Kumar, A., et al. Multifunctional saponin-based nanocarriers for targeting oral delivery of hydrophobic drugs: linking molecular architecture with bioavailability enhancement. Int J Pharm, 2026 Jul 10, 700:127035. PMID: 42217814

This comprehensive review highlights the emerging potential of saponin-based nanocarriers as versatile and sustainable adjuvants in drug and vaccine delivery, emphasizing their ability to enhance immune responses and improve bioavailability of poorly soluble therapeutics. It consolidates recent advances in the structural understanding of plant-derived saponins, detailing how their molecular features, such as sugar moieties and lipid composition, influence their self-assembly, stability, and interaction with biological membranes. Significantly, the paper elucidates the mechanistic basis by which saponin nanocarriers enhance mucosal permeation, modulate immune responses, and target specific cells, positioning them as promising natural adjuvants with clinical and industrial relevance. 

Given the demand for safer, effective, and environmentally friendly vaccine adjuvants, this review underscores the importance of structural characterization and sustainable extraction methods to advance saponin-based adjuvants from bench to bedside.

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