Research progress of Astaxanthin nano-based drug delivery system: Applications, prospects and challenges?

Astaxanthin (ASX) is a kind of carotenoid widely distributed in nature, which has been shown to extremely strong antioxidative effects and significant preventive and therapeutic effects on cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. However, its application in the medical field is greatly limited due to its poor water solubility, unstable chemical properties and other shortcomings. In recent years, the nano-based drug delivery systems such as nanoparticles, liposomes, nanoemulsions, nanodispersions, and polymer micelles, have been used as Astaxanthin delivery carriers with great potential for clinical applications, which have been proved that they can enhance the stability and efficacy of Astaxanthin and achieve targeted delivery of Astaxanthin. Herein, based on the pharmacological effects of Astaxanthin, we reviewed the characteristics of various drug delivery carriers, which is of great significance for improving the bioavailability of Astaxanthin.