Document Type : Review Article
Authors
1
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Science, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran
2
Department of Animal and Poultry Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
3
Researcher and PhD graduated in Nanobiotechnology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
4
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
5
Al-Zahrawi University College of Dentistry, Iraq and Sumer University, College of Medicine, Iraq ORCID ID: 0009-0006-5393-0924
Abstract
Efficient micronutrient supplementation is essential for maintaining animal health, productivity, and product quality in modern livestock and poultry systems. Conventional supplementation strategies based on inorganic or organic mineral salts and standard vitamin premixes often exhibit limited stability, poor bioavailability, and significant nutrient losses during feed processing and digestion. These limitations frequently lead to over-supplementation and increased environmental excretion of minerals. In recent years, integration of nanotechnology and colloid science into animal nutrition has provided new strategies for improving micronutrient delivery and feed efficiency. These delivery platforms can encapsulate micronutrients, protect them from degradation, enhance their solubility and dispersion, and enable controlled release within the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, these systems may significantly improve nutrient bioavailability and absorption efficiency. This review summarizes the nutritional importance of micronutrients in animal production and highlights the limitations associated with conventional supplementation methods. The article further discusses the structure and functional characteristics of major nanocarrier and colloidal delivery systems, as well as the mechanisms by which these systems enhance nutrient stability, gastrointestinal transport, and intestinal absorption. Finally, current challenges, safety considerations, and future research directions for nano-enabled feed supplementation are discussed.
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