Self-Assembled Aggregated Structures of Natural Products for Oral Drug Delivery

Abstract

Qiyuan Zhong,1,* Jingqi Zeng,1,* Xiaobin Jia1,2 1School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiaobin Jia, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Jiangning District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: The self-assembling aggregated structures of natural products have gained significant interest due to their simple synthesis, lack of carrier-related toxicity, and excellent biological efficacy. However, the mechanisms of their assembly and their ability to traverse the gastrointestinal (GI) barrier remain unclear. This review summarizes various intermolecular non-covalent interactions and aggregated structures, drawing on research indexed in Web of Science from 2010 to 2024. Cheminformatics analysis of the self-assembly behaviors of natural small molecules and their supramolecular aggregates reveals assembly-favorable conditions, aiding drug formulation. Additionally, the review explores the self-assembly properties of macromolecules like polysaccharides, proteins, and exosomes, highlighting their role in drug delivery. Strategies to overcome gastrointestinal barriers and enhance drug bioavailability are also discussed. This work underscores the potential of natural products in oral drug delivery and offers insights for designing more effective drug delivery systems. Keywords: natural products, self-assembly, aggregated structures, supramolecules, oral drug delivery, gastrointestinal barrier

Keywords

• natural products
• self-assembly
• aggregated structures
• supramolecules
• oral drug delivery
• gastrointestinal barrier