Polymeric micelles for encapsulation of plant-derived bioactives: a decade of advances in antimicrobial, antitumor, and antioxidant applications

This 10-year review provides a comprehensive overview of advances in the use of polymeric micelles (PMs) for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds derived from renewable green sources. PMs have emerged as highly versatile nanocarriers that capable of enhancing the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble compounds while enabling controlled and targeted release. Across the literature, PM formulations typically exhibit nanoscale sizes ranging from ~10 to 200 nm, low polydispersity indices (generally <0.300), and high encapsulation efficiencies, commonly ranging from ~70 to >95%. By protecting plant-derived bioactives from degradation and enabling sustained release profiles over hours to days, PMs significantly improve antimicrobial, antitumor, and antioxidant performance, frequently reducing effective concentrations compared to free compounds. The incorporation of green-source biomolecules adds further value through their natural origin, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and alignment with sustainability-driven pharmaceutical development. This review critically analyzes the physicochemical parameters governing PM performance, including particle size, surface charge, encapsulation efficiency, and release kinetics, and correlates these features with biological activity and therapeutic outcomes. Special emphasis is placed on key formulation strategies reported over the past decade, highlighting PMs as a rapidly evolving and high-performance platform for the development of safer, more efficient, and innovative nanomedicine. • Polymeric micelles improve the solubility and bioavailability of plant bioactives. • Green-source biomolecules loaded in PMs act as effective antimicrobial agents. • Plant-based compounds in PMs show promise for targeted cancer therapy. • Micellar systems protect and prolong the antioxidant activity of natural bioactives. • PMs demonstrated the ability to modulate a controlled release of loaded molecules.