KIU Publications

Herbal antidiabetic agents possess multifaceted metabolic activities, including enhancement of insulin signaling, inhibition of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, suppression of oxidative stress, and preservation of pancreatic βcell function. However, their clinical translation is frequently limited by poor solubility, low bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and non-specific biodistribution. Smart nanodelivery systems provide innovative solutions by integrating controlled release, tissue targeting, and stimuli-responsive mechanisms to optimize therapeutic precision. These systems including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, nanogels, and biomimetic vesicles, can protect phytochemicals from degradation, enhance absorption, and modulate release in response to metabolic triggers such as glucose concentration, pH shifts, or reactive oxygen species (ROS). Targeted nanocarriers enable preferential accumulation in liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, or pancreatic islets, aligning delivery with pathophysiological sites of insulin resistance and βcell stress. Preclinical studies demonstrate improved glycemic control, enhanced insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, and superior pharmacokinetic profiles compared with conventional herbal formulations. Nevertheless, translational challenges include scalability, long-term safety evaluation, regulatory classification, and standardization of herbal extracts. This review discusses design principles, mechanistic pathways, preclinical evidence, safety considerations, and prospects of smart nanodelivery platforms for herbal antidiabetic therapy.