Characterization, techno-functional properties, and encapsulation efficiency of self-assembled β-lactoglobulin nanostructures

An underutilized bean: hyacinth bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) sweet]: bioactive compounds, functional activity, and future food prospect and applications

Hyacinth bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet], a plant belonging to the leguminous family and traditionally used for medicinal purposes in China, is a valuable resource with a wide range of health benefits. This review examines the bioactive compounds, health-promoting properties and functional food potential of hyacinth bean, highlighting its role in protecting against metabolic diseases and the underlying molecular mechanisms. According to existing research, hyacinth bean contains a diverse array of bioactive compounds, Consumption of hyacinth beans and hyacinth bean-related processed food products, as well as their use in medicines, is associated with a variety of health benefits that are increasingly favoured by the scientific community. In light of these findings, we posit that hyacinth bean holds great promise for further research and food application. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Self-assembled α-lactalbumin nanostructures: encapsulation and controlled release of bioactive molecules in gastrointestinal in vitro model

BACKGROUND

Implementing encapsulation techniques is pivotal in safeguarding bioactive molecules against environmental conditions for drug delivery systems. Moreover, the food-grade nanocarrier is a delivery system and food ingredient crucial in creating nutraceutical foods. Nano α-lactalbumin has been shown to be a promissory nanocarrier for hydrophobic molecules. Furthermore, the nanoprotein can enhance the tecno-functional properties of food such as foam and emulsion. The present study investigated the nanostructured α-lactalbumin protein (nano α-la) as a delivery and controlled release system for bioactive molecules in a gastric-intestinal in vitro mimic system.

RESULTS

The nano α-la was synthesized by a low self-assembly technique, changing the solution ionic strength by NaCl and obtaining nano α-la 191.10 ± 21.33 nm and a spherical shape. The nano α-la showed higher encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity for quercetin than riboflavin, a potential carrier for hydrophobic compounds. Thermal analysis of nano α-la resulted in a ΔH of -1480 J g-1 for denaturation at 57.44 °C. The nanostructure formed by self-assembly modifies the foam volume increment and stability. Also, differences between nano and native proteins in emulsion activity and stability were noticed. The release profile in vitro showed that the nano α-la could not hold the molecules in gastric fluid. The Weibull and Korsmeyer-Peppas model better fits the release profile behavior in the studied fluids.

CONCLUSION

The present study shows the possibility of nano α-la as an alternative to molecule delivery systems and nutraceutical foods' formulation because of the high capacity to encapsulate hydrophobic molecules and the improvement of techno-functional properties. However, the nanocarrier is not perfectly suitable for the sustainable delivery of molecules in the gastrointestinal fluid, demanding improvements in the nanocarrier. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Construction of fatty acid-ovalbumin binary complexes to improve the water dispersibility, thermal/digestive stability and bioaccessibility of lutein: A comparative study of different fatty acids

Lipids are increasingly being incorporated into delivery systems due to their ability to facilitate intestinal absorption of lipid-soluble nutrients through molecular solubilization and micellization. In this work, self-assembled complexes of ovalbumin (OVA) and nine dietary fatty acids (FAs) were constructed to improve the processability and absorbability of lutein (LUT). Results showed that all FAs could form stable hydrophilic particles with OVA under the optimized ultrasound-coupled pH conditions. Fourier infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that these binary complexes effectively encapsulated LUT with an encapsulation rate > 90.0 %. Stability experiments showed that these complexes protected LUT well, which could improve thermal stability and in vitro digestive stability by 1.66-3.58-fold and 1.27-2.74-fold, respectively. Besides, the bioaccessibility of LUT was also enhanced by 7.16-24.99-fold. The chain length and saturation of FAs affected the stability and absorption of LUT. Therefore, these results provided some reference for the selection of FAs for efficient delivery of lipid-soluble nutrients.

Self-Assembled Nanocarrier Delivery Systems for Bioactive Compounds

Although bioactive compounds (BCs) have many important functions, their applications are greatly limited due to their own defects. The development of nanocarriers (NCs) technology has gradually overcome the defects of BCs. NCs are equally important as BCs to some extent. Self-assembly (SA) methods to build NCs have many advantages than chemical methods, and SA has significant impact on the structure and function of NCs. However, the relationship among SA mechanism, structure, and function has not been given enough attention. Therefore, from the perspective of bottom-up building mechanism, the concept of SA-structure-function of NCs is emphasized to promote the development of SA-based NCs. First, the conditions and forces for occurring SA are introduced, and then the SA basis and molecular mechanism of protein, polysaccharide, and lipid are summarized. Then, varieties of the structures formed based on SA are introduced in detail. Finally, facing the defects of BCs and how to be well solved by NCs are also elaborated. This review attempts to describe the great significance of constructing artificial NCs to deliver BCs from the aspects of SA-structure-function, so as to promote the development of SA-based NCs and the wide application of BCs.

