Bioactive Supermolecules: The Promising Assemblies Presented in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Rooted in Eastern philosophy and culture, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has safeguarded human health for millennia and remains a vital source for novel drug discovery. Notably, supramolecular nanostructures, spontaneously formed through non-covalent interactions among multiple bioactive components, have been identified in TCM and show significant therapeutic potential. These supramolecules exhibit unique therapeutic advantages by improving the aqueous solubility of lipophilic bioactive constituents and demonstrating synergistic pharmacological effects with reduced toxicity profiles. This review consolidates recent advances in three categories of supramolecular nanoplatforms, focusing on: (1) self-assembled nanoaggregates from TCM decoction, (2) self-assembled carbonized nanoarchitectures from Chinese carbonized drugs, and (3) self-assembled extracellular vesicle-like nanoparticles from Chinese fresh herbs. This paper mainly introduces the nanoplatforms' morphology, self-assembled mechanisms, and pharmacological activities of these supramolecules. Bioactive supramolecular assemblies derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offer novel insights into TCM's material foundation and present potential therapeutic alternatives for disease treatment, thereby advancing TCM modernization efforts.