Enhancement of oral bioavailability of natural compounds and probiotics by mucoadhesive tailored biopolymer-based nanoparticles: A review

Berberine encapsulated phenylboronic acid-conjugated pullulan nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity validated in A431 skin cancer cells and 3D spheroids

Polysaccharide-based drug delivery systems are in high demand due to their biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and low-cost. In this study, sialic acid receptor targeted 4-carboxy phenylboronic acid modified pullulan-stearic acid conjugate (4-cPBA-PUL-SA) was synthesized and characterized for the delivery of Berberine (BBR). BBR-loaded 4-cPBA-PUL-SA nanoparticles (BPPNPs) were monodispersed (PDI: 0.238 ± 0.07), with an average hydrodynamic particle size of 180.6 nm and 73.6 % encapsulation efficiency. BPPNPs showed controlled BBR release and excellent colloidal stability, indicating their potential for drug delivery application. The cytotoxicity results indicated that BPPNPs exhibited dose and time-dependent cytotoxicity against human epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431) as well as 3D spheroids. Targeted BPPNPs demonstrated significantly higher anticancer activity compared to BBR and non-targeted BPNPs. The IC50 values for BPPNPs (2.29 μg/ml) were significantly lower than BPNPs (4.13 μg/ml) and BBR (19.61 μg/ml), indicating its potential for skin cancer treatment. Furthermore, CSLM images of A431 cells and 3D spheroids demonstrated that BPPNPs have higher cellular uptake and induced apoptosis compared to free BBR and BPNPs. In conclusion, BPPNPs demonstrate promising potential as an effective drug delivery system for skin cancer therapy.

Advances in Nanotechnology for Enhancing the Solubility and Bioavailability of Poorly Soluble Drugs

This manuscript offers a comprehensive overview of nanotechnology's impact on the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, with a focus on BCS Class II and IV drugs. We explore various nanoscale drug delivery systems (NDDSs), including lipid-based, polymer-based, nanoemulsions, nanogels, and inorganic carriers. These systems offer improved drug efficacy, targeting, and reduced side effects. Emphasizing the crucial role of nanoparticle size and surface modifications, the review discusses the advancements in NDDSs for enhanced therapeutic outcomes. Challenges such as production cost and safety are acknowledged, yet the potential of NDDSs in transforming drug delivery methods is highlighted. This contribution underscores the importance of nanotechnology in pharmaceutical engineering, suggesting it as a significant advancement for medical applications and patient care.

Oral delivery of probiotics using single-cell encapsulation

Adequate intake of live probiotics is beneficial to human health and wellbeing because they can help treat or prevent a variety of health conditions. However, the viability of probiotics is reduced by the harsh environments they experience during passage through the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Consequently, the oral delivery of viable probiotics is a significant challenge. Probiotic encapsulation provides a potential solution to this problem. However, the production methods used to create conventional encapsulation technologies often damage probiotics. Moreover, the delivery systems produced often do not have the required physicochemical attributes or robustness for food applications. Single-cell encapsulation is based on forming a protective coating around a single probiotic cell. These coatings may be biofilms or biopolymer layers designed to protect the probiotic from the harsh gastrointestinal environment, enhance their colonization, and introduce additional beneficial functions. This article reviews the factors affecting the oral delivery of probiotics, analyses the shortcomings of existing encapsulation technologies, and highlights the potential advantages of single-cell encapsulation. It also reviews the various approaches available for single-cell encapsulation of probiotics, including their implementation and the characteristics of the delivery systems they produce. In addition, the mechanisms by which single-cell encapsulation can improve the oral bioavailability and health benefits of probiotics are described. Moreover, the benefits, limitations, and safety issues of probiotic single-cell encapsulation technology for applications in food and beverages are analyzed. Finally, future directions and potential challenges to the widespread adoption of single-cell encapsulation of probiotics are highlighted.

Novel Drug Delivery Approaches for the Localized Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth leading cancer type in females globally. Being an ailment of the birth canal, primitive treatment strategies, including surgery, radiation, or laser therapy, bring along the risk of infertility, neonate mortality, premature parturition, etc. Systemic chemotherapy led to systemic toxicity. Therefore, delivering a smaller cargo of therapeutics to the local site is more beneficial in terms of efficacy as well as safety. Due to the regeneration of cervicovaginal mucus, conventional dosage forms come with the limitations of leaking, the requirement of repeated administration, and compromised vaginal retention. Therefore, these days novel strategies are being investigated with the ability to combat the limitations of conventional formulations. Novel carriers can be engineered to manipulate bioadhesive properties and sustained release patterns can be obtained thus leading to the maintenance of actives at therapeutic level locally for a longer period. Other than the purpose of CC treatment, these delivery systems also have been designed as postoperative care where a certain dose of antitumor agent will be maintained in the cervix postsurgical removal of the tumor. Herein, the most explored localized delivery systems for the treatment of CC, namely, nanofibers, nanoparticles, in situ gel, liposome, and hydrogel, have been discussed in detail. These carriers have exceptional properties that have been further modified with the aid of a wide range of polymers in order to serve the required purpose of therapeutic effect, safety, and stability. Further, the safety of these delivery systems toward vital organs has also been discussed.

Development and Characterization of New Miconazole-Based Microemulsions for Buccal Delivery by Implementing a Full Factorial Design Modeling

This research aimed to develop miconazole-based microemulsions using oleic acid as a natural lipophilic phase and a stabilizer mixture comprising Tween 20 and PEG 400 to solubilize miconazole as an antifungal agent known for its activity in oral candidiasis and to improve its bioavailability. The formulation and preparation process was combined with a mathematical approach using a 23-full factorial plan. Fluid and gel-like microemulsions were obtained and analyzed considering pH, conductivity, and refractive index, followed by extensive analyses focused on droplet size, zeta potential, rheological behavior, and goniometry. In vitro release tests were performed to assess their biopharmaceutical characteristics. Independent variables coded X1-Oleic acid (%, w/w), X2-Tween 20 (%, w/w), and X3-PEG 400 (%, w/w) were analyzed in relationship with three main outputs like mean droplet size, work of adhesion, and diffusion coefficient by combining statistical tools with response surface methodology. The microemulsion containing miconazole base-2%, oleic acid-5%, Tween 20-40%, PEG 400-20%, and water-33% exhibited a mean droplet size of 119.6 nm, a work of adhesion of 71.98 mN/m, a diffusion coefficient of 2.11·10-5 cm2/s, and together with remarked attributes of two gel-like systems formulated with higher oil concentrations, modeled the final optimization step of microemulsions as potential systems for buccal delivery.

Cell-penetrating peptides for transmucosal delivery of proteins

Enabling non-invasive delivery of proteins across the mucosal barriers promises improved patient compliance and therapeutic efficacies. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are emerging as a promising and versatile tool to enhance protein and peptide permeation across various mucosal barriers. This review examines the structural and physicochemical attributes of the nasal, buccal, sublingual, and oral mucosa that hamper macromolecular delivery. Recent development of CPPs for overcoming those mucosal barriers for protein delivery is summarized and analyzed. Perspectives regarding current challenges and future research directions towards improving non-invasive transmucosal delivery of macromolecules for ultimate clinical translation are discussed.

