Lipid Nanocarriers as an Alternative for the Delivery of Bioactive Compounds Beneficial to Health

Bioactive compounds derived from food or plants have become a natural source with the potential for producing functional, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical foods due to their biological functions and beneficial health effects. However, to perform such physiological processes, these compounds need to be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Among the existing technologies, nanoencapsulation increases physical stability, protection, and the contact surface, facilitating the solubility and bioavailability of such compounds. In this type of encapsulation, lipid nanocarriers are promising carriers due to their lipid structure and containing hydrophilic surfactant, capable of facilitating the intestinal absorption of active compounds. However, in food or drugs, one of the significant challenges for applying bioactive compounds on a nanoscale is the lack of in vivo studies that establish safety limits for cytotoxicity. This review covered recent studies on the encapsulation of natural bioactive compounds in different types of lipid nanocarriers. In addition to methods for obtaining and characterizing nanocarriers, bioactivities with beneficial potential for human health, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective, are mentioned. The manuscript deals with the bioaccessibility of active compounds, new perspectives, and challenges for applying lipid nanocarriers.