Nanoparticle-Based Nutraceutical Delivery Systems

Nanoparticle-based nutraceutical delivery systems harness the unique properties of submicrometre carriers to enhance the stability, solubility and bioavailability of health-promoting compounds derived from food sources. By encapsulating vitamins, polyphenols or other bioactives within lipid, polymeric or protein-based nanoparticles, it is possible to protect labile ingredients from degradation during processing, storage and passage through the gastrointestinal tract. These carriers may be engineered for controlled or targeted release, exploiting pH or enzymatic triggers to deposit their cargo at specific sites in the digestive system. Common platforms include solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, liposomes, nanostructured lipid carriers and protein-based colloids such as casein micelles. Such technologies address challenges of poor water solubility and rapid clearance, thereby improving oral absorption and enabling lower effective doses. Ongoing developments focus on tailoring particle size, surface charge and composition to balance safety with maximal performance. Beyond oral supplementation, applications extend to functional beverages, fortified foods and topical formulations, underscoring the global significance of precision delivery in improving nutrient status, reducing waste and broadening the scope of functional food innovation.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Research from all publishers

Recent studies have advanced protein-based carriers and lipid nanoemulsions for nutraceutical stabilisation and targeted delivery. A 2021 investigation into casein micelles demonstrated their innate self-assembly into stable nanostructures capable of encapsulating hydrophobic and hydrophilic bioactives. Modulation of calcium phosphate bridges and surface charge enabled tuning of particle size and swelling behaviour, yielding pH-responsive release in simulated intestinal fluids. This work underlined the potential of naturally occurring food proteins as renewable nanocarriers in functional foods.

In a rodent model of vitamin D deficiency, pea protein isolate nanoemulsions were shown to markedly enhance calcitriol uptake. Sonication and pH-shift processing produced sub-200 nm droplets that protected vitamin D against oxidative and photolytic loss. After one week of oral administration, animals receiving the nanoemulsion exhibited swift recovery of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and normalisation of parathyroid hormone and bone biomarkers, outperforming oil-based controls.

A comprehensive review of fortified beverages has emphasised the use of nanoemulsions, solid lipid carriers, liposomes and polymeric nanocapsules to improve vitamin D stability and bioaccessibility. Structural factors such as droplet interfacial composition and interactions with food matrix components were identified as key determinants of shelf-life and in vitro release profiles. The analysis highlighted a lack of kinetic data for large-scale processing and called for integrated studies linking formulation parameters to in vivo efficacy in human subjects.

Nanoparticle-Based Nutraceutical Delivery Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanoparticle-based nutraceutical delivery systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nanoparticle: A carrier particle with dimensions below 1 µm, engineered to encapsulate nutrients or drugs and modify their release, stability or absorption.

Nutraceutical: A dietary bioactive, such as a vitamin, polyphenol or peptide, that confers health benefits beyond basic nutrition.

Encapsulation: The process of enclosing a bioactive compound within a protective matrix or shell to improve its physicochemical stability and control its release.

Bioavailability: The fraction of an administered dose of a nutraceutical that reaches systemic circulation and is available for physiological action.

Nanoemulsion: A kinetically stable mixture of oil and water phases containing droplets in the nanometre range, stabilised by surfactants or proteins.

Liposome: A vesicular structure composed of phospholipid bilayers that can encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds for targeted delivery.

Casein Micelle: A self-assembled protein aggregate derived from milk caseins and calcium phosphate, utilised as a natural nanocarrier for hydrophobic bioactives.

References

1. Casein Micelles as an Emerging Delivery System for Bioactive Food Components. Foods (2021).
2. Stabilization of Vitamin D in Pea Protein Isolate Nanoemulsions Increases Its Bioefficacy in Rats. Nutrients (2019).
3. Formulation Strategies for Improving the Stability and Bioavailability of Vitamin D-Fortified Beverages: A Review. Foods (2022).