Structured soft particulate matters for delivery of bioactive compounds in foods and functioning in the colon

The present review discusses challenges, perspectives, and current needs of delivering bioactive compounds (BCs) using soft particulate matters (SPMs) for gut health. SPMs can entrap BCs for incorporation in foods, preserve their bioactivities during processing, storage, and gastrointestinal digestion, and deliver BCs to functioning sites in the colon. To enable these functions, physical, chemical, and biological properties of BCs are integrated in designing various types of SPMs to overcome environmental factors reducing the bioavailability and bioactivity of BCs. The design principles are applied using food grade molecules with the desired properties to produce SPMs by additionally considering the cost, sustainability, and scalability of manufacturing processes. Lastly, to make delivery systems practical, impacts of SPMs on food quality are to be evaluated case by case, and health benefits of functional foods incorporated with delivery systems are to be confirmed and must outweigh the cost of preparing SPMs.

Potentials of ionic liquids to overcome physical and biological barriers

Over the last decades, ionic liquids (IL) have shown great potential in non-invasive delivery starting from synthetic small molecules to biological large molecules. ILs are emerging as a particular class of drug delivery systems due to their unique physiochemical properties, simple surface modification, and functionalization. These features of IL help achieve specific design principles that are essential for a non-invasive drug delivery system. In this review, we have discussed IL and their applications in non-invasive drug delivery systems. We evaluated state-of-the-art development and advances of IL aiming to mitigate the biological and physical barriers to improve transdermal and oral delivery, summarized in this review. We also provided an overview of the various factors determining the systemic transportation of IL-based formulation. Additionally, we have emphasized how the ILs facilitate the transportation of therapeutic molecules by overcoming biological barriers.

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.

Anti-Proliferative Potential of Cynaroside and Orientin-In Silico (DYRK2) and In Vitro (U87 and Caco-2) Studies

Luteolin derivates are plant compounds with multiple benefits for human health. Stability to heat and acid hydrolysis and high resistance to (auto)oxidation are other arguments for the laden interest in luteolin derivates today. The present study was designed to compare the in silico and in vitro anti-proliferative potential of two luteolin derivates, luteolin-7-O-glucoside/cynaroside (7-Lut) and luteolin-8-C-glucoside/orientin (8-Lut). In silico investigations were carried out on the molecular target, namely, the human dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 2 (DYRK2) in association with its natural ligand, curcumin (PDB ID: 5ZTN), by CLC Drug Discovery Workbench v. 1.5.1. software and Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD) v. MVD 2019.7.0. software. In vitro studies were performed on two human tumor cell lines, glioblastoma (U87) and colon carcinoma (Caco-2), respectively. Altogether, docking studies have revealed 7-Lut and 8-Lut as effective inhibitors of DYRK2, even stronger than the native ligand curcumin; in vitro studies indicated the ability of both luteolin glucosides to inhibit the viability of both human tumor cell lines, up to 85% at 50 and 100 µg/mL, respectively; the most augmented cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects were obtained for U87 exposed to 7-Lut (IC50 = 26.34 µg/mL). The results support further studies on cynaroside and orientin to create drug formulas targeting glioblastoma and colon carcinoma in humans.

Intranasal delivery of stem cells labeled by nanoparticles in neurodegenerative disorders: Challenges and opportunities

Neurodegenerative disorders occur through progressive loss of function or structure of neurons, with loss of sensation and cognition values. The lack of successful therapeutic approaches to solve neurologic disorders causes physical disability and paralysis and has a significant socioeconomic impact on patients. In recent years, nanocarriers and stem cells have attracted tremendous attention as a reliable approach to treating neurodegenerative disorders. In this regard, nanoparticle-based labeling combined with imaging technologies has enabled researchers to survey transplanted stem cells and fully understand their fate by monitoring their survival, migration, and differentiation. For the practical implementation of stem cell therapies in the clinical setting, it is necessary to accurately label and follow stem cells after administration. Several approaches to labeling and tracking stem cells using nanotechnology have been proposed as potential treatment strategies for neurological diseases. Considering the limitations of intravenous or direct stem cell administration, intranasal delivery of nanoparticle-labeled stem cells in neurological disorders is a new method of delivering stem cells to the central nervous system (CNS). This review describes the challenges and limitations of stem cell-based nanotechnology methods for labeling/tracking, intranasal delivery of cells, and cell fate regulation as theragnostic labeling. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Neurological Disease.

Mucoadhesive capsules based on bacterial nanocellulose and chitosan as delivery system of turmeric extract

Current efforts in stomach-related drug design focus on improving drug bioavailability within the gastric region. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has been established as a suitable material for drug delivery systems; however, it lacks adhesion to the gastric environment. This limitation can be addressed by leveraging the mucoadhesive properties of low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC). Therefore, we aimed to develop mucoadhesive capsules constructed from BNC coated with crosslinked LMWC, intended for targeted drug delivery in the gastric region. The capsules were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and mucoadhesion assessments. Under acidic conditions, crosslinked chitosan exhibited enhanced swelling relative to neutral conditions. The coating of chitosan onto the BNC fibrillar network of the capsules resulted in the superimposition of vibration bands and enhanced thermal stability. Furthermore, the capsules exhibited significant mucoadhesive properties in the gastric environment, with an attachment force measuring 89.151 ± 6.226 mN. To validate the efficacy of the system, we utilized antioxidant turmeric extract (TE) as a bioactive compound with chemopreventive potential against stomach cancer. TE was adsorbed onto BNC in a reversible multilayer system, enabling controlled adsorption and desorption. These findings highlight the significance of developing mucoadhesive capsules as a tailored drug delivery system for gastric conditions, particularly in the context of treating stomach diseases as cancer.

Nanotechnology-based mucoadhesive and mucus-penetrating drug-delivery systems for transbuccal drug delivery

Buccal drug-delivery systems present a promising approach for the drug delivery to the buccal mucosa, addressing oral cavity-specific problems, enabling systemic delivery and minimizing adverse effects on biological systems. Numerous strategies have been proposed to load drug-containing nanoparticles (NPs) to the buccal mucosa for local and systemic applications. There has been considerable interest in the development of mucoadhesive buccal formulations, particularly hydrogel composites utilizing mucoadhesive films incorporating NPs. Drug permeability and controlled drug release through buccal drug delivery continues to pose a challenge despite the availability of various remedies. This review highlights the need for, mechanisms and latest advances in NP-based transbuccal drug delivery with a focus on various pathological disorders and examples and limitations of the different methods.

Factors affecting the fate of nanoencapsulates post administration

Nanoencapsulation has found numerous applications in the food and nutraceutical industries. Micro and nanoencapsulated forms of bioactives have proven benefits in terms of stability, release, and performance in the body. However, the encapsulated ingredient is often subjected to a wide range of processing conditions and this is followed by storage, consumption, and transit along the gastrointestinal tract. A strong understanding of the fate of nanoencapsulates in the biological system is mandatory as it provides valuable insights for ingredient selection, formulation, and application. In addition to their efficacy, there is also the need to assess the safety of ingested nanoencapsulates. Given the rising research and commercial focus of this subject, this review provides a strong focus on their interaction factors and mechanisms, highlighting their prospective biological fate. This review also covers various approaches to studying the fate of nanoencapsulates in the body. Also, with emphasis on the overall scope, the need for a new advanced integrated common methodology to evaluate the fate of nanoencapsulates post-administration is discussed.

