Ultrasound-assisted preparation of different nanocarriers loaded with food bioactive ingredients

Modeling the release of food bioactive ingredients from carriers/nanocarriers by the empirical, semiempirical, and mechanistic models

The encapsulation process has been utilized in the field of food technology to enhance the technofunctional properties of food products and the delivery of nutraceutical ingredients via food into the human body. The latter application is very similar to drug delivery systems. The inherent sophisticated nature of release mechanisms requires the utilization of mathematical equations and statistics to predict the release behavior during the time. The science of mathematical modeling of controlled release has gained a tremendous advancement in drug delivery in recent years. Many of these modeling methods could be transferred to food. In order to develop and design enhanced food controlled/targeted bioactive release systems, understanding of the underlying physiological and chemical processes, mechanisms, and principles of release and applying the knowledge gained in the pharmaceutical field to food products is a big challenge. Ideally, by using an appropriate mathematical model, the formulation parameters could be predicted to achieve a specific release behavior. So, designing new products could be optimized. Many papers are dealing with encapsulation approaches and evaluation of the impact of process and the utilized system on release characteristics of encapsulated food bioactives, but still, there is no deep insight into the mathematical release modeling of encapsulated food materials. In this study, information gained from the pharmaceutical field is collected and discussed to investigate the probable application in the food industry.

Sonication-Assisted Production of Fosetyl-Al Nanocrystals: Investigation of Human Toxicity and In Vitro Antibacterial Efficacy against Xylella Fastidiosa

Recently, there is a growing demand in sustainable phytopathogens control research. Nanotechnology provides several tools such as new pesticides formulations, antibacterial nanomaterials and smart delivery systems. Metal nano-oxides and different biopolymers have been exploited in order to develop nanopesticides which can offer a targeted solution minimizing side effects on environment and human health. This work proposed a nanotechnological approach to obtain a new formulation of systemic fungicide fosetyl-Al employing ultrasonication assisted production of water dispersible nanocrystals. Moreover, chitosan was applicated as a coating agent aiming a synergistic antimicrobial effect between biopolymer and fungicide. Fosetyl-Al nanocrystals have been characterized by morphological and physical-chemical analysis. Nanotoxicological investigation was carried out on human keratinocytes cells through cells viability test and ultrastructural analysis. In vitro planktonic growth, biofilm production and agar dilution assays have been conducted on two Xylella fastidiosa subspecies. Fosetyl-Al nanocrystals resulted very stable over time and less toxic respect to conventional formulation. Finally, chitosan-based fosetyl-Al nanocrystals showed an interesting antibacterial activity against Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca and Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa.

Morphology and microstructural analysis of bioactive-loaded micro/nanocarriers via microscopy techniques; CLSM/SEM/TEM/AFM

Efficient characterization of the physicochemical attributes of bioactive-loaded micro/nano-vehicles is crucial for the successful product development. The introduction of outstanding science-based strategies and techniques makes it possible to realize how the characteristics of the formulation ingredients affect the structural and (bio)functional properties of the final bioactive-loaded carriers. The important points to be solved, at a microscopic level, are investigating how the features of the formulation ingredients affect the morphology, surface, size, dispersity, as well as the particulate interactions within bioactive-comprising nano/micro-delivery systems. This review presents a detailed description concerning the application of advanced microscopy techniques, i.e., confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) in characterizing the attributes of nano/microcarriers for the efficient delivery of bioactive compounds. Furthermore, the fundamental principles of these approaches, instrumentation, specific applications, and the strategy to choose the most proper technique for different carriers has been discussed.

Clove essential oil emulsion-filled cellulose nanofiber hydrogel produced by high-intensity ultrasound technology for tissue engineering applications

High-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) was used to produce emulsion-filled cellulose nanofiber (CNF) hydrogel using clove essential oil (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 wt%) as dispersed phase towards tissue engineering applications. The novel encapsulating systems obtained using HIUS specific energy at the levels of 0.10, 0.17, and 0.24 kJ/g were characterized by oil entrapment efficiency, microstructure, water retention value, color parameters, and viscoelastic properties. Freeze-dried emulsion-filled CNF hydrogels were characterized by porosity and swelling capacity. In addition, human gingival fibroblast cell cytocompatibility tests were performed to evaluate their potential applications as tissue engineering scaffold. The clove essential oil content strongly affected the oil entrapment efficiency, water retention value, color difference and whiteness of the prepared emulsion-filled CNF hydrogel. And, the HIUS energy only affected the yellowness of the emulsion-filled CNF hydrogel. Via HIUS processing, the CNF hydrogel successfully acted as a continuous phase in the emulsion-filled gel system with maximum oil entrapment efficiency of 34% when 0.5 wt% clove essential oil was added to the system. The encapsulating systems had predominantly gel-like property with maximum elastic modulus of 411 Pa. Furthermore, the emulsion-filled CNF hydrogels with the addition of clove essential oil up to 0.5 wt% indicated good cell viability rates (74-101%) to human gingival fibroblast cells. The newly developed clove essential oil emulsion-filled CNF hydrogel shows desirable cytocompatibility characteristics and can be considered as an alternative scaffold for tissue engineering applications.

