Plant‐derived nanovesicles as potential drug delivery systems for topical use: Emerging applications in dermatology and cosmetology

Abstract

Drug delivery systems are extensively employed in dermatology to achieve high local drug concentrations and limit systemic exposure. Despite this, the stratum corneum remains a major obstacle to skin penetration, limiting the nanocarriers efficacy. In this context, plant‐derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) have recently emerged as a biological and sustainable alternative. PDNVs are lipid‐bilayer nanoparticles naturally secreted by plants that can cross biological barriers and transport a complex cargo of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and bioactive metabolites. This review provides a comprehensive overview of PDNVs for topical delivery focused on dermatological and cosmetic applications. We discuss definition, sources, isolation and purification strategies, characterization methodologies, storage conditions, and the influence of these parameters on vesicles yield, purity, and functional performance. Also, we provide a comparison of PDNVs with conventional vesicular nanocarriers in terms of composition, skin interaction, safety, scalability, and regulatory challenges. Finally, we summarize current preclinical and emerging evidence supporting the advantages in using PDNVs and some key points for their industrial production and clinical implementation. Taken together, all these findings suggest that PDNVs may represent a promising platform for controlled and biologically active topical delivery, alternative to conventional vesicular nanocarriers.