Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2021 Oct;9(5):100420.
doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100420. Epub 2021 Aug 10.

Advances in Nanoparticle Delivery System for Erectile Dysfunction: An Updated Review

Nelisiwe Prenate Masuku  1 , Jeremiah Oshiomame Unuofin  2 , Sogolo Lucky Lebelo  1
Affiliations

Advances in Nanoparticle Delivery System for Erectile Dysfunction: An Updated Review

Nelisiwe Prenate Masuku et al. Sex Med. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Introduction: The use of current available treatment for male erectile dysfunction (ED) has some limitations that are related to efficacy and adverse effects. Nanotechnology has been used as a new tool in medicine to improve these limitations and new medications potentially to alleviate and cure ED.

Aim: To review the currently literature on new nano medications for ED based on scientific and clinical studies, efficacy, safety, mechanisms of action, and to identify gaps for future research.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted via Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed on English publications using different keywords such as "erectile dysfunction", "emerging treatments", "nanotechnology", and "herbal medicine". The retrieved papers were organized into groups according to the sections covered in this review paper.

Main outcomes measures: We reviewed novel ED treatments such as nanotechnological phosphodiesterase inhibitors, papaverine hydrochloride, sialorphin, adipose tissue-derived stem cells, sonic hedgehog, and herbal medicine.

Results: Numerous preclinical studies have addressed novel phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors nanoparticle, and their recent delivery systems. Nitric oxide, sialorphin, sonic hedgehog, and herbal medicine loaded nanoparticles and nano adipose tissue-derived stem cells as a potential new treatment for ED. In addition, papaverine-containing nanoparticles have been reported. A limited number of randomized clinical studies have determined the mechanism of these treatments.

Conclusion: A literature review on the application of nanotechnology in ED therapy was successfully conducted. New nano medications are promising to treat ED. However, further studies are warranted to further assess their efficacy and safety. Masuku NP, Unuofin JO, Lebelo SL. Advances in Nanoparticle Delivery System for Erectile Dysfunction: An Updated Review. Sex Med 2021;9:100420.

Keywords: Erectile Dysfunction; Herbal Medicine; Nanotechnology; Nitric Oxide; Papaverine Hydrochloride; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; Sialorphin; Sonic Hedgehog; Stem Cells.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of the methods used to improve phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors. PDE5 = Phosphodiesterase 5. Figure 1 was created with www.biorender.com.
Figure 2:
Figure 2
Relaxation of corpora cavernosa by topical application of papaverine hydrochloride nanoparticles gel. NPs = nanoparticles. Figure 2 was created with www.biorender.com.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Potential treatment of cavernous nerve-induced male erectile dysfunction with magnetized adipose tissue-derived stem cells by retaining in the corpus cavernosum. ADSCs = adipose tissue derived stem cells. Figure 3 was created with www.biorender.com.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Potential treatment of male erectile dysfunction with medicinal plant extracts containing nanoparticles LH = luteinizing hormone; FSH = follicle-stimulating hormone; SOD = superoxide dismutase; CAT = catalase. Figure 4 was created with www.biorender.com.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Eleazu C, Obianuju N, Eleazu K. The role of dietary polyphenols in the management of erectile dysfunction–Mechanisms of action. Biomed Pharmacother. 2017;88:644–652. - PubMed
    1. Masuku NP, Unuofin JO, Lebelo SL. Promising role of medicinal plants in the regulation and management of male erectile dysfunction. Biomed Pharmacother. 2020;130 - PubMed
    1. Nicolosi A, Moreira ED, Shirai M. Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction in four countries: Cross-national study of the prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction. Adult Urol. 2003;61:201–206. - PubMed
    1. de Klerk H, de Villiers PJT, Isaacs S. Prevalence arld characteristics of erectile dysfunction in black and mixed race primary care populations of the cape flats and Helderberg Basin area of the Western Cape, South Africa. South African Fam Pract. 2003;45:14–20.
    1. Lockhat Y, Ross A, Ramlachan P. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction at a primary healthcare clinic in durban, kwazulu-natal. South African Fam Pract. 2013;55:289–293.