Potential Applications of Natural Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine Delivery via Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Guogang Lai,1,* Hao Wu,2,* Kaixia Yang,1 Kaikai Hu,1 Wen Zhao,1 Xiao Chen,1 Jiayi Li,1 Haifeng Wang,1 Zhongyue Lv,1 Guomin Xie,1 Xiping Wu1 1Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Ningbo In...

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Main Authors: Lai G, Wu H, Yang K, Hu K, Zhao W, Chen X, Li J, Wang H, Lv Z, Xie G, Wu X
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-06-01
Series:International Journal of Nanomedicine
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/potential-applications-of-natural-components-of-traditional-chinese-me-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN
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author Lai G
Wu H
Yang K
Hu K
Zhao W
Chen X
Li J
Wang H
Lv Z
Xie G
Wu X
author_facet Lai G
Wu H
Yang K
Hu K
Zhao W
Chen X
Li J
Wang H
Lv Z
Xie G
Wu X
author_sort Lai G
collection DOAJ
description Guogang Lai,1,* Hao Wu,2,* Kaixia Yang,1 Kaikai Hu,1 Wen Zhao,1 Xiao Chen,1 Jiayi Li,1 Haifeng Wang,1 Zhongyue Lv,1 Guomin Xie,1 Xiping Wu1 1Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiping Wu; Guomin Xie, Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13989315307 ; +86 13957881339, Email wxpdoudou@163.com; drxie01@qq.comAbstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a primary neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by amyloid-β plaques and tau hyperphosphorylation-induced neurofibrillary tangles. Current treatments only alleviate symptoms, and Aβ monoclonal antibodies raise safety concerns in clinical use. Natural components (NCs) of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) (eg, curcumin, quercetin, berberine, resveratrol) exhibit multi-target neuroprotective effects in AD, but poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and low bioavailability limit clinical use. Recent strategies to enhance TCM delivery include NP-based nanoparticle (NP) drug delivery systems (NDDS), structural modifications, and combination therapies. NDDS demonstrate superior performance in enabling brain-targeting delivery via passive (paracellular/transcellular) and active (adsorption-/receptor-/carrier-mediated transcytosis) approaches, improving NCs’ stability, controlled release, and bioavailability. With NCs of TCM delivery via NDDS, it is possible to develop intelligent therapeutic systems that combine multi-target regulation with precise drug delivery. This review summarizes the diverse neuroprotective effects of NCs of TCM in AD treatment and discusses the commonly used types of NPs for AD therapy. It particularly focuses on these NCs of TCM delivery via NDDS, covering aspects such as NPs types, fabrication techniques, characteristics, administration routes, and advantages. Finally, the challenges and potential solutions for NCs of TCM were examined, along with comparative advantages and limitations among different NPs and future research directions. Collectively, NCs of TCM delivery via NDDS demonstrate promising therapeutic potential for AD treatment. Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Traditional Chinese Medicine, natural components, nanoparticle drug delivery systems
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spelling doaj-art-63b5d61b54ac4ed197b0081526ff9d7e2025-08-20T03:26:57ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of Nanomedicine1178-20132025-06-01Volume 20Issue 177817810103991Potential Applications of Natural Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine Delivery via Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s DiseaseLai G0Wu H1Yang K2Hu K3Zhao W4Chen X5Li JWang H6Lv Z7Xie G8Wu X9Department of NeurologyNingbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and EngineeringDepartment of NeurologyDepartment of NeurologyDepartment of NeurologyDepartment of NeurologyDepartment of NeurologyDepartment of NeurologyDepartment of NeurologyDepartment of NeurologyGuogang Lai,1,* Hao Wu,2,* Kaixia Yang,1 Kaikai Hu,1 Wen Zhao,1 Xiao Chen,1 Jiayi Li,1 Haifeng Wang,1 Zhongyue Lv,1 Guomin Xie,1 Xiping Wu1 1Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiping Wu; Guomin Xie, Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13989315307 ; +86 13957881339, Email wxpdoudou@163.com; drxie01@qq.comAbstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a primary neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by amyloid-β plaques and tau hyperphosphorylation-induced neurofibrillary tangles. Current treatments only alleviate symptoms, and Aβ monoclonal antibodies raise safety concerns in clinical use. Natural components (NCs) of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) (eg, curcumin, quercetin, berberine, resveratrol) exhibit multi-target neuroprotective effects in AD, but poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and low bioavailability limit clinical use. Recent strategies to enhance TCM delivery include NP-based nanoparticle (NP) drug delivery systems (NDDS), structural modifications, and combination therapies. NDDS demonstrate superior performance in enabling brain-targeting delivery via passive (paracellular/transcellular) and active (adsorption-/receptor-/carrier-mediated transcytosis) approaches, improving NCs’ stability, controlled release, and bioavailability. With NCs of TCM delivery via NDDS, it is possible to develop intelligent therapeutic systems that combine multi-target regulation with precise drug delivery. This review summarizes the diverse neuroprotective effects of NCs of TCM in AD treatment and discusses the commonly used types of NPs for AD therapy. It particularly focuses on these NCs of TCM delivery via NDDS, covering aspects such as NPs types, fabrication techniques, characteristics, administration routes, and advantages. Finally, the challenges and potential solutions for NCs of TCM were examined, along with comparative advantages and limitations among different NPs and future research directions. Collectively, NCs of TCM delivery via NDDS demonstrate promising therapeutic potential for AD treatment. Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Traditional Chinese Medicine, natural components, nanoparticle drug delivery systemshttps://www.dovepress.com/potential-applications-of-natural-components-of-traditional-chinese-me-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJNAlzheimer's DiseaseTraditional Chinese MedicineNatural ComponentsNanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems
spellingShingle Lai G
Wu H
Yang K
Hu K
Zhao W
Chen X
Li J
Wang H
Lv Z
Xie G
Wu X
Potential Applications of Natural Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine Delivery via Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
International Journal of Nanomedicine
Alzheimer's Disease
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Natural Components
Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems
title Potential Applications of Natural Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine Delivery via Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
title_full Potential Applications of Natural Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine Delivery via Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
title_fullStr Potential Applications of Natural Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine Delivery via Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
title_full_unstemmed Potential Applications of Natural Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine Delivery via Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
title_short Potential Applications of Natural Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine Delivery via Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
title_sort potential applications of natural components of traditional chinese medicine delivery via nanoparticle drug delivery systems in the treatment of alzheimer amp rsquo s disease
topic Alzheimer's Disease
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Natural Components
Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems
url https://www.dovepress.com/potential-applications-of-natural-components-of-traditional-chinese-me-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN
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