Affiliation: | 1. Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 81746-73461 Iran;2. School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2052 Australia;3. Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000 Viet Nam Faculty of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000 Viet Nam;4. Laboratoire de Chimie verte et Produits Biobasés, Haute Ecole Provinciale de Hainaut-Condorcet, Département AgroBioscience et Chimie, 11, Rue de la Sucrerie, 7800 ATH, Belgium Department of Applied Biology, University of Science and Technology, Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya, 793101 India;5. Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, L.J. Institute of Pharmacy, L J University, Ahmedabad, 382210 India Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, S.G. Highway, Chharodi, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 382481 India;6. Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, L.J. Institute of Pharmacy, L J University, Ahmedabad, 382210 India;7. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 81746-73461 Iran;8. Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical, Isfahan, 81746-73461 Iran;9. Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 81746-73461 Iran |
Abstract: | Cancer is the second leading cause of death throughout the world. Nature-inspired anticancer agents (NAAs) that are a gift of nature to humanity have been extensively utilized in the alleviation/prevention of the disease due to their numerous pharmacological activities. While the oral route is an ideal and common way of drug administration, the application of NAAs through the oral pathway has been extremely limited owing to their inherent features, e.g., poor solubility, gastrointestinal (GI) instability, and low bioavailability. With the development of nano-driven encapsulation strategies, polymeric vehicles, especially those with natural origins, have demonstrated a potent platform, which can professionally shield versatile NAAs against GI barricades and safely deliver them to the site of action. In this review, the predicament of orally delivering NAAs and the encapsulation strategy solutions based on biopolymer matrices are summarized. Proof-of-concept in vitro/in vivo results are also discussed for oral delivery of these agents by various biopolymer vehicles, which can be found so far from the literature. Last but not the least, the challenges and new opportunities in the field are highlighted. |