Table 3. Summarization of Nanoformulations Used for Emodin Delivery In Vitro and In Vivo.

nanoformulations	species/model used	pathological conditions	beneficial effects	reference
emodin-loaded 1,2-dimyristol-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine liposomal nanoparticles embedded in silk fibroin-chitosan scaffolds	GILM-2 breast cancer cells, and orthotopic tumor in nude mice	breast cancer	reduced tumor load	(43)
emodin-encapsulated solid stearic acid–based lipidaceous nanoemulsions	human breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells	breast cancers	enhanced toxicity and arrest at the G2/M cell cycle phase cell cycle of tumor cells	(44)
emodin encapsulated in nanoparticles made of catechol conjugated to low molecular weight chitosan	mice with unilateral ureter obstruction	renal fibrosis	attenuation of renal injury and fibrotic lesions	(45)
emodin-loaded magnesium silicate hollow nanospheres	retinal capillary endothelial cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and fertilized chicken eggs	oscular neovascularization	significant inhibition of angiogenesis in a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent manner	(46)
emodin-containing pH-sensitive phenylboronic acid nanoparticles	hepatocellular carcinoma Hep G2 cells	hepatocellular carcinoma	accelerated emodin release under low pH conditions (pH 5), increased toxicity against cancer cells	(47)
emodin-containing polylactic-co-glycolic acid-D/α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (PLGA/TPGS) and N-acetylaminogalactosyl (GalNAc)-PLGA-TPGS nanoparticles	hepatocellular carcinoma Hep G2 and Hca-F cells, and diethylnitrosamine-induced mouse model of primary hepatocarcinoma	primary liver cancer	reduced tumor cell viability and suppression of tumorigenesis	(48−50)
mesoporous silica-based SBA-15 nanoformulation carrying emodin	larvae of brown moth Euproctis chrysorrhea	E. chrysorrhea is a pest of multiple plant species	feeding the larvae with emodin-SBA-15 nanoparticles induced their endogenous antioxidant enzyme systems	(51)
emodin-containing colloidal Ag nanoparticles on nanostructured porous silicon prepared	cecal ligation and puncture-induced mouse model of sepsis	sepsis	antimicrobial actions, and attenuation of sepsis-associated hyperactivated immune	(52)
emodin-containing poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate- 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate-methyl azoxy methanol (PEGMA-DMAEMA-MAM) nanocomposites	streptozocin- and high calorie diet-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus rat model	diabetic neuropathic pain	reduced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, possibly in a purin 2 × 3 receptor-reliant manner	(53)
gelatin-cyclodextrin based nanocomposites containing emodin	Streptococcus suis biofilm	bacterial infection	enhanced antibiofilm actions in vitro	(54)
emodin-encapsulated nanocomposites made of bovine serum albumin and functionalized with folic acid	breast cancer MCF7, and prostate cancer PC3 cell lines	breast and prostate cancers	enhanced cytotoxicity of cancer cells, presumably via induction of immune and macrophage actions	(55)
emodin-incorporated monomethoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic acid)-chitosan-2-mercaptobenzimidazole (mPEG-PLA-Chi-MBI) nanoparticles	5/6 nephrectomized rats	chronic kidney disease	beneficial alterations in the gut microbial homeostasis, mitigation of systemic inflammation and renal injury, and enhancement of renal functions	(56)
emodin carrying PLGA nanocomposites	human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, and ectopic tumor expressing nude mice	breast cancer	enhanced toxicity and death of MCF-7 cells in vivo and in vitro	(57)
emodin-containing propylamine functionalized mesoporous silica nanomaterial surface-modified with N-methyl isatoic anhydride	human colon carcinoma HT-29 cells	colon cancer	enhanced apoptosis of cancer cells	(58)
ultrasound-sensitive emodin-containing lecithin-based nanoformulations	squamous cell carcinoma FaDu and CAL-27 cells	neck squamous cell carcinoma	sonodynamic therapy-based beneficial actions of emodin in enhancing cytotoxicity of cancerous cells by activating oxidative stress and apoptotic pathways	(59)
ultrasound-sensitive emodin-containing nanoformulations	in vitro bacterial biofilms composed of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii	infections of burn wounds	robust destruction of bacterial biofilms, and repression of biofilm formation	(60)
polyethylene glycol-coated magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles containing emodin	human pancreatic cancer BxPC3 cells, and mice with pancreatic tumor xenografts	pancreatic cancer	robust in vitro and in vivo antitumorigenic actions against pancreatic cancer cells	(61)
liquid nanoparticles containing emodin-enriched extract from Rhamnus cathartica	mice infected with malarial parasite Plasmodium bergbei NICD	malaria	significant inhibition of parasitic growth	(62)
emodin-containing deoxycholic acid-chitosan coated nanosized liposomes, and in situ colonic gel and microcapsules containing emodin nanoemulsions	rats with unilateral ureter obstruction	renal fibrosis	restoration of gut mricobiota dysbiosis and rescue of renal fibrosis	(63,64)
multiple types of photo- and/or ultrasound-sensitive emodin nanocomposites	Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis biofilms, and acrylic resin discs	dental caries, root canal and demineralization of enamel	sono- and photodynamic therapy based on antimicrobial and antibiofilm actions of emodin	(65−68)
lactoferrin-functionalized emodin containing nanoparticles loaded onto oral delivery platforms composed of β-1,3-d-glucan, and emodin-borate nanocomposites loaded onto microgels made of oligomeric mannitol	dextran sodium sulfate-induced mouse model of ulcerative colitis	ulcerative colitis	enhanced biotargeting of emodin to lesion sites, mitigation of inflammation, rescue of intestinal mucosal damage and gut barrier dysfunction, and deliverance from stool inconsistencies	(69,70)