Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the predominant endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age and represents the leading cause of anovulatory infertility, which imposes a considerable health and economic burden. Currently, medications used to treat PCOS can lead to certain adverse reactions, such as affecting fertility and increasing the risk of venous thrombosis. Drug delivery systems utilizing nanomaterials, characterized by prolonged half-life, precision-targeted delivery, enhanced bioavailability, and reduced toxicity, are currently being employed in the management of PCOS. This innovative approach is gaining traction as a favored strategy for augmenting the therapeutic efficacy of medications. Consequently, this paper discusses the roles of nanoparticles, nanocarriers, and targeted ligands within nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems, aiming to identify optimal methodologies for treating PCOS using nanomaterials. Additionally, prospective research avenues concerning nanomaterial-based delivery systems in the context of PCOS, as well as the implications of existing insights on the advancement of novel therapies for PCOS, are highlighted.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the predominant endocrine disorder among women of re-productive age and represents the leading cause of anovulatory infertility, which imposes a con-siderable health and economic burden. Currently, medications used to treat PCOS can lead to certain adverse reactions, such as affecting fertility and increasing the risk of venous thrombosis. Drug delivery systems utilizing nanomaterials, characterized by prolonged half-life, preci-sion-targeted delivery, enhanced bioavailability, and reduced toxicity, are currently being em-ployed in the management of PCOS. This innovative approach is gaining traction as a favored strategy for augmenting the therapeutic efficacy of medications. Consequently, this paper dis-cusses the roles of nanoparticles, nanocarriers, and targeted ligands within nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems, aiming to identify optimal methodologies for treating PCOS using nano-materials. Additionally, prospective research avenues concerning nanomaterial-based delivery systems in the context of PCOS, as well as the implications of existing insights on the advancement of novel therapies for PCOS, are highlighted.

Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) is characterized by insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress, with a global prevalence of 10–13% and limited current drug treatments. Medicine–Food Homology (MFH) materials are rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and polysaccharides, offering potential multi-target nutritional interventions for PMOS, although safety data remain limited mainly to single compounds. A systematic search of the literature was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science CNKI, and Wanfang Data, spanning from database inception to August 2026, utilizing predefined search terms and inclusion/exclusion criteria. This review summarizes research on MFH-derived bioactive compounds in PMOS, covering active component identification, network pharmacology-based target prediction, key signaling pathways (PI3K/AKT, AMPK, NF-κB, Nrf2/HO-1), and formulation strategies including green extraction, nano-encapsulation, and controlled release. It further discusses functional food development from five perspectives: meal replacement powders, functional teas, fermented beverages, dietary supplements, and compound formulations. Key bottlenecks hindering commercialization are analyzed, including insufficient high-quality clinical evidence, unclear dose–response relationships, and limited long-term stability data. Future directions are proposed, such as organoids, organ-on-a-chip, AI-driven formulation optimization, and international multicenter trials. In summary, MFH bioactive compounds show potential as multi-target interventions for PMOS; however, most mechanistic evidence comes from non-PMOS metabolic models, and direct PMOS-specific evidence is limited. Their translation from empirical use to evidence-based intervention requires PMOS-specific preclinical validation, randomized controlled trials, safety assessments, bioavailability evaluation, and standardized product validation, alongside collaborative efforts across research paradigms, technology development, and industrial translation.