Plant-Derived Nanovesicles: A Next-Generation Therapeutic Platform for Targeted Drug Delivery in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer, Parkinson and Huntington are becoming a growing health burden worldwide with few treatment options because of difficulties across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and to deliver the therapeutic agent to the target location. Plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) have recently become a new and promising nanocarrier due to their innate biocompatibility, reduced immunogenicity, and stability, as well as their natural encapsulation and transportation capacity of bioactive molecules. This is a review that empirically examines the current developments in isolation, characterization, and functionalization of PDNVs as a target-delivery vehicle in neurodegenerative diseases. Particular attention is given to their ability to cross-physiological barriers and react with neuronal cells and administer therapeutic agents in a high specificity and low toxicity. We also emphasize on the mechanisms of neuroprotection by PDNV, recent in vitro and in vivo, and existing limitations and challenges. Lastly, we suggest future research direction to bring PDNV-based therapeutics to the bench to the bedside, and in particular, scalable production, regulatory implications and clinical implementation.