Enhancing Phytocompound Bioavailability Via Lipid Nanocarriers for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Despite the reported anticancer activities of phytocompounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, and quercetin, their clinical application remains limited. Therefore, since the invention of lipid-based nanoparticles (LBNPs), they were used to deliver low bioavailable bioactive compounds. Many types of lipid NPs emerged such as liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and phytosomes. Engineered LBNPs provide controlled drug release, enhance accumulation at tumor sites through passive or active targeting mechanisms. This review discusses recent advances in LBNP delivery for phytocompounds, with emphasis on preparation methods, physicochemical characterization, and application examples. This review focuses on limitations of clinical translation, including the absence of standardized formulation procedures, inconsistent reporting of critical quality attributes, insufficient long-term safety data, manufacturing challenges, and regulatory requirements. In conclusion, LBNP toxicity and biodistribution depend on formulation characteristics, dose, biological environment, and administration route, and that active targeting may improve selectivity but does not completely eliminate off-target distribution or exposure to healthy tissues.