From Nature to Medicine: Overcoming the Limitations of Herbal Therapeutics for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Based on Nanotechnology
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- 2Medical and Pharmaceutical Industrial Biotechnology Department, College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST), 6th of October City 12566, Egypt
- 3Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
- 4Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), New Administration Capital 11835, Egypt
- 5Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- 6Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- 7Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Galala University, New Galala City 43511, Egypt
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide due to late-stage diagnosis, aggressive progression, and limited therapeutic responsiveness. Although herbal-derived bioactive compounds have demonstrated promising anticancer potential, their clinical application is often restricted by poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, rapid metabolic degradation, and insufficient tumor targeting. Nanomedicine has emerged as a promising platform to overcome these limitations through enhanced drug delivery, improved pharmacokinetics, and controlled release capabilities. In recent years, the integration of green nanotechnology with herbal therapeutics has gained increasing attention as a sustainable and biocompatible strategy for PDAC management. Green synthesis approaches utilizing plant extracts, microbial systems, and biopolymers provide environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional physicochemical nanoparticle (NP) fabrication methods while simultaneously enhancing biological functionality. This review aims to explore green nanotechnology-based strategies for improving the therapeutic potential of herbal-derived bioactive compounds in PDAC, with particular emphasis on nanoformulation approaches that enhance solubility, bioavailability, tumor targeting, and anticancer efficacy. In addition, the review discusses the advantages of green synthesis approaches, NP characterization strategies, translational barriers, biosafety considerations, and current clinical challenges. Overall, this review highlights the growing potential of green nanomedicine to improve herbal-based therapeutic strategies against PDAC while emphasizing the key obstacles that must be addressed to facilitate successful clinical translation.
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BibTeX
@article{muteeb2026from,
title = {{From Nature to Medicine: Overcoming the Limitations of Herbal Therapeutics for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Based on Nanotechnology}},
author = {Ghazala Muteeb and Youssef Basem and Amira A. Kotb and Naiera T. Magdy and Ghannimah Yousef Alghuwainem and Mohammad Aatif and Mohd Farhan and Doaa S. R. Khafaga},
journal = {Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nano16191256},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666960},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - From Nature to Medicine: Overcoming the Limitations of Herbal Therapeutics for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Based on Nanotechnology
AU - Ghazala Muteeb
AU - Youssef Basem
AU - Amira A. Kotb
AU - Naiera T. Magdy
AU - Ghannimah Yousef Alghuwainem
AU - Mohammad Aatif
AU - Mohd Farhan
AU - Doaa S. R. Khafaga
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/nano16191256
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666960
AB - Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide due to late-stage diagnosis, aggressive progression, and limited therapeutic responsiveness. Although herbal-derived bioactive compounds have demonstrated promising anticancer potential, their clinical application is often restricted by poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, rapid metabolic degradation, and insufficient tumor targeting. Nanomedicine has emerged as a promising platform to overcome these limitations through enhanced drug delivery, improved pharmacokinetics, and controlled release capabilities. In recent years, the integration of green nanotechnology with herbal therapeutics has gained increasing attention as a sustainable and biocompatible strategy for PDAC management. Green synthesis approaches utilizing plant extracts, microbial systems, and biopolymers provide environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional physicochemical nanoparticle (NP) fabrication methods while simultaneously enhancing biological functionality. This review aims to explore green nanotechnology-based strategies for improving the therapeutic potential of herbal-derived bioactive compounds in PDAC, with particular emphasis on nanoformulation approaches that enhance solubility, bioavailability, tumor targeting, and anticancer efficacy. In addition, the review discusses the advantages of green synthesis approaches, NP characterization strategies, translational barriers, biosafety considerations, and current clinical challenges. Overall, this review highlights the growing potential of green nanomedicine to improve herbal-based therapeutic strategies against PDAC while emphasizing the key obstacles that must be addressed to facilitate successful clinical translation.
SN - 2079-4991
ER -