Dendrimers as efficient nanocarriers for the protection and delivery of bioactive phytochemicals

The genesis of dendrimers can be considered as a revolution in nano-scaled bioactive delivery systems. These structures possess a unique potential in encapsulating/entrapping bioactive ingredients due to their tree-like nature. Therefore, they could swiftly obtain a valuable statue in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and medical sciences. Phytochemicals, as a large proportion of bioactives, have been studied and used by scholars in several fields of pharmacology, medical, food, and cosmetic for many years. But, the solubility, stability, and bioavailability issues have always been recognized as limiting factors in their application. Therefore, the main aim of this study is representing the use of dendrimers as novel nanocarriers for phytochemical bioactive compounds to deal with these problems. Hence, after a brief review of phytochemical ingredients, the text is commenced with a detailed explanation of dendrimers, including definitions, types, generations, synthesizing methods, and safety issues; then is continued with demonstration of their applications in encapsulation of phytochemical bioactive compounds and their active/passive delivery by dendrimers. Dendrimers provide a vast and appropriate surface to entrap the targeted phytochemical bioactive ingredients. Several parameters can affect the yield of nanoencapsulation by dendrimers, including their generation, type of end groups, surface charge, core structure, pH, and ambient factors. Another important issue of dendrimers is related to their toxicity. Cationic dendrimers, particularly PAMAM can be toxic to body cells through attaching to the cell membranes and disturbing their functions. However, a number of solutions have been suggested to decrease their toxicity.

Antimicrobial-loaded nanocarriers for food packaging applications

Increasing the demands of consumers for organic and safer foods has led to applying new technologies for food preservation. Active packaging (AP) containing natural antimicrobial agents is a good candidate for promoting the shelf life of food products. The efficiency of AP has been enhanced through nanoencapsulation methods, in which antimicrobial-loaded nanocarriers could provide a controlled release of antimicrobial active packaging for keeping the quality of foods during storage. The main objective of this review is to introduce common methods for designing novel encapsulation delivery systems offering controlled release of antimicrobials in the AP systems. The common nanocarriers for enveloping antimicrobial agents are described and the current state of art in the application of nanoencapsulated antimicrobials in development of antimicrobial APs have been summarized and tabulated. Incorporation of a carrier loaded with natural antimicrobial agents is the most effective method for developing AP in the food packaging sector which has become possible by using nanoencapsulated antimicrobials in films or coating structures, instead of using their free form. Nanoencapsulation approaches provide many advantages including protection against environmental stresses, release control, and improving the solubility and absorption of natural antimicrobials in AP, which are the main achievements overcoming the barriers for using natural antimicrobials in food packaging.

Improving the cancer prevention/treatment role of carotenoids through various nano-delivery systems

One of the emerging and recent strategies to combat cancer is application of natural bioactive compounds and phytochemicals. Carotenoids including lycopene, β-carotene, astaxanthin, crocin, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein, are the main group of plant pigments which play important roles in the prevention and healing process of different diseases including cancer. The pharmacological use of carotenoid compounds is frequently limited by their low bioavailability and solubility as they are mainly lipophilic compounds. The present study focuses on the current data on formulation of different carotenoid nanodelivery systems for cancer therapy and a brief overview of the obtained results. Encapsulation of carotenoids within different nanocarriers is a remarkable approach and innovative strategy for the improvement of health-promoting features and particularly, cancer prevention/treatment roles of these compounds through enhancing their solubility, cellular uptake, membrane permeation, bioaccessibility, and stability. There is various nanocarrier for loading carotenoids including polymeric/biopolymeric, lipid-based, inorganic, and hybrid nanocarriers. Almost in all relevant studies, these nano delivery systems have shown promising results in improving the efficiency of carotenoids in cancer therapy. [Formula: see text].

Anti-microbial activity of curcumin nanoformulations: New trends and future perspectives

Curcumin has been used in numerous anti-microbial research because of its low side effects and extensive traditional applications. Despite having a wide range of effects, the intrinsic physicochemical characteristics such as low bioavailability, poor water solubility, photodegradation, chemical instability, short half-life and fast metabolism of curcumin derivatives limit their pharmaceutical importance. To overcome these drawbacks and improve the therapeutic ability of curcuminoids, novel approaches have been attempted recently. Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems can increase the efficiency of curcumin in several diseases, especially infectious diseases. These innovative strategies include polymeric nanoparticles, hydrogels, nanoemulsion, nanocomposite, nanofibers, liposome, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), polymeric micelles, quantum dots, polymeric blend films and nanomaterial-based combination of curcumin with other anti-bacterial agents. Integration of curcumin in these delivery systems has displayed to improve their solubility, bioavailability, transmembrane permeability, prolong plasma half-life, long-term stability, target-specific delivery and upgraded the therapeutic effects. In this review paper, a range of in vitro and in vivo studies have been critically discussed to explore the therapeutic viability and pharmaceutical significance of the nano-formulated delivery systems to elevate the anti-bacterial activities of curcumin and its derivatives.

Nanosensors and particles: a technology frontier with pitfalls

As we are approaching 20 years after the US National Nanotechnology Initiative has been announced, whereby most of that funding was spend to engineer, characterize and bring nanoparticles and nanosensors to the market, it is timely to assess the progress made. Beyond revolutionizing nonmedical applications, including construction materials and the food industry, as well as in vitro medical diagnostics, the progress in bringing them into the clinic has been far slower than expected. Even though most of the advances in nanosensor and nanoparticle research and development have been paid for by disease-oriented funding agencies, much of the gained knowledge can now be applied to treat or learn more about our environment, including water, soil, microbes and plants. As the amount of engineered nanoparticles that enter our environment is currently exponentially increasing, much tighter attention needs to be paid to assessing their health risk. This is urgent as the asbestos story told us important lessons how financial interests arising from a rapid build up of a flourishing industry has blocked and is still preventing a worldwide ban on asbestos, nearly 100 years after the first health risks were reported.