Extraction, Characterization, and Evaluation of Lepidium sativum Linn. Mucilage as a Mucoadhesive Polymer

Being biocompatible, less toxic, cheap, easily available, and environmentally friendly, there is an increased trust in natural polymers in the drug delivery system. Mucilages, among the natural polymers, are the primary metabolites of plants that have been widely utilized in pharmaceutical manufacturing for different purposes, and mucoadhesive is one among them. The present study was designed to investigate the use of LSM as a mucoadhesive polymer using ibuprofen as a model drug. The mucilage was extracted following an aqueous extraction method and its percentage yield was found to be 13.2% w/w. Besides, three microsphere formulations of ibuprofen were prepared using synthetic polymer hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) K100M and the LSM in polymer to drug ratios of 1 : 1, 1 : 5, and 3 : 5 by applying ionotropic gelation followed by solvent evaporation methods. The microspheres were evaluated for various micromeritic properties and all the formulations exhibited free-flowing properties. Optical microscopic pictures of almost all the microspheres except F3 and F6 (which had more or less spherical shapes) were found to have irregular and discrete shapes. Besides, the surfaces of all the formulations were rough in texture. The drug entrapment efficiency of the microspheres was found to be between 52.08% ± 0.80 and 87.97% ± 0.72. The in-vitrowash-off test evidenced that almost 50 percent (especially F3) of the microspheres were able to adhere up to 18 h and showed remarkable bioadhesion properties. The in-vitro drug release profile indicated that all the formulations were able to prolong their drug release up to 12 h with a non-fickian release mechanism, except for F4, which followed a fickian release. Therefore, based on the findings of this study, LSM can be used as a potential alternative mucoadhesive excipient for sustained release formulations.

A Pharmacokinetic Study of Different Quercetin Formulations in Healthy Participants: A Diet-Controlled, Crossover, Single- and Multiple-Dose Pilot Study

This study aimed to evaluate the blood concentrations of quercetin in healthy participants after the administration of different formulations in single- and multiple-dose phases. Ten healthy adults (males, 5; females, 5; age 37 ± 11 years) participated in a diet-controlled, crossover pilot study. Participants received three different doses (250 mg, 500 mg, or 1000 mg) of quercetin aglycone orally. In the single-dose study, blood concentrations (AUC0-24 and Cmax) of standard quercetin were compared with those of LipoMicel®-a food-grade delivery form of quercetin. In the multiple-dose study, blood concentrations of formulated quercetin were observed over 72 h, after repeated doses of LipoMicel (LM) treatments. The AUC0-24 ranged from 77.3 to 1128.9 ng·h/ml: LM significantly increased blood concentrations of quercetin by 7-fold (LM 500) compared to standard quercetin, when tested at the same dose, over 24 h (p < 0.001); LM administered at a higher dose (LM 1000) achieved 15-fold higher absorption (p < 0.001); LM tested at half a dose of standard quercetin increased concentration by approx. 3-fold (LM 250). Quercetin blood concentrations were attained over 72 h. The major metabolites measured in the blood were methylated, sulfate, and glutathione (GSH) conjugates of quercetin. Significant differences in concentrations between quercetin conjugates (sulfate vs. methyl vs. GSH) were observed (p < 0.001). Data obtained from this study suggest that supplementation with LipoMicel® is a promising strategy to increase the absorption of quercetin and its health-promoting effects in humans. However, due to the low sample size in this pilot study, further research is still warranted to confirm the observations in larger populations. This trial is registered with NCT05611827.

Alginate Nanoencapsulated Synbiotic Composite of Pomegranate Peel Phytogenics and Multi-Probiotic Species as a Potential Feed Additive: Physicochemical, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities

A synbiotic composed of alginate nanoencapsulated prebiotic (pomegranate peel phytogenics) and multi-species probiotics (Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) has been developed as a potential eco-friendly alternative to antibiotics. The physicochemical properties of the encapsulated synbiotic were evaluated, and its gastric and storage tolerance, as well as its antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, were tested and compared to that of the non-encapsulated synbiotic (free synbiotic). The results showed that the prebiotic pomegranate peel ethanolic extract contained seven phenolic compounds, with cinnamic being the most abundant (13.26 µL/mL). Sodium alginate-CaCl2 nanocapsules were effective in encapsulating 84.06 ± 1.5% of the prebiotic's phenolic compounds and 98.85 ± 0.57% of the probiotics. The particle size of the alginate-CaCl2 nanoencapsulated synbiotic was 544.5 nm, and the polydispersity index and zeta potential values were 0.593 and -12.3 mV, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the alginate-CaCl2 nanoencapsulated synbiotic had high thermal stability at high temperatures, with only 2.31% of its weight being lost within the temperature range of 70-100 °C. The count of viable probiotics in the nanoencapsulated synbiotic was significantly higher than that in the free synbiotic after exposure to gastric acidity and storage for six months at room temperature. The percent inhibition values of the nanoencapsulated synbiotic and ascorbic acid (as a standard antioxidant) were comparable and significantly greater than those of the free synbiotic. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the nanoencapsulated synbiotic and ascorbic acid were significantly lower than those of the free synbiotic (3.96 ± 0.42 µg/mL and 4.08 ± 0.79 µg/mL for nanoencapsulated synbiotic and ascorbic acid, respectively, vs. 65.75 ± 2.14 µg/mL for free synbiotic). The nanoencapsulated synbiotic showed the highest significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739). Both the nanoencapsulated and free synbiotics showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), similar to that of gentamicin, although the nanoencapsulated synbiotic showed significantly higher inhibition activity compared to the free synbiotic. The nanoencapsulated synbiotic showed antimicrobial activity comparable to gentamicin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 90274), whereas the free synbiotic showed the least antimicrobial activity (p < 0.05). Both synbiotics showed significantly higher antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhi (ATCC 6539) than gentamicin. Both synbiotics showed antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus, with a stronger effect observed for the nanoencapsulated synbiotic. However, the activity of both synbiotics was significantly lower than that of fluconazole (an antifungal drug).

Recent advances in mucus-penetrating nanomedicines for oral treatment of colonic diseases

INTRODUCTION

Oral administration is the most common route for treating colonic diseases that present increased incidences in recent years. Colonic mucus is a critical rate-limiting barrier for the accumulation of oral therapeutics in the colonic tissues. To overcome this obstacle, mucus-penetrating nanotherapeutics have been exploited to increase the accumulated amounts of drugs in the diseased sites and improve their treatment outcomes against colonic diseases.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we introduce the structure and composition of colonic mucus as well as its impact on the bioavailability of oral drugs. We also introduce various technologies used in the construction of mucus-penetrating nanomedicines (e.g. surface modification of polymers, physical means and biological strategies) and discuss their mechanisms and potential techniques for improving mucus penetration of nanotherapeutics.

