Bioactive constituents in liposomes incorporated in orange juice as new functional food: thermal stability, rheological and organoleptic properties

Liposomes delivery systems of functional substances for precision nutrition

Natural bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and other biological activities are vital for maintaining the body's physiological functions and enhancing immunity. These compounds have great potential as nutritional therapeutic agents, but they can be limited due to their poor flavor, color, unstable nature, and poor water solubility, and degradation by gastrointestinal enzymes. Liposomes, as ideal carriers, can encapsulate both water-soluble and fat-soluble nutrients, enhance the bioavailability of functional substances, promote the biological activity of functional substances, and control the release of nutrients. Despite their potential, liposomes still face obstacles in nutrient delivery. Therefore, the design of liposomes for special needs, optimization of the liposome preparation process, enhancement of liposome encapsulation efficiency, and industrial production are key issues that must be addressed in order to develop food-grade liposomes. Moreover, the research on surface-targeted modification and surface functionalization of liposomes is valuable for expanding the scope of application of liposomes and achieving the release of functional substances from liposomes at the appropriate time and site. The establishment of in vivo and in vitro digestion models of nutrient-loaded liposomes, in-depth study of gastrointestinal digestive behavior after liposome ingestion, targeted nutrient release, and deciphering the nutritional intervention of human diseases and positive health promotion are promising fields with broad development prospects.

Organic and Biogenic Nanocarriers as Bio-Friendly Systems for Bioactive Compounds' Delivery: State-of-the Art and Challenges

"Green" strategies to build up novel organic nanocarriers with bioperformance are modern trends in nanotechnology. In this way, the valorization of bio-wastes and the use of living systems to develop multifunctional organic and biogenic nanocarriers (OBNs) have revolutionized the nanotechnological and biomedical fields. This paper is a comprehensive review related to OBNs for bioactives' delivery, providing an overview of the reports on the past two decades. In the first part, several classes of bioactive compounds and their therapeutic role are briefly presented. A broad section is dedicated to the main categories of organic and biogenic nanocarriers. The major challenges regarding the eco-design and the fate of OBNs are suggested to overcome some toxicity-related drawbacks. Future directions and opportunities, and finding "green" solutions for solving the problems related to nanocarriers, are outlined in the final of this paper. We believe that through this review, we will capture the attention of the readers and will open new perspectives for new solutions/ideas for the discovery of more efficient and "green" ways in developing novel bioperformant nanocarriers for transporting bioactive agents.

Development of Novel Lipid-Based Formulations for Water-Soluble Vitamin C versus Fat-Soluble Vitamin D3

The aim of this study was to develop a facile and novel lipid-based formulation of vitamin C and vitamin D3. Liposomes loaded with vitamin C and D3 were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential measurements for evaluating morphology, particle size and physical stability. HPLC was employed to quantify the content of vitamin C and vitamin D3 in their liposomal forms. The UHPLC analysis of the lipid-based vitamin formulation is an easy and rapid method for the characterization as well as the quantification of all components. In addition, encapsulation efficiency, vitamin loading and stability analysis were performed by the UHPLC method, in order to evaluate the reliability of the optimized lipid-based formulation. The TEM results provided key support for the core type of liposome structure in the formulations, whereas the HPLC results indicated that the liposomal vitamin C and D3 systems were homogeneous, and did not undergo phase separation. Taken together, the results demonstrate that liposomal encapsulated vitamins (vitamin C and D3) possess a unilamellar vesicle morphology with uniform particle size, despite differences in the hydrophile-lipophile profiles of the vitamins. The highly efficient encapsulation properties of such liposomal constructs are proposed to contribute to enhanced vitamin bioavailability.

Improving the thermal stability of natural bioactive ingredients via encapsulation technology

Bioactive compounds (bioactives) such as phenolic acids, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans and carotenoids have a marked improvement effect on human health by acting on body tissues or cells. Nowadays, with increasing levels of knowledge, consumers prefer foods that can provide bioactives beside the necessary nutrients (e.g., vitamins, essential fatty acids and minerals). However, an important barrier for incorporating bioactives into foods is their low thermal stability. Nevertheless, thermal processing is widely used by the food industries to achieve food safety and desired texture. The aim of this work is to give an overview of encapsulation technology to improve thermal stability of bioactives incorporated into different food products. Almost all thermal analysis and non-thermal methods in the literature suggest that incorporation of bioactives into different walls can effectively improve the thermal stability of bioactives. The level of such thermal enhancement depends on the strength of the bioactive interaction and wall molecules. Furthermore, contradictory results have been reported in relation to the effect of encapsulation technique using the same wall on thermal stability of bioactives. To date, the potential to increase the thermal resistance of various bioactives by gums, carbohydrates, and proteins have been extensively studied. However, further studies on the comparison of walls and encapsulation methods to form thermally stable carriers seem to be needed. In this regard, the same nature of bioactives and the specific protocol in the report of study results should be considered to compare the data and select the optimum conditions of encapsulation to achieve maximum thermal stability.

