Research progress on the utilisation of embedding technology and suitable delivery systems for improving the bioavailability of nattokinase: A review

Nattokinase is a thrombolytic drug that is more advantageous than urokinase, streptokinase, and tissue plasminogen activator because of its low price, high efficiency, and nontoxic side effects. However, it is a protease that is sensitive to gastric acid and is degraded by strong acid and pepsin when it passes through the digestive tract. Moreover, if it is administered orally, the purpose of dissolving thrombus cannot be achieved, which limits the application of nattokinase in food and medicine. The emergence of microcapsule technology can be useful in overcoming these limitations. Special structural properties of lipids, polysaccharides, protein, and other biological macromolecules have been utilised for embedding nattokinase to form a special shell-core structure, which can increase the acid resistance and storage stability of nattokinase. This paper discusses the structural characteristics and physiological properties of nattokinase and reviews the current research progress of nattokinase microencapsulation. In addition, reasonable suggestions for the future research direction for the development of a suitable nattokinase delivery system are put forward.