HARNESSING NANOTECHNOLOGY TO DELIVER DIETARY BIOACTIVES FOR CANCER PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION

Abstract

As the global cancer burden is overwhelming, there is an urgent need to shift the paradigm and shift towards proactive cancer prevention in which dietary bioactives such as curcumin, resveratrol and EGCG have a large potential. These natural compounds have been shown to possess strong chemopreventive effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative effects. Nonetheless, they have severe clinical translational constraints due to severe biopharmaceutical limitations, which include low aqueous solubility, inadequate chemical stability in the gastrointestinal tract, and extensive pre-systemic metabolism. All these obstacles lead to zero systemic bioavailability and sub-therapeutic efficacy. Nanotechnology has become a revolution, and man has utilized the use of engineered delivery systems, such as lipid-based nanoparticles, polymeric carriers, and nanoemulsions to deal with these challenges. These novel systems are able to ensure that bioactive payloads are not degraded, greatly increase the absorption by the intestines and provide ways of delivering cargo to tissues precisely. This review critically analyzes the fact that nanoformulations significantly enhance cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking, which enhances the modulation of important oncogenic signaling pathways and induces apoptosis. Also, it compiles strong evidence of preclinical evidence of superior anticancer activity and addresses the essential safety, toxicological, and regulatory requirements in clinical translation. The future perspective implies the evolution of intelligent and stimuli-reactive solutions and the fusion of these platforms with personal nutrition. To conclude, the practical application of nanotechnology is a breakthrough moment because it has changed the food ingredients of bioactives into a highly absorbed substance into a purposeful, effective, and active ingredient to prevent cancer and reduce health-related issues.