EXPERT OPINION

The mucus barrier is often overlooked in oral drug delivery. The weak mucus permeability of conventional medications greatly lowers drug bioavailability. This challenge can be addressed through physical, chemical and biological technologies. In addition to the reported methods, promising approaches may be discovered through interdisciplinary research that further helps enhance the mucus penetration of nanomedicines.

Films of Poly(Hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and Copper with Antibacterial Activity

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), PHB, is a hydrophobic biopolymer with good mechanical and barrier properties. However, neat PHB is a semicrystalline polymer with a relative high degree of crystallinity and poor film properties. In this work, this biopolymer was plasticized with glycerol tributyrate and functionalized with copper (II) sulfate, allowing us to obtain biodegradable antimicrobial flexible films. Films with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of copper (II) sulfate presented a higher roughness than neat PHB films. The presence of plasticizer significantly improved the copper sulfate diffusion process, which was evidenced by a greater inhibition halo for plasticized materials compared to unplasticized ones, at the same salt concentration. Plasticized PHB with 2.5% copper (II) sulfate inhibited both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Pseudomona aeruginosa) bacteria, as determined by the bacterial inhibition halo. In addition, neat PHB films and PHB containing copper (II) sulfate did not show in vitro cytotoxicity in the L-929 cell line. Thus, plasticized PHB functionalized with copper (II) sulfate can be used as biodegradable antimicrobial flexible films for different applications.

Freeze-Dried Banana Slices Carrying Probiotic Bacteria

Findings on diet-health relationships have induced many people to adopt healthier diets, including the substitution of energy-dense snacks with healthier items, e.g., those containing probiotic microorganisms. The aim of this research was to compare two methods to produce probiotic freeze-dried banana slices-one of them consisting of impregnating slices with a suspension of probiotic Bacillus coagulans, the other based on coating the slices with a starch dispersion containing the bacteria. Both processes resulted in viable cell counts above 7 log ufc.g^-1, although the presence of the starch coating prevented a significant loss in viability during freeze-drying. The coated slices were less crispy than the impregnated ones, according to the shear force test results. However, the sensory panel (with more than 100 panelists) did not perceive significant texture differences. Both methods presented good results in terms of probiotic cell viability and sensory acceptability (the coated slices being significantly more accepted than the non-probiotic control slices).

Oral bioavailability of bioactive compounds; modulating factors, in vitro analysis methods, and enhancing strategies

Foods are complex biosystems made up of a wide variety of compounds. Some of them, such as nutrients and bioactive compounds (bioactives), contribute to supporting body functions and bring important health benefits; others, such as food additives, are involved in processing techniques and contribute to improving sensory attributes and ensuring food safety. Also, there are antinutrients in foods that affect food bioefficiency and contaminants that increase the risk of toxicity. The bioefficiency of food is evaluated with bioavailability which represents the amount of nutrients or bioactives from the consumed food reaching the organs and tissues where they exert their biological activity. Oral bioavailability is the result of some physicochemical and biological processes in which food is involved such as liberation, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (LADME). In this paper, a general presentation of the factors influencing oral bioavailability of nutrients and bioactives as well as the in vitro techniques for evaluating bioaccessibility and is provided. In this context, a critical analysis of the effects of physiological factors related to the characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) on oral bioavailability is discussed, such as pH, chemical composition, volumes of gastrointestinal (GI) fluids, transit time, enzymatic activity, mechanical processes, and so on, and the pharmacokinetics factors including BAC and solubility of bioactives, their transport across the cell membrane, their biodistribution and metabolism. The impact of matrix and food processing on the BAC of bioactives is also explained. The researchers' recent concerns for improving oral bioavailability of nutrients and food bioactives using both traditional techniques, for example, thermal treatments, mechanical processes, soaking, germination and fermentation, as well as food nanotechnologies, such as loading of bioactives in different colloidal delivery systems (CDSs), is also highlighted.

Lipid-based nanoparticles: Enhanced cellular uptake via surface thiolation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the uptake mechanism of thiolated nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). NLCs were decorated with a short-chain polyoxyethylene(10)stearyl ether with a terminal thiol group (NLCs-PEG₁₀-SH) or without (NLCs-PEG₁₀-OH) as well as with a long-chain polyoxyethylene(100)stearyl ether with thiolation (NLCs-PEG₁₀₀-SH) or without (NLCs-PEG₁₀₀-OH). NLCs were evaluated for size, polydispersity index (PDI), surface morphology, zeta potential and storage stability over six months. Cytotoxicity, adhesion to the cell surface and internalization of these NLCs in increasing concentrations were evaluated on Caco-2 cells. The influence of NLCs on the paracellular permeability of lucifer yellow was determined. Furthermore, cellular uptake was examined with and without various endocytosis inhibitors as well as reducing and oxidizing agents. NLCs were obtained in a size ranging from 164 to 190 nm, a PDI of 0.2, a negative zeta potential < -33 mV and stability over six months. Cytotoxicity was shown to be concentration dependent and to be lower for NLCs with shorter PEG chains. Permeation of lucifer yellow was 2-fold increased by NLCs-PEG₁₀-SH. All NLCs displayed concentration dependent adhesion to the cell surface and internalization, which was in particular 9.5-fold higher for NLCs-PEG₁₀-SH compared to NLCs-PEG₁₀-OH. Short PEG chain NLCs and especially thiolated short PEG chain NLCs showed higher cellular uptake than NLCs with longer PEG chain. Cellular uptake of all NLCs was mainly clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Thiolated NLCs showed also caveolae-dependent and clathrin- and caveolae-independent uptake. Macropinocytosis was involved in NLCs with long PEG chains. NLCs-PEG₁₀-SH indicated thiol-dependent uptake, which was influenced by reducing and oxidizing agents. Due to thiol groups on the surface of NLCs their cellular uptake and paracellular permeation enhancing properties can be substantially improved.

The Role of Mucoadhesion and Mucopenetration in the Immune Response Induced by Polymer-Based Mucosal Adjuvants

Mucus is a viscoelastic gel that acts as a protective barrier for epithelial surfaces. The mucosal vehicles and adjuvants need to pass through the mucus layer to make drugs and vaccine delivery by mucosal routes possible. The mucoadhesion of polymer particle adjuvants significantly increases the contact time between vaccine formulations and the mucosa; then, the particles can penetrate the mucus layer and epithelium to reach mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues. This review presents the key findings that have aided in understanding mucoadhesion and mucopenetration while exploring the influence of physicochemical characteristics on mucus-polymer interactions. We describe polymer-based particles designed with mucoadhesive or mucopenetrating properties and discuss the impact of mucoadhesive polymers on local and systemic immune responses after mucosal immunization. In future research, more attention paid to the design and development of mucosal adjuvants could lead to more effective vaccines.

