Preparation, stability, antioxidative property and in vitro release of cannabidiol (CBD) in zein-whey protein composite nanoparticles

Fabrication and characterization of polydopamine-mediated zein-based nanoparticle for delivery of bioactive molecules

In this study, a combination of whey protein (hydrophilic coating) and polydopamine (crosslinking agent) was used to improve the stability and functionality of quercetin-loaded zein nanoparticles. There are two key benefits of the core-shell nanoparticles formed. First, the ability of the polydopamine to bind to both zein and whey protein facilitates the formation of a stable core-shell structure, thereby protecting quercetin from any pro-oxidants in the aqueous surroundings. Second, neutral and hydrophilic whey proteins were used for the surface coating of the nanoparticles to further enhance the sustained and slow release of quercetin, facilitating its sustained release into the body at a slow and steady rate. The results of this study will promote the innovative development of precise nutritional delivery systems for zein and provide a theoretical basis for the design and development of dietary supplements based on hydrophobic food nutrient molecules.

Non-covalent interactions between rice protein and three polyphenols and potential application in emulsions

Rice protein (RP) and polyphenols are often used in functional foods. This study investigated the non-covalent interactions between RP and three polyphenols (curcumin, CUR; quercetin, QUE; resveratrol, RES) and used the complexes as emulsifiers to create emulsions. Three polyphenols interacted with RP to varying extents, with QUE showing the greatest binding affinity and inducing the greatest alterations in its secondary structure. Molecular docking analysis elucidated the driving forces between them including hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces. Combination with QUE or RES induced structural changes of RP, increasing particle size of complexes. The synergistic effect of polyphenols and protein also enhanced radical scavenging capacity of complexes. Compared to pure protein, all complexes successfully created emulsions with smaller particle size (378-395 nm vs. 470 nm), higher absolute potential (37.43-38.26 mV vs. 35.62 mV), and greater lipid oxidation stability by altering protein conformation.

The development of nanocarriers for natural products

Natural bioactive compounds from plants exhibit substantial pharmacological potency and therapeutic value. However, the development of most plant bioactive compounds is hindered by low solubility and instability. Conventional pharmaceutical forms, such as tablets and capsules, only partially overcome these limitations, restricting their efficacy. With the recent development of nanotechnology, nanocarriers can enhance the bioavailability, stability, and precise intracellular transport of plant bioactive compounds. Researchers are increasingly integrating nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems (NDDS) into the development of natural plant compounds with significant success. Moreover, natural products benefit from nanotechnological enhancement and contribute to the innovation and optimization of nanocarriers via self-assembly, grafting modifications, and biomimetic designs. This review aims to elucidate the collaborative and reciprocal advancement achieved by integrating nanocarriers with botanical products, such as bioactive compounds, polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular vesicles. This review underscores the salient challenges in nanomedicine, encompassing long-term safety evaluations of nanomedicine formulations, precise targeting mechanisms, biodistribution complexities, and hurdles in clinical translation. Further, this study provides new perspectives to leverage nanotechnology in promoting the development and optimization of natural plant products for nanomedical applications and guiding the progression of NDDS toward enhanced efficiency, precision, and safety. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology.

Multi-targeting inulin-based nanoparticles with cannabidiol for effective prevention of ulcerative colitis

The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) is closely related to severe inflammation, damaged colonic mucosal barrier, increased oxidative stress and intestinal ecological imbalance. However, due to the nonspecific distribution and poor bioavailability of drugs, UC treatment is still a serious challenge. Here, a mitochondria/colon dual targeted nanoparticles based on redox response was developed to effectively alleviate UC. Cannabidiol nanoparticles (CBD NPs) with a particle size of 143.2 ± 3.11 nm were prepared by self-assembly using polymers (TPP-IN-LA) obtained by modifying inulin with (5-carboxypentyl) triphenyl phosphonium bromide (TPP) and α-lipoic acid (α-LA). Excitingly, the constructed CBD NPs showed excellent mitochondrial targeting, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.76 at 12 h. The results of animal imaging in vivo showed that CBD NPs could be effectively accumulated in colon tissue. Not only that, CBD showed significant glutathione stimulated release in the presence of 10 mM glutathione at pH 7.4. The results of in vivo animal experiments showed that CBD NPs significantly ameliorated DSS-induced colonic inflammation by modulating the TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, CBD NPs significantly improved the histological damage of colon in UC mice, increased the expression level of tight junction protein ZO-1, and effectively restored the intestinal mucosal barrier function and intestinal mucosal permeability. More importantly, CBD NPs significantly improved the species composition, abundance and amount of short chain fatty acids of intestinal flora in UC mice, thus effectively maintaining the balance of intestinal flora. The dual-targeted and glutathione-responsive nanoparticles prepared in this study provide a promising idea for achieving targeted delivery of CBD for effective treatment of UC.

