Smart and Sustainable Drug Delivery of Herbal Bioactives: Green Nanotechnology, Phytosomes, Responsive Hydrogels and Biopolymeric Excipients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64882/ijrt.v12.i3.1778Keywords:
Herbal bioactives, Green nanotechnology, Phytosomes, Responsive hydrogels, Biopolymeric excipients, Sustainable drug delivery, Nanophytomedicine, Controlled releaseAbstract
The increasing therapeutic interest in herbal bioactives has highlighted the need for advanced drug delivery approaches capable of overcoming poor solubility, instability, limited bioavailability and uncontrolled release. This review examines smart and sustainable strategies for improving the pharmaceutical delivery of plant-derived bioactive compounds, with particular emphasis on green nanotechnology, phytosomes, responsive hydrogels and biopolymeric excipients. The reviewed literature indicates that green nanotechnology can facilitate the synthesis of functional nanoparticles using plant-derived reducing and stabilising agents, potentially reducing dependence on hazardous chemical reagents. Phytosomal systems can improve the membrane compatibility, absorption and bioavailability of poorly soluble phytoconstituents through phospholipid complexation. Responsive hydrogels provide controlled and stimulus-dependent release, while natural polymers such as chitosan, alginate, cellulose and gelatin offer biodegradable matrices for advanced delivery systems. The integration of these technologies provides opportunities to improve therapeutic efficiency while addressing environmental considerations associated with pharmaceutical formulation. However, variability in herbal extracts, formulation reproducibility, nanoparticle toxicity, scalability, stability and regulatory requirements remain important challenges. Overall, smart and sustainable delivery platforms represent a promising direction for translating herbal bioactives into more effective, controlled and environmentally responsible pharmaceutical formulations.
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