Astaxanthin (AXT) is one of the most important fat-soluble carotenoids that have abundant and diverse therapeutic applications namely in liver disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer treatment, protection of the nervous system, protection of the skin and eyes against UV radiation, and boosting the immune system. However, due to its intrinsic reactivity, it is chemically unstable, and therefore, the design and production processes for this compound need to be precisely formulated. Nanoencapsulation is widely applied to protect AXT against degradation during digestion and storage, thus improving its physicochemical properties and therapeutic effects. Nanocarriers are delivery systems with many advantages─ease of surface modification, biocompatibility, and targeted drug delivery and release. This review discusses the technological advancement in nanocarriers for the delivery of AXT through the brain, eyes, and skin, with emphasis on the benefits, limitations, and efficiency in practice.

Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences 19857 17443 Tehran Iran

Centre for Materials Interfaces Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34 56025 Pontedera Pisa Italy

Department of Basic Sciences Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University 48181 68984 Sari Iran

Department of Chemical Engineering Laboratory of Nanotechnology Quchan University of Technology 94771 67335 Quchan Iran

Department of Chemical Sciences University of Johannesburg P O Box 17011 Doornfontein Campus 2028 2006 Johannesburg South Africa

Department of Chemistry Sharif University of Technology 11155 9161 Tehran Iran

Department of Medical Biotechnology Faculty of Advance Medical Sciences Tabriz University of Medical Sciences 51664 Tabriz Iran

Department of Medical Biotechnology School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences 19857 17443 Tehran Iran

Department of Physics Sharif University of Technology 11155 9161 Tehran Iran

Department of Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies Hamadan University of Medical Sciences 6517838736 Hamadan Iran

Institute of Polymers Composites and Biomaterials National Research Council Viale J F Kennedy 54 Mostra D'Oltremare pad 20 80125 Naples Italy

Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute Palacky University Šlechtitelů 27 78371 Olomouc Czech Republic

School of Engineering Macquarie University Sydney New South Wales 2109 Australia

School of Resources and Environment University of Electronic Science and Technology of China P O Box 611731 Xiyuan Avenue 610054 Chengdu PR China

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