Application of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnologies for Chinese Herbal Medicines in the Treatment of Pulmonary Diseases and Lung Cancer

Abstract: Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) is the crystallization of wisdom accumulated by the Chinese nation over thousands of years. With the development and advancement of technology, extensive research has been conducted on the pharmacological activities of active components in CHMs. Natural constituents from medicinal plants exhibit rich scaffold diversity and structural complexity, playing crucial roles in the pharmacological effects of CHMs. However, many CHMs components have been found to suffer from poor water solubility, low stability, and limited bioavailability, which significantly restrict their clinical applications. In recent years, nanomedicine has been leveraging the power of nanotechnology to fully exploit its distinctive advantages. In the field of CHMs, the introduction of nanonization technology has enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of CHMs formulations. Especially the use of nano-modified CHMs solely derived from natural products has overcome several "bottlenecks" associated with chemical nanodelivery systems—such as insufficient drug loading, high production costs, potential systemic toxicity, and immunogenicity—emerging as an innovative and promising platform for disease treatment. Here, we review recent advancements in pharmaceutical nanotechnologies for CHMs in the treatment of pulmonary diseases and lung cancer. These nano-modified CHMs include nanoemulsions, self-assembled nanoparticles, nanocrystals, herbal-derived exosomes, and carbon dot-based nanozymes formulated from natural medicinal plants. They demonstrate unique advantages in enhancing the pharmacological effects of natural bioactive compounds and treating pulmonary disorders and lung cancer. This provides novel insights into the development of nano-modified CHMs in the treatment of pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Keywords: Chinese herbal medicines, nanotechnologies, pulmonary disease, lung cancer