Recent Advances in Natural Product-Based Nanostructured Systems: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 674

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biological Science, University of Brasília, Brasília 70910-900, Brazil
Interests: nanomedicine; lipid nanocarriers; oral administration; metastasis prevention
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology has presented innovative solutions to many of humanity’s needs over the last few decades. Medicine, environmental sanitation, engineering, power generation, agriculture, and many other fields have benefited from nano-based solutions. However, the continuous development of nanotechnology depends on high-performance materials. In this regard, nature is an incredibly rich source of chemical compounds, many of which can be used either to design new products or to replace non-sustainable materials in products and processes. Natural compounds are not only intrinsically sustainable but can also present superior biocompatibility, enhanced effectiveness and better safety. The use of these compounds in nanotechnology can also be inspired by their in situ role in the organisms from which they are derived. Moreover, many naturally occurring nanostructures, such as films, membranes, vesicles, and viruses, are based on biomolecules specially selected over millions of years of biological evolution for performing their function at the nanoscale. Moreover, many drugs and other bioactive compounds derived from natural sources can be loaded into nanosystems in order to achieve enhanced effectiveness and safety. Therefore, this Special Issue titled "Recent Advances in Natural Product-Based Nanostructured Systems" is dedicated to collecting works on the following: (1) biomimetic and bioinspired nanostructures; (2) green nanotechnology; and (3) nanocarriers for bioactive compounds.

Dr. Luís Alexandre Muehlmann
Dr. João Paulo Longo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • natural product
  • nanostructured systems
  • nanotechnology
  • nanostructures
  • nanocarriers
  • bioactive compounds

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 2723 KiB  
Article
Natural Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery: Proteomic Insights and Anticancer Potential of Doxorubicin-Loaded Avocado Exosomes
by Dina Salem, Shaimaa Abdel-Ghany, Eman Mohamed, Nada F. Alahmady, Amany Alqosaibi, Ibtesam S. Al-Dhuayan, Mashal Meshal Alnamshan, Rebekka Arneth, Borros Arneth and Hussein Sabit
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(6), 844; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18060844 - 4 Jun 2025
Viewed by 501
Abstract
Background: Exosomes have recently attracted significant attention for their potential in drug delivery. Plant-derived exosomes, in particular, may serve as direct anticancer agents due to their unique characteristics, including immunogenicity, biocompatibility, safety, cell-free nature, and nanoscale structure. Methods: This study characterizes [...] Read more.
Background: Exosomes have recently attracted significant attention for their potential in drug delivery. Plant-derived exosomes, in particular, may serve as direct anticancer agents due to their unique characteristics, including immunogenicity, biocompatibility, safety, cell-free nature, and nanoscale structure. Methods: This study characterizes Persea americana (avocado)-derived exosomes, exploring their anticancer properties, proteomic profile, and therapeutic potential. Results: Isolated exosomes exhibited a diameter of 99.58 ± 5.09 nm (non-loaded) and 151.2 ± 6.36 nm (doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded), with zeta potentials of −17 mV and −28 mV, respectively. Proteomic analysis identified 47 proteins, including conserved exosome markers (GAPDH, tubulin) and stress-response proteins (defensin, endochitinase). Functional enrichment revealed roles in photosynthesis, glycolysis, ATP synthesis, and transmembrane transport, supported by protein–protein interaction networks highlighting energy metabolism and cellular trafficking. DOX encapsulation efficiency was 18%, with sustained release (44.4% at 24 h). In vitro assays demonstrated reduced viability in breast cancer (MCF-7, T47D, 4T1) and endothelial (C166) cells, enhanced synergistically by DOX (Av+DOX). Gene expression analysis revealed cell-specific modulation: Av+DOX upregulated TP53 and STAT in T47D but suppressed both in 4T1/C166, suggesting context-dependent mechanisms. Conclusions: These findings underscore avocado exosomes as promising nanovehicles for drug delivery, combining biocompatibility, metabolic functionality, and tunable cytotoxicity. Their plant-derived origin offers a scalable, low-cost alternative to mammalian exosomes, with potential applications in oncology and targeted therapy. Further optimization of loading efficiency and in vivo validation are warranted to advance translational prospects. Full article
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