Biodegradable Biopolymeric Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications-Challenges and Future Outlook

Biopolymers are polymers obtained from either renewable or non-renewable sources and are the most suitable candidate for tailor-made nanoparticles owing to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity and immunogenicity. Biopolymeric nanoparticles (BPn) can be classified as natural (polysaccharide and protein based) and synthetic on the basis of their origin. They have been gaining wide interest in biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, imaging and cancer therapy. BPn can be synthesized by various fabrication strategies such as emulsification, ionic gelation, nanoprecipitation, electrospray drying and so on. The main aim of the review is to understand the use of nanoparticles obtained from biodegradable biopolymers for various biomedical applications. There are very few reviews highlighting biopolymeric nanoparticles employed for medical applications; this review is an attempt to explore the possibilities of using these materials for various biomedical applications. This review highlights protein based (albumin, gelatin, collagen, silk fibroin); polysaccharide based (chitosan, starch, alginate, dextran) and synthetic (Poly lactic acid, Poly vinyl alcohol, Poly caprolactone) BPn that has recently been used in many applications. The fabrication strategies of different BPn are also being highlighted. The future perspective and the challenges faced in employing biopolymeric nanoparticles are also reviewed.

Protamine-mediated efficient transcellular and transmucosal delivery of proteins

Proteins and peptides often require frequent needle-based administrations. Here, we report a non-parenteral delivery method for proteins through physical mixing with protamine, an FDA-approved peptide. Protamine was shown to promote tubulation and rearrangement of cellular actin, leading to enhanced intracellular delivery of proteins compared to poly(arginine)₈ (R8). While the R8-mediated delivery resulted in significant lysosomal accumulation of the cargo, protamine directed the proteins to the nuclei with little lysosomal uptake. Intranasal delivery of insulin mixed with protamine effectively reduced blood glucose levels in diabetic mice 0.5 h after administration and the effect lasted for ∼6 h, comparable to subcutaneously injected insulin at the same dose. In mice, protamine was shown to overcome mucosal and epithelial barriers and modulate adherens junctions, promoting insulin penetration to the lamina propria layer for systemic absorption.

Exploiting lactic acid bacteria for colorectal cancer: a recent update

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world. Currently, chemotherapy and radiotherapy used to treat CRC exhibit many side effects, hence, it is an urgent need to design effective therapies to prevent and treat CRC. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can regulate gut microbiota, intestinal immunity, and intestinal mechanical barrier, which is becoming a hot product for the prevention and treatment of CRC, whereas comprehensive reviews of their anti-CRC mechanisms are limited. This review systematically reveals the latest incidence, mortality, risk factors, and molecular mechanisms of CRC, then summarizes the roles of probiotics in alleviating CRC in animal and clinical studies and critically reviews the possible mechanisms by which these interventions exert their activities. It then shows the limitations in mechanisms and clinical studies, and the suggestions for future research are also put forward, which will play an important role in guiding and promoting the basic and clinical research of remising CRC by LAB and the development of LAB products.

Precise oral delivery systems for probiotics: A review

Probiotics have several health benefits to the host. However, low pH in the stomach, various digestive enzymes and bile salts in the intestine threaten their viability and function. Thus, probiotics need to be protected during gastric transit to address challenges associated with low viability and impaired function. At present, probiotic delivery systems with different trigger mechanisms have been constructed to successfully introduce numerous high-viability probiotics to the intestine. On this basis, the application of non-targeted/targeted probiotic delivery systems in different gut microenvironment and the adjuvant therapeutic effect of probiotic delivery systems on other disease were discussed in detail. It is important to also note that most of the current studies in this area focused on non-targeted probiotic delivery systems. Moreover, changes in intestinal microenvironment under disease state and discontinuous distribution of disease site limit their development. Thus, emphasis were made on the optimization of non-targeted probiotic delivery systems and the necessity of designing more precisely targeted ones.

pH/ROS Dual-Sensitive Natural Polysaccharide Nanoparticles Enhance "One Stone Four Birds" Effect of Rhein on Ulcerative Colitis

Rhein (RH), a natural anthraquinone compound, is considered an effective treatment candidate for ulcerative colitis (UC), whose multiple biological activities contribute to UC, including anti-inflammation, antioxidation, intestinal barrier repair, and microflora regulation. However, the application of RH is severely limited by its low water solubility, low bioavailability, and poor colonic targeting. Although some nanoparticles have been developed for the oral delivery of RH, most of them mainly highlighted only one effect of some drug delivery strategies but the above multiple biological activities. Therefore, a multiple polysaccharide-based nanodelivery system, comprising chitosan (CS) and fucoidan (FU), with pH/reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensitivity and mucosal adhesion, was developed and first used to load RH as a comprehensive treatment for UC. Briefly, RH-F/C-NPs were prepared using the polyelectrolyte self-assembly method; the average size of RH-F/C-NPs was 233.1 ± 5.7 nm, and the encapsulation rate of RH was 93.67 ± 1.60%. And it could maintain gastric stability and release RH in the colon with the designed pH/ROS sensitivity contributed by the polysaccharide-based structures. Cellular uptake experiments showed that both NCM 460 cells and RAW 264.7 cells had a good uptake of RH-F/C-NPs. Importantly, the effects of RH were highlighted in in vivo experiments, the results of which showed that RH-F/C-NPs could significantly reduce DSS-induced inflammation by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB-mediated anti-inflammatory pathway, the Nrf2/HO-1-mediated antioxidant pathway, colonic mucosal barrier repair, and intestinal microflora regulation. In addition, pharmacokinetic studies have shown that F/C-NPs contribute to the increase in the plasma concentration and the accumulation of RH in the colon to some extent. In short, this study is the first to develop an oral multiple polysaccharide-based nanosystem with pH/ROS dual sensitivity to study the "one stone four birds" therapeutic effect of RH on UC.

Mucoadhesive carriers for oral drug delivery

Among the various dosage forms, oral medicine has extensive benefits including ease of administration and patients' compliance, over injectable, suppositories, ocular and nasal. Despite of extensive demand and emerging advantages, over 50% of therapeutic molecules are not available in oral form due to their physicochemical properties. More importantly, most of the biologics, proteins, peptide, and large molecular drugs are mostly available in injectable form. Conventional oral drug delivery system has limitation such as degradation and lack of stability within stomach due to presence of highly acidic gastric fluid, hinders their therapeutic efficacy and demand more frequent and higher dosing. Hence, formulation for controlled, sustained, and targeted drug delivery, need to be designed with feasibility to target the specific region of gastrointestinal (GI) tract such as stomach, small intestine, intestine lymphatic, and colon is challenging. Among various oral delivery approaches, mucoadhesive vehicles are promising and has potential for improving oral drug retention and controlled absorption to treat local diseases within the GI tract, as well systemic diseases. This review provides the overview about the challenges and opportunities to design mucoadhesive formulation for oral delivery of therapeutics in a way to target the specific region of the GI tract. Finally, we have concluded with future perspective and potential of mucoadhesive formulations for oral local and systemic delivery.

