Recent advances in the development and application of curcumin-loaded micro/nanocarriers in food research

Enhancing Monodispersity and Thermal Stability of Human H-Ferritin as a Nanocarrier by Protein Design

Cage-like ferritin has been explored as a new class of nanovehicle in the field of food and nutrition, but its aggregation characteristics and low thermal stability limit its further application. This study focused on improving the monodispersity and thermal stability of recombinant human H-ferritin (rHuHF) for enhanced cargo molecule delivery. With the aid of AlphaFold 3.0, we designed a ferritin mutant by removing cysteine residues of rHuHF to improve monodispersity during storage while introducing histidine mutations at the C3 and C4 interfaces to enhance thermal stability. Notably, the designed protein structure was validated by a resolved crystal structure at the atomic level. As expected, the designed ferritin nanocage exhibited significantly improved monodispersity and thermal stability, enhancing its cargo loading capacity and cellular uptake efficiency. Such designed ferritin offers a more stable, efficient nanocarrier for cargo delivery and cargo protection under heat stress as compared to wild-type rHuHF.

Nanostructured Lipid Carrier-Filled Hydrogel Beads for the Delivery of Curcumin: Digestion, Intestinal Permeation, and Antioxidant Bioactivity After Gastrointestinal Digestion

Background/Objectives: The aim of the present study was to develop nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC)-filled hydrogel beads for the delivery of curcumin in functional foods. Methods: Curcumin-loaded NLC-filled hydrogel beads based on calcium alginate were developed using the extrusion method. Various preparation parameters, physicochemical characteristics, gastrointestinal fates, and antioxidant bioactivities were studied to confirm the feasibility of this delivery system. Results: Curcumin-loaded NLCs were successfully filled into hydrogel beads with an encapsulation efficiency above 80%. The stability test displayed that the stability of curcumin encapsulated within NLCs was further enhanced when the NLCs were filled into beads. During in vitro digestion, the lipolysis rate of the lipid matrix and the release rate of curcumin encapsulated in NLCs were adjusted by the hydrogel beads. The ex vivo intestinal permeation study indicated that the intestinal permeation of curcumin from the digestion products of curcumin-loaded NLC-hydrogel beads, prepared with appropriate alginate concentrations (0.5% and 1%), was significantly enhanced compared to that of curcumin-loaded NLCs. Furthermore, the digestion products of curcumin-loaded NLC-hydrogel beads (1% alginate) exhibited significantly enhanced antioxidant bioactivity compared to those of curcumin-loaded NLCs. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that NLC-hydrogel beads might be a promising delivery system for hydrophobic bioactive compounds in functional food systems.

Recent advances in self-targeting natural product-based nanomedicines

Natural products, recognized for their potential in disease prevention and treatment, have been integrated with advanced nano-delivery systems to create natural product-based nanomedicines, offering innovative approaches for various diseases. Natural products derived from traditional Chinese medicine have their own targeting effect and remarkable therapeutic effect on many diseases, but there are some shortcomings such as poor physical and chemical properties. The construction of nanomedicines using the active ingredients of natural products has become a key step in the modernization research process, which could be used to make up for the defects of natural products such as low solubility, large dosage, poor bioavailability and poor targeting. Nanotechnology enhances the safety, selectivity, and efficacy of natural products, positioning natural product-based nanomedicines as promising candidates in medicine. This review outlines the current status of development, the application in different diseases, and safety evaluation of natural product-based nanomedicines, providing essential insights for further exploration of the synergy between natural products and nano-delivery systems in disease treatment.