Nanotechnology-Enhanced Delivery and Bioactivity of Dietary Flavonoids: Overcoming Bioavailability Barriers for Targeted Antimicrobial and Antiviral Therapies-A Comprehensive Review
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Sept. 12, 2026, 4:24 a.m.
Flavonoids, naturally occurring plant compounds with established antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, represent promising therapeutic agents for infectious diseases and pandemic-related health challenges. However, their clinical application has been severely limited by poor aqueous solubility, inadequate oral bioavailability, rapid metabolism, structural instability, and insufficient tissue targeting. Researchers from Qassim University conducted a comprehensive literature review of studies published between 2015 and 2025, examining nanotechnology-based approaches to overcome these limitations. The review, published in the International Journal of Nanomedicine, evaluates multiple delivery systems including polymeric nanoencapsulates, lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanocrystals, liposomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs). These nanotechnology-enabled formulations significantly enhance flavonoid solubility, absorption, stability, and bioavailability while enabling controlled and sustained therapeutic release at target tissues. This advancement is clinically significant as it transforms flavonoids into viable pharmaceutical interventions, potentially expanding treatment options for infectious diseases and improving therapeutic efficacy in pandemic response scenarios.