Nanotechnology-Enabled Drug Delivery Systems in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has long relied on herbal decoctions and extracts rich in bioactive constituents. Yet many of these compounds suffer from poor water solubility, low oral bioavailability and off-target toxicity. Nanotechnology-enabled delivery systems address these limitations by encapsulating active ingredients within nanoscale vehicles that enhance solubility, prolong circulation time and enable controlled or targeted release. Approaches include carrier-based platforms—such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic colloids and organic–inorganic hybrids—and carrier-free assemblies in which the herbal components themselves form supramolecular nanoparticles. By exploiting phenomena such as self-assembly, surface functionalisation with glycosyl moieties or pH- and enzyme-responsive triggers, these systems can improve intestinal absorption, evade phagocytic clearance and accumulate preferentially in diseased tissues. The marriage of nanotechnology and TCM thus holds promise for maximising therapeutic efficacy, reducing side effects and facilitating clinical translation of centuries-old remedies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent work has isolated and characterised nanometre aggregates from a classic Bai-Hu-Tang decoction. These spherical particles, averaging around 100 nm in diameter, were found to encapsulate antipyretic constituents such as mangiferin and glycyrrhizic acid within a matrix of organic and mineral elements. Compared with conventional decoction phases, the isolated aggregates displayed enhanced cellular uptake, stronger enrichment in lung and brain tissue and superior fever-reduction in animal models. The study demonstrated that naturally occurring nanoparticles in TCM decoctions can act as intrinsic delivery vehicles, offering new insights into both the pharmacology of herbal formulations and the design of nanomedicines based on traditional preparations.

Nanotechnology-Enabled Drug Delivery Systems in Traditional Chinese Medicine publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery systems in traditional chinese medicine across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nanocarrier: A nanoscale vehicle (e.g. liposome, polymeric or inorganic particle) designed to encapsulate and deliver therapeutic agents.

Self-assembly: Spontaneous organisation of molecules into structured nanoscale assemblies via non-covalent interactions.

Liposome: A spherical vesicle composed of one or more phospholipid bilayers, capable of carrying hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs.

Bioavailability: The proportion of an administered substance that reaches systemic circulation and is available for therapeutic action.

Supramolecular material: A structure formed by non-covalent association of molecules, often exhibiting emergent functions such as stimuli-responsive release.

References

1. Isolation and characterization of nanometre aggregates from a Bai-Hu-Tang decoction and their antipyretic effect. Scientific Reports (2018).
2. Natural Products from Herbal Medicine Self‐Assemble into Advanced Bioactive Materials. Advanced Science (2024).
3. Advanced application of nanotechnology in active constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicines. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2023).
4. Rg3-lipo biomimetic delivery of paclitaxel enhances targeting of tumors and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Journal of Clinical Investigation (2024).