Traditional Chinese medicine, “Celastrol” and its nanotechnology for cancers: a narrative review

Abstract

: Nanotechnology is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. The nanonization technology provides a platform for the development of molecular medicine such as detection and treatment of illnesses, body part replacement, regenerative medicine, nanoscale surgery, and targeted delivery of drugs. Nano Chinese medicine delivery system plays a significant role in the drug formulations, targeting area, and controlled its drug release. These can be utilized as delivery agents by encapsulating drugs, attaching therapeutic drugs, and delivering the drug to target tissues. Some of the bioactive natural compounds in traditional Chinese medicine such as celastrol have been incorporated with nanoparticles for curing diseases through enhancing bioavailability, targeting, and controlling its release, resulting in better therapeutic effects regarding the use of nanomaterials in drug delivery. There are several nanosystems for celastrol that have been reported also discussed the mechanism, and the toxicity of several types of celastrol nanoparticles. Its nano-system helps to increase solubility and stability, avoid toxicity, enhance pharmacological activity, improve tissue distribution, sustain delivery, and protect from physical or chemical degradation. Folic acid is the most common cancer targeting agent. This is water-soluble and delivers celastrol selectively to cancer cells only. Thus, nanotechnology of traditional Chinese medicine is attracting scientists’ attention.