nanoparticle-delivery
Nanoparticle delivery involves using engineered nanoscale particles as carriers to transport molecules such as nucleic acids, agrochemicals, or nutrients into plant cells and tissues. This approach offers a promising alternative to conventional methods by enabling targeted, efficient uptake through plant cell walls—a barrier that limits many standard delivery techniques. In plant science, it opens new avenues for gene editing, crop protection, and precision agriculture with reduced chemical inputs.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-15
A plant compound called beta-sitosterol, found naturally in many common foods and plants, was packaged into tiny nanoparticles to dramatically improve its ability to reduce inflammation in rats with arthritis. The new delivery system boosted absorption nearly four times over the standard form, suggesting plant sterols could become more effective medicines with the right formulation.
Nanoparticle-encapsulated beta-sitosterol increased oral bioavailability by 3.8-fold compared to a conventional suspension (p < 0.05)
Optimized leciplex nanocarriers averaged ~146 nm in size with 66% entrapment efficiency and sustained drug release
Treatment significantly reduced inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6), improved oxidative stress indicators (GSH, SOD, MDA), and modulated three key inflammatory signaling pathways (JAK2/STAT3, NF-κB, p38 MAPK) in arthritic rats