CFD simulation of cannabidiol delivery through microneedle patches

This study investigates the efficiency and influence of microneedle parameters, specifically Needle Point Angle (a) and Needle Height (h), on the diffusion of Cannabidiol (CBD) across varying skin depths. Utilizing the Latin Hypercube Sampling method, twelve distinct cases were analyzed. Observations reveal a consistent high concentration of CBD delivered via the microneedle patch, with a notable decrease in concentration as the depth increases, displaying a non-linear trend. Multivariate polynomial regression offers a quantitative relationship between the variables, with the third-order bivariate fitting providing the most accurate representation. Compared to other CBD delivery mechanisms, microneedle patches present enhanced CBD concentrations, circumventing challenges faced by other methods such as dosage inaccuracy, systemic absorption issues, and CBD degradation. The results highlight the potential of microneedle patches as a promising avenue for optimized transdermal drug delivery.

Fabrication and characterization of pectin-zein nanoparticles containing tanshinone using anti-solvent precipitation method

Tanshinone compounds are secondary metabolites which their application in food and pharmaceutical industry is limited due to the low solubility in water and sensitivity to heat. This study aimed to develop a novel biopolymer nanocarriers system based on pectin/zein for the encapsulation of tanshinone compounds using the anti-solvent precipitation method. The concentration of pectin and mass ratio of tanshinone/zein in the final formulation of nanoparticles were optimized. According to the results, a pectin concentration of 1 g/L and a tanshinone/zein ratio of 0.1:1 g/g were considered the optimal nanoparticle formulation. The resulting nanoparticles exhibited a spherical core-shell structure, with approximate values for size, zeta potential, TSI, and encapsulation efficiency of 132 ± 0.002 nm, -38.6 ± 0.019 mV, 0.600 ± 0.084, and 79.41 ± 0.62 %, respectively. The FTIR test confirmed the presence of hydrophobic, hydrogen, and electrostatic interactions among the constituents within the nanoparticles. Additionally, XRD and DSC tests verified the amorphous nature of the nanoparticles. Morphological examination conducted through TEM, and SEM revealed the characteristics of the resulting nanoparticles. Furthermore, this carrier system significantly enhanced the solubility of tanshinone compounds in water.

Nanoliposomes for Controlled Release of Cannabinodiol at Relevant Gastrointestinal Conditions

Cannabidiol (CBD) has significant therapeutic potential; nevertheless, its advance as an effective drug by the pharmaceutical business is hindered by its inherent characteristics, such as low bioavailability, low water solubility, and variable pharmacokinetic profiles. This research aimed to develop nanoliposomes using an easy and low-cost method to improve the hydrosolubility of CBD and achieve a controlled delivery of the active principle under relevant physiological conditions from the mouth to the intestine; the cytotoxic and antitumor activities were also evaluated. To achieve the objective, core-shell nanoliposomes based on CBD were synthesized in three easy steps and characterized in terms of shape, size, surface chemistry, thermal capacity, and surface charge density through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and potential charge (PZ), respectively. CBD-controlled delivery trials were carried out under simulated mouth-duodenal conditions and fitted to Korsmeyer-Peppas and Noyes-Whitney models to conclude about the pharmacokinetics of CBD from nano-CBD. Cytotoxicity studies on nonmalignant human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were carried out to evaluate its safety and the recommended consumption dose, and finally, the antiproliferative capacity of nano-CBD on human colon carcinoma cells (SW480) was determined as beginning proposal for cancer treatment. The characterization results verified the water solubility for the CBD nanoencapsulated, the core-shell structure, the size in the nanometric regime, and the presence of the synthesis components. The dissolution rate at duodenal conditions was higher than that in buccal and stomach environments, respectively, and this behavior was associated with the shell (lecithin) chemical structure, which destabilizes at pH above 7.2, allowing the release by non-Fickian diffusion of CBD as corroborated by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. In vitro biological tests revealed the innocuousness and cyto-security of nano-CBD up to 1000 mg·L-1 when evaluated on HaCaT cells and concentrations higher than 1000 mg·L-1 showed antitumor activity against human colon carcinoma cells (SW480) taking the first step as a chemotherapeutic proposal. These results are unprecedented and propose a selective delivery system based on nano-CBD at low cost and that provides a new form of administration and chemo treatment.

