have been shown to increase efficacy in the realm of nanoemulsions. When administered orally, a 68.3±1.6nm droplet containing 30% drug-loaded Zedoary essential oil improves oral bioavailability, stability, and aqueous dispersibility, while a 56.80nm droplet containing 0.50% drug-loaded Berberine nanoemulsion prolongs absorption and duration of stay.

A safe and effective way to administer medications is using nanotechnology. One of the greatest delivery systems for herbal medication is based on nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a cutting-edge technology with enormous promise for improving the phytotherapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine. In order to create a safe and effective medicine delivery system, it became imperative in the recent past to integrate nanotechnology into herbal compositions. Some common forms of nanotechnology that are widely and successfully used in herbal formulations include phytosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers, polymeric nanoparticles, nano emulsions, etc. Therefore, using nanotechnology in the field of herbal medicine can solve all issues pertaining to the administration and treatment of herbal drugs while also boosting the potency and therapeutic activity of herbal formulations.

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