Lycopene nanodelivery systems; recent advances

Background: Lycopene, as a promising biofunctional ingredient in human diet, is attaining huge importance nowadays. Besides its critical importance as a natural colorant, more especially, it is considered as a health-promotional component that endows a multitude of advantageous features. Nonetheless, its inefficiency vs. process/environmental stresses, poor-aqueous solubility, plus poor-bioavailability are the most bottlenecks limiting food/pharma utilization. At the same time, the field of nano-dimensional bioactive delivery vehicles has developed quickly. In this scenario, the most prominent instances of such carriers are lipid-based nanoformulations (i.e., nano-/Pickering/double emulsions, surfactant-based nano-vectors, nano-structured lipid carriers (NLCs), solid lipid nano-particles (SLNs), etc.) and biopolymeric nano-structures (e.g., nano-hydrogels/organogels/oleogels, nanofibers, nanotubes, cyclodextrins, and protein-polysaccharide nanocomplexes/conjugates). Scope and approach: To take benefit of these properties, a foundational understanding of why lycopene nanodelivery systems are such unbeatable nano-systems and how we could utilize their potentials is crucial. Here, we attempted to recount the unique features of emerging platforms of nano-carriers, which are corresponding to the lycopene loading and controlled delivery. Discussion was also extended to cover the innovative progress in nanoencapsulation of lycopene with an emphasis on the factors influencing its bioaccessibility in such nanovehicles, together with their shortcomings and upcoming evolutions. Key findings and conclusions: Biopolymeric and lipid-based nano-structures, as attractive and effectual nanovehicles, have demonstrated to be potential strategies for the protection of lycopene throughout the digestive system along with representing an efficacious targeted release.