Edible plant-derived nanoparticles (epdNPs) represent an emerging frontier in nutritional science and nanobiotechnology. These vesicle-like structures, naturally enriched with lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and phytochemicals, demonstrate remarkable stability in gastrointestinal environments and enable targeted delivery of bioactive cargo. Accumulating evidence reveals their multifaceted biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, microbiota-modulating, and metabolic regulatory effects, underscoring their potential to prevent lifestyle-related diseases and redefine the health-promoting mechanisms of plant-based diets. Their intrinsic safety, biocompatibility, and cost-effectiveness further highlight their translational promise for functional food innovation. Yet, critical challenges—such as compositional heterogeneity, scalable production, and preservation—must be overcome before clinical and industrial application. This review synthesizes current advances in the characterization, bioactivities, and preparation of epdNPs, while outlining their potential as next-generation functional food ingredients. Future efforts to establish standardized methodologies and mechanistic insights will be pivotal to unlocking their full impact on human health.
Sasaki et al. (Thu,) studied this question.