Diosmin in therapy: challenges in clinical application and potential of drug delivery approaches – A review of literature and patents

In recent years, scientific research has shown growing interest in the therapeutical applications of diosmin, as demonstrated by the number of related publications. In fact, this compound possesses numerous properties: cardiovascular, neuro-, retinal, liver and renal protection, and anti-diabetes, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidative activities. Nevertheless, its therapeutical application is limited by its molecular characteristics that hinder bioavailability. Based on these considerations, this review aims to explore the advantages and limitations of diosmin therapy, underlining the significance of employing drug delivery systems for its administration. After an overview regarding the commercially available pharmaceutical forms containing diosmin, a comprehensive review of the literature was conducted, and the developed carriers were reported and illustrated, belonging to various classes: polymeric nanoparticles, nanocrystals and nanosuspensions, nanofibers and scaffolds, nanogel and hydrogels, lipid-based nanocarriers, cyclodextrin-based systems, metal nanoparticles, protein-based nanocarriers. These carriers developed to deliver diosmin are herein described focusing mainly on the technological characteristics of the platforms, while also highlighting the potential advantages in enhancing diosmin bioavailability through in vitro and in vivo evidence. The analysis of literature studies, categorized by route of administration, allows the reader to correlate the characteristics of the carrier with the nature of the biological barrier encountered after the administration, providing insights on the potential use of various types of DDS for different routes of administration and for the treatment of several diseases. In the interest of completeness, the few existing published patents concerning the drug delivery platforms for diosmin administration are also presented. In conclusion, the final section on current challenges and future perspectives highlights the need for further research in this area in order to fill the existing gap in scientific knowledge.