Bicelles as a carrier for bioactive compounds in beverages: application to nerolidol, an active sesquiterpene alcohol

ABSTRACT

Nerolidol is a natural sesquiterpene alcohol with promising but limited application in food and pharmaceutical fields due to several factors including low photostability and low aqueous solubility. Recently, several carriers loading nerolidol were prepared and tested in fresh orange juice. Lipid vesicles loading nerolidol did not exhibit satisfactory organoleptic properties in this beverage. Hence, DMPC/DHPC bicelles were prepared as a new phospholipid-based carrier for nerolidol at different molar ratios. The bicelle suspensions were characterized in terms of homogeneity, particles size, and morphology. The optimal formulation (phospholipid:nerolidol molar ratio 100:1) was selected based on transparent appearance, homogeneity, and particle size (~ 45 nm). Besides, it showed a high encapsulation efficiency of nerolidol and a high incorporation rate of phospholipids. Transmission electron microscopy analysis demonstrated the formation of bicelles. The bicelles membrane fluidity was assessed by 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene fluorescence anisotropy and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The membrane fluidity of bicelles appeared to increase in the presence of nerolidol in a concentration dependent manner. To our knowledge this is the first study dealing with the encapsulation of an essential oil component in bicelles.

GRAPHIC ABSTRACT

A Comprehensive Review on Novel Liposomal Methodologies, Commercial Formulations, Clinical Trials and Patents

Liposomes are well-recognized and essential nano-sized drug delivery systems. Liposomes are phospholipid vesicles comprised of cell membrane components and have been employed as artificial cell models to mimic structure and functions of cells and are of immense use in various biological analyses. Liposomes acquire great advantages and provide wide range of applications as useful drug carriers in pre-clinical and clinical trials. This review summarizes exclusively on scalable techniques for liposome preparation and focuses on the strengths and limitations with respect to industrial applicability. Also, this review discusses the updated recent advancements in biomedical applications with a mention of key highlights of commercially available formulations, clinical trials and patents in recent past. Furthermore, this review also provides brief information of the classification, composition and characterization of liposomes.

Advancements in liposome technology: Preparation techniques and applications in food, functional foods, and bioactive delivery: A review

Liposomes play a significant role in encapsulation of various bioactive compounds (BACs), including functional food ingredients to improve the stability of core. This technology can be used for promoting an effective application in functional food and nutraceuticals. Incorporation of traditional and emerging methods for the developments of liposome for loading BACs resulted in viable and stable liposome formulations for industrial applications. Thus, the advance technologies such as supercritical fluidic methods, microfluidization, ultrasonication with traditional methods are revisited. Liposomes loaded with plant and animal BACs have been introduced for functional food and nutraceutical applications. In general, application of liposome systems improves stability, delivery, and bioavailability of BACs in functional food systems and nutraceuticals. This review covers the current techniques and methodologies developed and practiced in liposomal preparation and application in functional foods.

Development and Characterization of Liposomal Formulations Containing Phytosterols Extracted from Canola Oil Deodorizer Distillate along with Tocopherols as Food Additives

Phytosterols are plant sterols recommended as adjuvant therapy for hypercholesterolemia and tocopherols are well-established anti-oxidants. However, thermo-sensitivity, lipophilicity and formulation-dependent efficacy bring challenges in the development of functional foods, enriched with phytosterols and tocopherols. To address this, we developed liposomes containing brassicasterol, campesterol and β-sitosterol obtained from canola oil deodorizer distillate, along with alpha, gamma and delta tocopherol. Three approaches; thin film hydration-homogenization, thin film hydration-ultrasonication and Mozafari method were used for formulation. Validated liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was utilized to determine the entrapment efficiency of bioactives. Stability studies of liposomal formulations were conducted before and after pasteurization using high temperature short time (HTST) technique for a month. Vesicle size after homogenization and ultrasonication (<200 nm) was significantly lower than by Mozafari method (>200 nm). However, zeta potential (-9 to -14 mV) was comparable which was adequate for colloidal stability. Entrapment efficiencies were greater than 89% for all the phytosterols and tocopherols formulated by all three methods. Liposomes with optimum particle size and zeta potential were incorporated in model orange juice, showing adequate stability after pasteurization (72 °C for 15 s) for a month. Liposomes containing phytosterols obtained from canola waste along with tocopherols were developed and successfully applied as a food additive using model orange juice.

Enhanced bioactivity and efficient delivery of quercetin through nanoliposomal encapsulation using rice bran phospholipids

BACKGROUND

Quercetin is a phenolic compound occurring in many food plants and agricultural crops. It is reported to possess various health-promoting properties. However, the poor bioavailability of quercetin, due to its low aqueous solubility and its degradation during digestion, limits its nutraceutical applications. This study aimed to encapsulate quercetin in nanoliposomes using rice-bran phospholipids for its efficient delivery and controlled release, the protection of its structural stability, and enhancement of its bioactivity.

RESULTS

Nanoliposomal encapsulation of quercetin by thin film-sonication method yielded spherical nanoparticles (157.33 ± 23.78 nm) with high encapsulation efficiency (84.92 ± 0.78%). Storage stability studies showed that nanoliposomal quercetin was stable at 4 °C and 27 °C for 6 and 5 months, respectively, as indicated by unchanged antioxidant activity and quercetin retention. Nanoliposomal quercetin showed a slow, limited release pattern in simulated gastric fluid (SGF), and an initial burst release followed by a slow constant releasing pattern in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). A 1004-fold increase in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity was observed in quercetin nanoliposomes (SC₅₀ = 4.04 ± 0.01 ppm) compared to non-encapsulated quercetin (SC₅₀ = 4053.03 ± 5.61 ppm). Similarly, the anti-angiogenic activity of quercetin, as evaluated by duck embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, was enhanced twofold to fivefold by nanoliposomal encapsulation.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that nanoliposomal encapsulation in rice-bran phospholipids enhanced the radical-scavenging and anti-angiogenic activities of quercetin. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that nanoliposomes can serve as efficient oral delivery system for quercetin. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.