Recently, there has been an increasing trend in the food and pharmaceutical industries towards using nanotechnological approaches to drug delivery and active packaging (edible coatings and films). In the food sector, lipid-based nanocarriers especially nano emulsion (NEs), and lipid based nanocarriers (NLCs) are the most promising technology for delivering active components and improving the barrier, mechanical, and biological properties of packaging to ensure the safety and quality of food products, as well as extend their shelf life. To ensure the safety and quality of food products, as well as extend their shelf life. For this review, we used several databases to collect information about NEs, NLCs and their role in edible packaging. We searched for articles published between 2015 and 2024 and described different scientific approaches to developing active packaging systems based on NEs and NLCs, as well as their high-energy and low-energy synthesis methods. We also reviewed the uses of different types of essential oil-based NEs and NLCs in the packaging of food products to prolong their shelf life and ensure safety. The application of these nanocarriers in packaging systems is promising in terms of improving the packaging’s physical, mechanical, barrier, and other functional properties, as well as extending the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, and other food categories. Nanotechnological approach are gaining more attention due to their applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food sectors to improve the stability of carrier agents. Their application in packaging systems is promising in terms of improving the packaging’s physical, mechanical, barrier, and other functional properties, as well as extending the shelf life of fruits, vegetables, and other food categories by retarding their water and gas transpiration throughout the storage period.
