Advances in Elemene Nanodelivery Systems: From Material Design to Disease Treatment

ABSTRACT Elemene (ELE) is a bioactive sesquiterpenoid extracted from traditional Chinese herbs, demonstrating broad‐spectrum antitumor, anti‐inflammatory, and analgesic properties with significant therapeutic potential. However, its clinical utility is constrained by inherent physicochemical limitations, including volatility and hydrophobicity, which are inadequately addressed by conventional formulations. Nanoscale drug delivery systems (NDDS) have thus emerged as transformative solutions, not only overcoming these challenges but also enabling targeted tissue accumulation, spatiotemporally controlled release, and synergistic combination therapies through advanced functionalization. This review systematically classifies recent elemene delivery systems (EDS) by synthetic material composition and disease‐specific application domains. The principal EDS platforms encompass liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, microemulsions, two‐dimensional nanomaterials, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, polymeric micelles, hydrogels, and microneedles. Current applications span a diverse range of therapeutic areas, including cancer treatment, management of psoriasis and diabetic ulcers, modulation of gut microbiota, and relief of neuropathic pain. Research efforts in EDS are predominantly concentrated on oncological interventions, with emphasis on overcoming multidrug resistance, suppressing tumor metastasis, enhancing blood–brain barrier penetration of β‐ELE, remodeling the tumor microenvironment, and inducing ferroptosis. Beyond oncology, the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory attributes of β‐ELE are being harnessed for treating inflammatory and metabolic disorders such as psoriasis, diabetic ulcers, and ulcerative colitis. Additionally, its analgesic properties are under investigation for the mitigation of neuropathic pain. Through comparative analysis of material properties and therapeutic mechanisms, we elucidate structure–function relationships governing EDS efficacy and delineate component‐level contributions to biological outcomes. Our review provides a design blueprint for next‐generation EDS development, offering actionable strategies to enhance clinical translation.