Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Honokiol: Enhancing Therapeutic Potential and Overcoming Limitations

Abstract

Jing Yang,1,2,* Jinlu Shang,1,2,* Liuxuan Yang,1,2,* Daiqing Wei,3 Xia Wang,1 Qinmin Deng,2 Zhirong Zhong,4 Yun Ye,1 Meiling Zhou1 1Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Meiling Zhou, Email [email protected]: Honokiol (HNK) is a small-molecule polyphenol that has garnered considerable attention due to its diverse pharmacological properties, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-obesity effects. However, its clinical application is restricted by challenges such as low solubility, poor bioavailability, and rapid metabolism. To overcome these limitations, researchers have developed a variety of nano-formulations for HNK delivery. These nano-formulations offer advantages such as enhanced solubility, improved bioavailability, extended circulation time, and targeted drug delivery. However, existing reviews of HNK primarily focus on its clinical and pharmacological features, leaving a gap in the comprehensive evaluation of HNK delivery systems based on nanotechnology. This paper aims to bridge this gap by comprehensively reviewing different types of nanomaterials used for HNK delivery over the past 15 years. These materials encompass vesicle delivery systems, nanoparticles, polymer micelles, nanogels, and various other nanocarriers. The paper details various HNK nano-delivery strategies and summarizes their latest applications, development prospects, and future challenges. To compile this review, we conducted an extensive search using keywords such as “honokiol”, “nanotechnology”, and “drug delivery system” on reputable databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, covering the period from 2008 to 2023. Through this search, we identified and selected approximately 90 articles that met our specific criteria. Keywords: honokiol, nanotechnology, drug delivery, targeting, antitumor, bioavailability

Keywords

• honokiol
• nanotechnology
• drug delivery
• targeting
• antitumor
• bioavailability