Mechanisms of carotenoid intestinal absorption and the regulation of dietary lipids: lipid transporter-mediated transintestinal epithelial pathways

Dietary lipids are key ingredients during cooking, processing, and seasoning of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables, playing vitals in affecting the absorption and utilization of carotenoids for achieving their health benefits. Besides, dietary lipids have also been extensively studied to construct various delivery systems for carotenoids, such as micro/nanoparticles, micro/nanoemulsions, and liposomes. Currently, the efficacies of these techniques on improving carotenoid bioavailability are often evaluated using the micellization rate or "bioaccessibility" based on in vitro models. However, recent studies have found that dietary lipids may also affect the carotenoid uptake via intestinal epithelial cells and the efflux of intracellular chyle particles via lipid transporters. An increasing number of studies reveal the varied impact of different dietary lipids on the absorption of different carotenoids and some lipids may even have an inhibitory effect. Consequently, it is necessary to clarify the relationship between the addition of dietary lipids and the intestinal absorption of carotenoid to fully understand the role of lipids during this process. This paper first introduces the intestinal absorption mechanism of carotenoids, including the effect of bile salts and lipases on mixed micelles, the types and regulation of lipid transporters, intracellular metabolizing enzymes, and the efflux process of chyle particles. Then, the regulatory mechanism of dietary lipids during intestinal carotenoid absorption is further discussed. Finally, the importance of selecting the dietary lipids for the absorption and utilization of different carotenoids and the design of an efficient delivery carrier are emphasized. This review provides suggestions for precise dietary carotenoid supplementation and offere an important reference for constructing efficient transport carriers for liposoluble nutrients.

Nano-delivery systems for food bioactive compounds in cancer: prevention, therapy, and clinical applications

Bioactive compounds represent a broad class of dietary metabolites derived from fruits and vegetables, such as polyphenols, carotenoids and glucosinolates with potential for cancer prevention. Curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, and β-carotene have been the most widely applied bioactive compounds in chemoprevention. Lately, many approaches to encapsulating bioactive components in nano-delivery systems have improved biomolecules' stability and targeted delivery. In this review, we critically analyze nano-delivery systems for bioactive compounds, including polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), liposomes, niosomes, and nanoemulsions (NEs) for potential use in cancer therapy. Efficacy studies of the nanoformulations using cancer cell lines and in vivo models and updated human clinical trials are also discussed. Nano-delivery systems were found to improve the therapeutic efficacy of bioactive molecules against various types of cancer (e.g., breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancer) mainly due to the antiproliferation and pro-apoptotic effects of tumor cells. Furthermore, some bioactive compounds have promised combination therapy with standard chemotherapeutic agents, with increased tumor efficiency and fewer side effects. These opportunities were identified and developed to ensure more excellent safety and efficacy of novel herbal medicines enabling novel insights for designing nano-delivery systems for bioactive compounds applied in clinical cancer therapy.

Enhanced Oral Bioavailability of MT-102, a New Anti-inflammatory Agent, via a Ternary Solid Dispersion Formulation

This study aimed to develop a solid dispersion (SD) of MT-102, a new anti-inflammatory agent, to improve its oral bioavailability. The ternary SD formulations of MT-102 (a poorly soluble extract of Isatis indigotica and Juglans mandshurica) were prepared using a solvent evaporation method with various drug/excipient ratios. Following that, the effectiveness of various SDs as an oral formulation of MT-102 was investigated using indirubin as a marker component. By forming SDs with hydrophilic polymers, the aqueous solubility of indirubin was significantly increased. SD-F4, containing drug, poloxamer 407 (P407), and povidone K30 (PVP K30) at a 1:2:2 weight ratio, exhibited the optimal dissolution profiles in the acidic to neutral pH range. Compared to pure MT-102 and a physical mixture, SD-F4 increased indirubin’s dissolution from MT-102 by approximately 9.86-fold and 2.21-fold, respectively. Additionally, SD-F4 caused the sticky extract to solidify, resulting in improved flowability and handling. As a result, compared to pure MT-102, the oral administration of SD-F4 significantly improved the systemic exposure of MT-102 in rats. Overall, the ternary SD formulation of MT-102 with a blended mixture of P407 and PVP K30 appeared to be effective at improving the dissolution and oral absorption of MT-102.

Encapsulation of Catechin into β-Glucan Matrix Using Wet Milling and Ultrasonication as a Coupled Approach: Characterization and Bioactivity Retention

In this study, the nanoencapsulation of catechin into the β-glucan matrix from oats [O-Glu (C)] and barley [B-Glu (C)] was performed using the coupled approach of ultrasonication and wet milling. The nanoencapsulated catechin was characterised by particle size distribution, surface charge, SEM, and FTIR. The particle size was found to be 200 nm and 500 nm while zeta potential was found −27.13 and −24 mV for O-Glu (C) and B-Glu (C), respectively. The encapsulation efficiency of O-Glu (C) and B-Glu (C) was found to be 86.5% and 88.2%. FTIR and SEM revealed successful entrapment of catechin in β-glucan. The encapsulated capsules showed sustainable release during simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Moreover, both O-Glu (C) and B-Glu (C) showed that biological activity such as lipase inhibition activity and antioxidant assay were retained after in vitro digestion. It was concluded that O-Glu (C) and B-Glu (C) can be used as functional ingredients effectively in food as well as in the pharmaceutical field.

Mucoadhesive Nanocarriers as a Promising Strategy to Enhance Intracellular Delivery against Oral Cavity Carcinoma

Oral cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), has posed a grave challenge to global health due to its high incidence, metastasis, and mortality rates. Despite numerous studies and favorable improvements in the therapeutic strategies over the past few decades, the prognosis of this disease remains dismal. Moreover, several drawbacks are associated with the conventional treatment; including permanent disfigurement and physical impairment that are attributed to surgical intervention, and systemic toxicity that results from aggressive radio- or chemotherapies, which impacts patients’ prognosis and post-treatment quality of life. The highly vascularized, non-keratinized oral mucosa appears as a potential route for cytotoxic drug administration in treating oral cancer. It acts as a non-invasive portal for drug entry targeting the local oral lesions of the early stages of cancer and the systemic metastasis sites of advanced cancer. The absorption of the poorly aqueous-soluble anti-cancer drugs can be enhanced due to the increased permeability of the ulcerous mucosa lining in the disease state and by bypassing the hepatic first-pass metabolism. However, some challenges in oral transmucosal drug delivery include the drugs’ taste, the limited surface area of the membrane lining the oral cavity, and flushing and enzymatic degradation by saliva. Therefore, mucoadhesive nanocarriers have emerged as promising platforms for controlled, targeted drug delivery in the oral cavity. The surface functionalization of nanocarriers with various moieties allows for drug targeting, bioavailability enhancement, and biodistribution at the site of action, while the mucoadhesive feature prolongs the drug’s residence time for preferential accumulation to optimize the therapeutic effect and reduce systemic toxicity. This review has been focused to highlight the potential of various nanocarriers (e.g., nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanocapsules, and liposomes) in conferring targeting, solubility and bioavailability enhancement of actives and mucoadhesive properties as novel tumor-targeted drug delivery approaches in oral cancer treatment.

