writer：Yue Liu, Quan Li, Shuangcheng Ma
keywords：traditional Chinese medicine, effective substance, soft matter, micelle, gel, natural macromolecules, molecular recognition, self-assembly, interdiscipline
source：期刊
specific source：Chin.J.Pharm.Anal. 2023, 43(1)
Issue time：2023年

Studies of the material basis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are

fundamental and critical to the advances of the modernization of TCM. Differing

from the traditional research mode of “separation of single chemical

component-structural identification-pharmacology” for the material basis study

of TCM, a new research mode of “component interaction-structure of

aggregates-pharmacology” has emerged recently. Based on the recent research

development on micro or nano-aggregates from the material basis of TCM,

together with the guidance of the integral and systematic view advocated by TCM

theory, we herein proposed a new interdisciplinary field as “soft matter

science of TCM (SMSTCM)” from the point-view of aggregate science. The

definition, study method, characterization techniques, the research challenges,

and the theoretical and practical perspectives for the soft matter of TCM was

discussed. It is expected that the material basis of TCM for disease treatment

will be unraveled from a different point of view. Meanwhile, a more broad

theoretical and practical innovation platform is assumed for the continuous

research on the material basis of TCM and the modernization of TCM.