Nano-delivery of food-derived biomolecules: An overview
Certain bioactive molecules present in food have therapeutic effects such as antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory activity. Although these molecules can be consumed via food, their effects are often subordinated due to degradation during digestion and lesser bioavailability at target site. Nanocarriers such as nanoparticles, nanoliposomes and nanopolymersomes have been developed for the food-derived biomolecules that can overcome traditional drug delivery limitations and provide advantages such as increased solubility and stability, protection against degradation, target specificity, increased bioavailability and regulated release. This chapter discusses different types of nanocarriers for delivery of food-derived biomolecules along with their advantages over conventional drug delivery methods. It also addresses the clearance of these nanocarriers from the body, their toxicity and ethics-related concerns. Overall, it provides an overview of nanocarriers used for delivery of food-derived bioactive molecules.