Mechanical force-induced dispersion of starch nanoparticles and nanoemulsion: Size control, dispersion behaviour, and emulsified stability

High amylose starch nanoparticles (HS-SNPs) were rapidly synthesised by high-speed circumferential force of homogenisation (3000 and 15,000 rpm) during nanoprecipitation. Morphology and dynamic light scattering analyses showed that HS-SNPs fabricated by stronger circumferential shearing were excellent stabilisers in smaller sizes (20-50 nm). Their aggregates were liable to separate in the aqueous phase with the nano effect under either homogenisation over 6 min or ultrasonication in 2 min. SNP-based nanoemulsion (<200 nm) of high-water fraction was achieved, though the high hydrophilicity of the SNPs were identified by the contact angle. For homogenisation (with 100-2000 nm emulsion size), only time prolongation led to a better dispersion of SNP aggregates. Ultrasonication with periodic cavitation could disintegrate SNP aggregates into micro-aggregates for a stable emulsion system in a short period. In contrast, long-term ultrasound caused simultaneous re-agglomeration and solubilisation of the SNPs, leading to weakened interface barriers and decreased storage stability.

Peptide-Mucin Binding and Biosimilar Mucus-Permeating Properties

This study aimed to understand the role of the mucus layer (a biological hydrogel) in the transport mechanisms of peptides. Using established in vitro models, the mucin-binding activity and mucus-permeating property of peptides were determined. Uncharged peptides with relatively high hydrophilicity, including MANT, TNGQ, and PASL, as well as cationic peptides, including KIPAVF and KMPV, possessed strong mucin-binding activity. Contrarily, uncharged peptides with high hydrophobicity index, including YMSV and QIGLF, exhibited weak mucin-binding activity. Only TNGQ, which has high Boman index and hydrophilicity, showed a high biosimilar mucus-permeating property with a permeability of 96 ± 30% after 60 min. TNGQ showed the potential for high bioavailability due to the high mucin-binding and biosimilar mucus-permeating activities.

Biophysical matter in a marine estuary identified by the Sentinel-3B OLCI satellite and the presence of terrestrial iron (Fe) nanoparticles

The analysis of marine matter using the Sentinel-3B OLCI (Ocean Land Color Instrument) satellite is the most advanced technique for evaluating: the absorption of colored detrital and dissolved material (ADG_443_NN), total suspended matter concentration (TSM_NN) and of chlorophyll-a (CHL_NN) on a global scale. The objective is to analyze ADG_443_NN, TSM_NN and CHL_NN using the Sentinel-3B OLCI satellite and the presence of Fe-nanoparticles (NPs) + hazardous elements (HEs) in suspended sediments (SSs) in the maritime estuary of the Colombian city of Barranquilla. The study used the unpublished image of the Sentinel-3B OLCI satellite in the evaluation of ADG_443_NN, TSM_NN and CHL_NN in 72 sampled points. Subsequently, 36 samples of SSs were carried out in the Magdalena River, in the identification of Fe-NPs by advanced electron microscopies. The Sentinel-3B satellite revealed particulate accumulations in OCE1 through the intensity of OLCI in ocean. There was also a high Fe-NPs intensity of SSs in the Magdalena channel, spreading contamination to large regions.

Efficient Treatment of Fish Intestinal Parasites Applying a Membrane-Penetrating Oral Drug Delivery Nanoparticle

Nanodelivery of drugs aims to ensure drug stability in the face of adverse biochemical conditions in the course of administration, concomitant with appropriate pharmacological action provided by delivery at the targeted site. In this study, the application potential of a nanoparticle produced with biopolymers chitosan-N-arginine and alginate as an oral drug delivery material is evaluated. Both macromolecules being weak polyelectrolytes, the nanoparticle presents strong thermodynamic interactions with a biological model membrane consisting of a charged lipid liposome bilayer, leading to membrane disruption and membrane penetration of the nanoparticles in ideal conditions of pH corresponding to the oral route. The powder form of the nanoparticle was obtained by lyophilization and with a high percentage of entrapment of the anthelmintic drug praziquantel. In vivo studies were conducted with oral administration to Corydoras schwartzi fish with high intensity of intestinal parasites infection. The in vivo experiments confirmed the mucoadhesive and revealed membrane-penetrating properties of the nanoparticle by translocating the parasite cyst, which provided target drug release and reduction of over 97% of the fish intestinal parasites. Thus, it was evidenced that the nanoparticle was effective in transporting and releasing the drug to the target, providing an efficient treatment.

Latest developments in food-grade delivery systems for probiotics: A systematic review

Tremendous progress in the inseparable relationships between probiotics and human health has enabled advances in probiotic functional foods. To ensure the vitality of sensitive probiotics against multiple harsh conditions, rising food-grade delivery systems for probiotics have been developed. This review gives a summary of recently reported delivery vehicles for probiotics, analyzes their respective merits and drawbacks and makes comparisons among them. Subsequently, the applications and future prospects are discussed. According to the types of encapsulating probiotics, food-grade delivery systems for probiotics can be classified into "silkworm cocoons" and "spider webs", which are put forward in this paper. The former, which surrounds the inner probiotics with the outer protective layers, includes particles, emulsions, beads, hybrid electrospun nanofibers and microcapsules. While hydrogels and bigels belong to the latter, which protects probiotics with the aid of network structures. The future prospects include preferable viability and stability of probiotics, co-delivery systems, targeted gut release of probiotics, delivery of multiple strains, more scientific experimental verification and more diversified food products, which will enlighten further studies on delivering probiotics for human health. Taken together, delivery vehicles for probiotics are-or will soon be-in the field of food science, with further applications under development.

Nanofiber-based systems intended for diabetes

Diabetic mellitus (DM) is the most communal metabolic disease resulting from a defect in insulin secretion, causing hyperglycemia by promoting the progressive destruction of pancreatic β cells. This autoimmune disease causes many severe disorders leading to organ failure, lower extremity amputations, and ultimately death. Modern delivery systems e.g., nanofiber (NF)-based systems fabricated by natural and synthetic or both materials to deliver therapeutics agents and cells, could be the harbinger of a new era to obviate DM complications. Such delivery systems can effectively deliver macromolecules (insulin) and small molecules. Besides, NF scaffolds can provide an ideal microenvironment to cell therapy for pancreatic β cell transplantation and pancreatic tissue engineering. Numerous studies indicated the potential usage of therapeutics/cells-incorporated NF mats to proliferate/regenerate/remodeling the structural and functional properties of diabetic skin ulcers. Thus, we intended to discuss the aforementioned features of the NF system for DM complications in detail.

Natural Polymers for the Maintenance of Oral Health: Review of Recent Advances and Perspectives

The success of modern dental treatment is strongly dependent on the materials used both temporarily and permanently. Among all dental materials, polymers are a very important class with a wide spectrum of applications. This review aims to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the recent advances in the field of natural polymers used to maintain or restore oral health. It focuses on the properties of the most common proteins and polysaccharides of natural origin in terms of meeting the specific biological requirements in the increasingly demanding field of modern dentistry. The use of naturally derived polymers in different dental specialties for preventive and therapeutic purposes has been discussed. The major fields of application cover caries and the management of periodontal diseases, the fabrication of membranes and scaffolds for the regeneration of dental structures, the manufacturing of oral appliances and dentures as well as providing systems for oral drug delivery. This paper also includes a comparative characteristic of natural and synthetic dental polymers. Finally, the current review highlights new perspectives, possible future advancements, as well as challenges that may be encountered by researchers in the field of dental applications of polymers of natural origin.

