Nutraceuticals: definition, applied nanoengineering in their production and applications

Abstract

Background: Nutraceuticals can be defined as nutritional components that provide therapeutic or physiological benefits beyond the basic nutritional needs and include a wide range of compounds. However, they show very low bioavailability due to limited bioaccessibility, poor absorption and/or chemical transformation within the gastrointestinal tract. This renders their health benefits extremely difficult to be realized by the consumers. The present review shows the nanoengineering process involved in their production, starting from the materials used in the encapsulation, the process of nanoencapsulation, the principal encapsulation techniques used and the function of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins at the nanoencapsulation. Besides, this review gives the recent innovations and applications known using nutraceuticals.

Nutraceutical Concepts and Dextrin-Based Delivery Systems

“…The field of nanotechnology, through the efficacy of nano-drug delivery systems, is contributing to every walk of life improving the bioavailability, biocompatibility, solubility, drug loading efficacy, and surface modifications of bioactive and chemical molecules [219]. The application of nanotechnology in health care is extensively adopted as a robust driver of biomedical novelty [220]. probiotics, polyunsaturated fatty acids, melatonin, have shown promising results for the management of osteoporosis [215,216].…”

“…As the properties of nutraceuticals such as encapsulation, release capacity, bioavailability and biocompatibility, solubility are challenges still to be overcome, nanotechnology has involved the design and development of organic and inorganic materials at the nano scale, with tailor-made physical, chemical, and biological properties [220]. Many scientists, when designing various delivery systems, utilized approaches such as protection of labile compounds, extension of gastric retention time, controlled/delayed-release, lymphatic uptake facilitation, intestinal permeability enhancement, and modulation of metabolic activities for an optimum nutraceutical delivery system [236].…”

Emerging Nanopharmaceuticals and Nanonutraceuticals in Cancer Management

“…Table 3 is a comprehensive list of phytochemicals that have been nano-formulated and studied in the corresponding cancer models. Moving forward, this subgroup of nanomedicine has great potential for growth because the major limiting characteristics of nutraceuticals, such as poor bioavailability and limited absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, can be overcome [99]. As the trend of seeking natural alternatives for prescription medications continues to grow, the younger, less-explored field of nanonutraceuticals may prove to be the lowest hanging fruit of all.…”