Supramolecular Assembly of Triterpenoids: Current State and Biomedical Perspectives

Abstract

Triterpenoids exhibit remarkable pharmacological characteristics and have garnered significant research attention, owing to their unique backbone structures and numerous modification sites. Recent advancements in supramolecular chemistry have highlighted the potential of triterpenoids to form organized assemblies through noncovalent interactions, affording versatile functional properties. By leveraging their unique structural characteristics and biological activities, innovative strategies can be developed to enhance the efficacy and safety of biomedical therapies. This review describes the recent advances in triterpenoids serving as (i) functional groups for aggregation-induced emission, (ii) building blocks for self-transportation and drug delivery, (iii) potential gelators for rational hydrogel design, and (iv) cholesterol alternatives for optimizing lipid-based nanoparticles. The biomedical perspectives of triterpenoid-based supramolecular assemblies and potential bottlenecks in clinical translation are also discussed, with the hope of offering insights into future research and biomedical applications.

Keywords

hydrogels / nanotheranostics / natural products / supramolecular assembly / triterpenoids

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