Lipid Digestibility and Polyphenols Bioaccessibility of Oil-in-Water Emulsions Containing Avocado Peel and Seed Extracts as Affected by the Presence of Low Methoxyl Pectin

In this study, the digestibility of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions using low methoxyl pectin (LMP) as surfactant and in combination with avocado peel (AP) or seed (AS) extracts was assessed, in terms of its free fatty acid (FFA) release and the phenolic compound (PC) bioaccessibility. With this purpose, AP and AS were characterized by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS before their incorporation into O/W emulsions stabilized using LMP. In that sense, AP extract had a higher content of PCs (6836.32 ± 64.66 mg/100 g of extract) compared to AS extract (1514.62 ± 578.33 mg/100 g of extract). Both extracts enhanced LMP's emulsifying properties, leading to narrower distributions and smaller particle sizes compared to those without extracts. Similarly, when both LMP and the extracts were present in the emulsions the FFA release significantly increased. Regarding bioaccessibility, the PCs from the AS extracts had a higher bioaccessibility than those from the AP extracts, regardless of the presence of LMP. However, the presence of LMP reduced the bioaccessibility of flavonoids from emulsions containing either AP or AS extracts. These results provide new insights regarding the use of PC extracts from avocado peel and seed residues, and the effect of LMP on emulsion digestibility, and its influence on flavonoids bioaccessibility.

Cubosomal lipid nanoassemblies with pH-sensitive shells created by biopolymer complexes: A synchrotron SAXS study

We report a strategy for sustainable development of pH-responsive cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles (cubosomes), in which the structure-defining lyotropic nonlamellar lipid and the eventually encapsulated guest molecules can be protected by pH-sensitive polyelectrolyte shells with mucoadhesive properties. Bulk non-lamellar phases as well as pH-responsive polyelectrolyte-modified nanocarriers were formed by spontaneous assembly of the nonlamellar lipid monoolein and two biopolymers tailored in nanocomplexes with pH-dependent net charge. The mesophase particles involved positively charged N-arginine-modified chitosan (CHarg) and negatively charged alginate (ALG) chains assembled at different biopolymer concentrations and charge ratios into a series of pH-responsive complexes. The roles of Pluronic F127 as a dispersing agent and a stabilizer of the nanoscale dispersions were examined. Synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) investigations were performed at several N-arginine-modified chitosan/alginate ratios (CHarg/ALG with 10, 15 and 20 wt% ALG relative to CHarg) and varying pH values mimicking the pH conditions of the gastrointestinal route. The structural parameters characterizing the inner cubic liquid crystalline organizations of the nanocarriers were determined as well as the particle sizes and stability on storage. The surface charge variations, influencing the measured zeta-potentials, evidenced the inclusion of the CHarg/ALG biopolymer complexes into the lipid nanoassemblies. The polyelectrolyte shells rendered the hybrid cubosome nanocarriers pH-sensitive and influenced the swelling of their lipid-phase core as revealed by the acquired SAXS patterns. The pH-responsiveness and the mucoadhesive features of the cubosomal lipid/polyelectrolyte nanocomplexes may be of interest for in vivo drug delivery applications.

Quercetin against MCF7 and CAL51 breast cancer cell lines: apoptosis, gene expression and cytotoxicity of nano-quercetin

Aims: To evaluate the anti breast-cancer activity, biocompatibility and toxicity of poly(d,l)-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-encapsulated quercetin nanoparticles (Q-PLGA-NPs). Materials & methods: Quercetin was nano-encapsulated by an emulsion-diffusion process, and the nanoparticles were fully characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffractions, FESEM and zeta-sizer analysis. Activity against CAL51 and MCF7 cell lines were assessed by DNA fragmentation assays, fluorescence microscopy, and acridine-orange, and propidium-iodide double-stainings. Biocompatibility towards red blood cells and toxicity towards mice were also explored. Results: The Q-PLGA-NPs exhibited apoptotic activity against the cell lines. The murine in vivo studies showed no significant alterations in the liver and kidney's functional biomarkers, and no apparent abnormalities, or tissue damages were observed in the histological images of the liver, spleen, lungs, heart and kidneys. Conclusion: The study established the preliminary in vitro efficacy and in vivo safety of Q-PLGA-NPs as a potential anti-breast cancer formulation.

Enhancement of Biological and Pharmacological Properties of an Encapsulated Polyphenol: Curcumin

There is a dearth of natural remedies available for the treatment of an increasing number of diseases facing mankind. Natural products may provide an opportunity to produce formulations and therapeutic solutions to address this shortage. Curcumin (CUR), diferuloylmethane; I,7-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione is the major pigment in turmeric powder which has been reported to exhibit a number of health benefits including, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. In this review, the authors attempt to highlight the biological and pharmacological properties of CUR in addition to emphasizing aspects relating to the biosynthesis, encapsulation and therapeutic effects of the compound. The information contained in this review was generated by considering published information in which evidence of enhanced biological and pharmacological properties of nano-encapsulated CUR was reported. CUR has contributed to a significant improvement in melanoma, breast, lung, gastro-intestinal, and genito-urinary cancer therapy. We highlight the impact of nano-encapsulated CUR for efficient inhibition of cell proliferation, even at low concentrations compared to the free CUR when considering anti-proliferation. Furthermore nano-encapsulated CUR exhibited bioactive properties, exerted cytotoxic and anti-oxidant effects by acting on endogenous and cholinergic anti-oxidant systems. CUR was reported to block Hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry into hepatic cells, inhibit MRSA proliferation, enhance wound healing and reduce bacterial load. Nano-encapsulated CUR has also shown bioactive properties when acting on antioxidant systems (endogenous and cholinergic). Future research is necessary and must focus on investigation of encapsulated CUR nano-particles in different models of human pathology.

Microemulsification of essential oils for the development of antimicrobial and mosquito repellent functional coatings for textiles

AIMS

To develop an essential oil (EO)-loaded textile coating using an environmentally friendly microemulsion technique to achieve both antimicrobial and mosquito repellent functionalities.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Minimum inhibitory concentrations and fractional inhibitory concentrations of litsea, lemon and rosemary EOs were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Trichophyton rubrum. A 1 : 2 mixture of litsea and lemon EOs inhibited all the microorganisms tested and was incorporated into a chitosan-sodium alginate assembly by a microemulsification process. The EO-loaded microemulsions were applied to cotton and polyester fabrics using a soak-pad-dry method. The textile challenge tests demonstrated 7-8 log₁₀ reductions of S. epidermidis, S. aureus and E. coli after 24 h and T. rubrum after 48 h. Aedes aegypti mosquito repellency was also assessed which demonstrated 71·43% repellency compared to 52·94% by neat EO-impregnated cotton.

CONCLUSIONS

Textiles treated with the litsea and lemon EO microemulsion showed strong antimicrobial activity against the skin associated microorganisms E. coli, S. aureus, S. epidermidis and T. rubrum and potential mosquito repellent properties.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

EOs could be useful for the development of natural, environmentally friendly functional textiles to protect textiles and users from microbial contamination in addition to possessing other beneficial properties such as mosquito repellency.