Dirir Amina M, Ali Abdelmoneim, Hachem Mayssa
Department of Chemistry, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, 127788, United Arab Emirates.
Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates.
Int J Nanomedicine. 2025 Aug 25;20:10279-10300. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S537566. eCollection 2025.
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, pose a significant and continuous burden on the healthcare system, urging the search for innovative therapeutical approaches targeting the central nervous system. Nowadays, no definitive treatment can effectively modulate the neuronal degeneration associated with such diseases. The current line of therapies is primarily symptomatic and suffers several drawbacks. Among these, phytochemicals are emerging for their potential in the management of neurodegenerative disorders. Indeed, plants produce secondary metabolites that provide defensive functions against abiotic and biotic stresses. These metabolites can target the neurons and represent a promising therapeutic intervention for neurological disorders. However, the polar nature of phytochemicals and their large size hinder their passage through the blood-brain barrier, a selective barrier separating blood and the brain. Emerging studies have shown that the therapeutic efficiency of phytochemicals has been enhanced following their encapsulation with engineered nanocarriers such as lipid nanoparticles. Recent research indicates that delivering phytochemicals through lipid nanoparticles improves their physiological stability, promotes their passage across the blood-brain barrier, and enhances their accumulation in brain tissue-resulting in more effective neuroprotective effects than their free, unencapsulated form. Hence, the aim of the present review is to highlight the application of lipid nanoparticles as carriers for phytoactives with neuroprotective properties, discuss the current challenges associated with such nanocarriers, and provide insights into potential future research work.
神经退行性疾病，包括阿尔茨海默病和帕金森病，给医疗系统带来了巨大且持续的负担，促使人们寻找针对中枢神经系统的创新治疗方法。如今，尚无明确的治疗方法能够有效调节与这些疾病相关的神经元退化。目前的治疗方法主要是对症治疗，且存在诸多缺点。其中，植物化学物质因其在神经退行性疾病管理方面的潜力而崭露头角。事实上，植物会产生次生代谢产物，这些产物具有抵御非生物和生物胁迫的防御功能。这些代谢产物可以作用于神经元，是一种很有前景的神经系统疾病治疗干预手段。然而，植物化学物质的极性性质及其较大的尺寸阻碍了它们穿过血脑屏障，血脑屏障是将血液与大脑分隔开的选择性屏障。新兴研究表明，植物化学物质与脂质纳米颗粒等工程纳米载体包封后，其治疗效果得到了增强。最近的研究表明，通过脂质纳米颗粒递送植物化学物质可提高其生理稳定性，促进其穿过血脑屏障，并增强其在脑组织中的积累，从而产生比游离、未包封形式更有效的神经保护作用。因此，本综述的目的是强调脂质纳米颗粒作为具有神经保护特性的植物活性成分载体的应用，讨论与这类纳米载体相关的当前挑战，并对未来潜在的研究工作提供见解。
