Recent advances in nano vehicles encapsulating cinnamic acid and its derivatives as promising anticancer agents

Abstract

Although progress in cancer diagnosis and treatment has been substantial over recent decades, several challenges remain unresolved. Among these challenges are drug resistance, the recurrence of metastatic disease, off-target toxic effects, and nonselective drug targeting. In response, increasing attention has turned to naturally derived anticancer agents that may offer both efficacy and improved safety profiles. Among these, cinnamic acid, a phenylacrylic compound abundant in Lauraceae plants such as cinnamon, has shown remarkable antitumor activity against several cancer types. However, like many phytochemicals, its clinical utility is hampered by poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and unstable pharmacokinetics. In recent years, integrating nanotechnology into drug delivery strategies has opened new avenues for overcoming these limitations. This review explores the most recent developments in the nanoformulation of cinnamic acid and its derivatives, focusing on how nanocarriers may enhance their therapeutic potential in both in vitro and in vivo cancer models.