Co-Dispersion Delivery Systems with Solubilizing Carriers Improving the Solubility and Permeability of Cannabinoids (Cannabidiol, Cannabidiolic Acid, and Cannabichromene) from Cannabis sativa (Henola Variety) Inflorescences

Cannabinoids: cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and cannabichromene (CBC) are lipophilic compounds with limited water solubility, resulting in challenges related to their bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy upon oral administration. To overcome these limitations, we developed co-dispersion cannabinoid delivery systems with the biopolymer polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol (Soluplus) and magnesium aluminometasilicate (Neusilin US2) to improve solubility and permeability. Recognizing the potential therapeutic benefits arising from the entourage effect, we decided to work with an extract instead of isolated cannabinoids. Cannabis sativa inflorescences (Henola variety) with a confirming neuroprotective activity were subjected to dynamic supercritical CO2 (scCO2) extraction and next they were combined with carriers (1:1 mass ratio) to prepare the co-dispersion cannabinoid delivery systems (HiE). In vitro dissolution studies were conducted to evaluate the solubility of CBD, CBDA, and CBC in various media (pH 1.2, 6.8, fasted, and fed state simulated intestinal fluid). The HiE-Soluplus delivery systems consistently demonstrated the highest dissolution rate of cannabinoids. Additionally, HiE-Soluplus exhibited the highest permeability coefficients for cannabinoids in gastrointestinal tract conditions than it was during the permeability studies using model PAMPA GIT. All three cannabinoids exhibited promising blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability (Papp higher than 4.0 × 10-6 cm/s), suggesting their potential to effectively cross into the central nervous system. The improved solubility and permeability of cannabinoids from the HiE-Soluplus delivery system hold promise for enhancement in their bioavailability.

Preparation of core-shell hordein/pectin nanoparticles as quercetin delivery matrices: Physicochemical properties and colon-specific release analyses

Quercetin (Que) is a hydrophobic flavanol that has the potential to prevent colon diseases. This study aimed to design hordein/pectin nanoparticle as a colon-specific delivery system for quercetin. The encapsulation efficiency, physicochemical stability and release properties of the nanoparticles were estimated. The FTIR and secondary structure analysis indicated that hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions and electrostatic attractions were formed in the quercetin-loaded hordein/pectin nanoparticles (Que-hordein/pectin NPs). In comparison to Que-hordein NPs, Que-hordein/pectin NPs exhibited better colloidal stability (physical, UV light, heating and salt). Furthermore, the release properties studies showed that pectin coating restrained the premature release of Que from hordein NPs in gastric fluid and intestinal fluid. In-vitro release, when the Que-hordein/pectin NPs were exposed to simulated colonic fluid (SCF) for 6 h, quercetin was greatly released from the hordein/pectin NPs (15.29 ± 1.17% - 80.60 ± 1.78%). In-vivo release, the concentration of Que (μg/g) in Que-hordein/pectin NPs was 2.18 times higher than Que-hordein NPs in colon tissue after 6 h of oral administration. This study suggests that Que-hordein/pectin NPs have promising applications in the specific delivery and release of quercetin to the colon.

Cannabidiol-Loaded Nanocarriers and Their Therapeutic Applications

Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the most promising constituents isolated from Cannabis sativa, exhibits diverse pharmacological actions. However, the applications of CBD are restricted mainly due to its poor oral bioavailability. Therefore, researchers are focusing on the development of novel strategies for the effective delivery of CBD with improved oral bioavailability. In this context, researchers have designed nanocarriers to overcome limitations associated with CBD. The CBD-loaded nanocarriers assist in improving the therapeutic efficacy, targetability, and controlled biodistribution of CBD with negligible toxicity for treating various disease conditions. In this review, we have summarized and discussed various molecular targets, targeting mechanisms and types of nanocarrier-based delivery systems associated with CBD for the effective management of various disease conditions. This strategic information will help researchers in the establishment of novel nanotechnology interventions for targeting CBD.

Nanoparticles Obtained from Zein for Encapsulation of Mesalazine

We encapsulated MSZ in zein nanoparticles (NP-ZN) using a desolvation method followed by drying in a mini spray dryer. These nanoparticles exhibited a size of 266.6 ± 52 nm, IPD of 0.14 ± 1.1 and zeta potential of -36.4 ± 1.5 mV, suggesting colloidal stability. Quantification using HPLC showed a drug-loaded of 43.8 µg/mg. SEM demonstrated a spherical morphology with a size variation from 220 to 400 nm. A FTIR analysis did not show drug spectra in the NPs in relation to the physical mixture, which suggests drug encapsulation without changing its chemical structure. A TGA analysis showed thermal stability up to 300 °C. In vitro release studies demonstrated gastroresistance and a sustained drug release at pH 7.4 (97.67 ± 0.32%) in 120 h. The kinetic model used for the release of MSZ from the NP-ZN in a pH 1.2 medium was the Fickian diffusion, in a pH 6.8 medium it was the Peppas-Sahlin model with the polymeric relaxation mechanism and in a pH 7.4 medium it was the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with the Fickian release mechanism, or "Case I". An in vitro cytotoxicity study in the CT26.WT cell line showed no basal cytotoxicity up to 500 μg/mL. The NP-ZN showed to be a promising vector for the sustained release of MSZ in the colon by oral route.