Nanomedicine for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Pathological Axes and Translational Evidence
Abstract
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is heterogeneous, and lower urinary tract symptoms also depend on smooth-muscle tone, outlet mechanics and bladder function. Nanomedicine research spans formulation development, animal experiments and limited clinical exploration, but these stages do not establish a continuous chain from delivery to durable patient benefit. This critical narrative review combines a structured PubMed update search through September 7, 2026 with descriptive evidence mapping. Historical search strings were unavailable; the update queries and records are retained, and retrieved records are distinguished from the curated study inventory. We organize relevant biology into inflammatory, hormonal-metabolic and fibrotic/extracellular-matrix axes and propose a barrier-signal-payload-feedback framework. The evidence tiers and decision gates are proposed analytical tools, not validated clinical classifications or regulatory pathways. Source-checked reports predominantly assess formulation properties, systemic exposure, organ size, histology or molecular outcomes. Healthy-volunteer pharmacokinetics does not constitute BPH therapeutic evidence, and whole-prostate exposure does not establish delivery to nodules or specific cells. A small nanomicellar-curcumin trial provides an early symptom signal below its study-defined clinical-importance threshold. Animal saline-loaded urine measurements and short-term cystometry from an adjacent local hydrogel represent different…
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