Abstract
<jats:p>Background. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory condition of the pancreas with no specific therapy. Current pharmacological interventions (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant) have limited efficacy due to low bioavailability, and short half-life. Innovative therapies are needed for targeted drug delivery to the pancreas with minimal side effects. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to this targeted therapy: nanomaterials can carry drugs to inflamed tissue and reduce off-target toxicity. Objective: analysis of current research on nanotechnology-based therapies for AP. Materials and methods. We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar (PRISMA 2020 guidelines). Out of 316 identified articles, 62 studies (mostly preclinical on animal models) met the inclusion criteria for nanotechnology-based therapeutic strategies in AP. Results. The included studies covered a broad range of nanotherapeutic approaches for AP, including polymeric, lipid-based, carbon, organometallic, and biomimetic nanocarriers. These nanoformulations enabled targeted drug delivery, controlled release, improved bioavailability, and reduced systemic toxicity. In experimental AP models, nanotherapies exhibited potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, including reduced inflammatory cytokines, scavenging of reactive oxygen species, stabilization of mitochondrial function and protection of acinar cells from injury. Overall, nanotherapeutic strategies improved outcomes in AP models and often outperformed standard treatment. Conclusions. Nanotherapy is a promising approach for precise targeting of key pathogenic pathways in AP. This review confirms the significant potential of nanotechnology to improve the efficacy and safety of AP treatment. However, further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to translate these nanotherapeutic approaches into clinical practice.</jats:p>