Development and Characterization of Quercetin-Loaded Delivery Systems for Increasing Its Bioavailability in Cervical Cancer Cells

Quercetin is a natural flavonoid with high anticancer activity, especially for related-HPV cancers such as cervical cancer. However, quercetin exhibits a reduced aqueous solubility and stability, resulting in a low bioavailability that limits its therapeutic use. In this study, chitosan/sulfonyl-ether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD)-conjugated delivery systems have been explored in order to increase quercetin loading capacity, carriage, solubility and consequently bioavailability in cervical cancer cells. SBE-β-CD/quercetin inclusion complexes were tested as well as chitosan/SBE-β-CD/quercetin-conjugated delivery systems, using two types of chitosan differing in molecular weight. Regarding characterization studies, HMW chitosan/SBE-β-CD/quercetin formulations have demonstrated the best results, which are obtaining nanoparticle sizes of 272.07 ± 2.87 nm, a polydispersity index (PdI) of 0.287 ± 0.011, a zeta potential of +38.0 ± 1.34 mV and an encapsulation efficiency of approximately 99.9%. In vitro release studies were also performed for 5 kDa chitosan formulations, indicating a quercetin release of 9.6% and 57.53% at pH 7.4 and 5.8, respectively. IC50 values on HeLa cells indicated an increased cytotoxic effect with HMW chitosan/SBE-β-CD/quercetin delivery systems (43.55 μM), suggesting a remarkable improvement of quercetin bioavailability.

Flavonoids-Based Delivery Systems towards Cancer Therapies

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Cervical cancer, for instance, is considered a major scourge in low-income countries. Its development is mostly associated with the human papillomavirus persistent infection and despite the availability of preventive vaccines, they are only widely administered in more developed countries, thus leaving a large percentage of unvaccinated women highly susceptible to this type of cancer. Current treatments are based on invasive techniques, being far from effective. Therefore, the search for novel, advanced and personalized therapeutic approaches is imperative. Flavonoids belong to a group of natural polyphenolic compounds, well recognized for their great anticancer capacity, thus promising to be incorporated in cancer therapy protocols. However, their use is limited due to their low solubility, stability and bioavailability. To surpass these limitations, the encapsulation of flavonoids into delivery systems emerged as a valuable strategy to improve their stability and bioavailability. In this context, the aim of this review is to present the most reliable flavonoids-based delivery systems developed for anticancer therapies and the progress accomplished, with a special focus on cervical cancer therapy. The gathered information revealed the high therapeutic potential of flavonoids and highlights the relevance of delivery systems application, allowing a better understanding for future studies on effective cancer therapy.

Nanoencapsulation of hydroxytyrosol in chitosan crosslinked with sodium bisulfate tandem ultrasonication: Techno-characterization, release and antiproliferative properties

This research includes production of chitosan nanocapsules through ionic gelation with sodium bisulfate for nanoencapsulation of hydroxytyrosol (HT) using ultrasonication in tandem. The resulting nanocapsules encapsulating HT were analyzed for particle size, ζ-potential, packaging characteristics, FESEM, ATR-FTIR, XRD, DSC, in vitro release, antioxidant potential and antiproliferative properties. The nanocapsules (size 119.50-365.21 nm) were spherical to irregular shaped with positive ζ-potential (17.50-18.09 mV). The encapsulation efficiency of 5 mg/g HT (HTS1) and 20 mg/g HT (HTS2) was 77.13% and 56.30%, respectively. The nanocapsules were amorphous in nature with 12.34% to 15.48% crystallinity and crystallite size between 20 nm and 27 nm. Formation of nanocapsules resulted in increasing the glass transition temperature. HTS2 delivered 67.12% HT (HTS1 58.89%) at the end of the simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The nanoencapsulated HT showed higher antioxidant and antiproliferative (against A549 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines) properties than the free HT.