Fabrication of fucoxanthin/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex assisted by ultrasound procedure to enhance aqueous solubility, stability and antitumor effect of fucoxanthin

Fabrication, characterization, stability and re-dispersity of H-aggregates fucoxanthin/whey protein/chitosan nanoparticles

This study aimed to establish a unique and controlled protocol of H-aggregates fucoxanthin and improve the water dispersibility and stability of H-aggregates fucoxanthin. H-aggregates fucoxanthin has been controllably prepared by regulating the key factor of the molecular self-aggregation of fucoxanthin in hydrated-organic systems. The H-aggregates fucoxanthin/BSA/chitosan nanoparticles (H-FBC-NPs), with a hydrated size around 171 ± 4 nm, were prepared by adjusting the three types of whey protein and initial concentration of fucoxanthin, which was constructed by a layer-by-layer self-assembly method. The spectroscopy studies indicated that chitosan and BSA formed hydrophobic microdomain by the intermolecular electrostatic interactions with remarkable changes of secondary structure in protein, which encapsulate fucoxanthin as H-aggregate. H-FBC-NPs were nearly spherical and uniformly dispersed via SEM and TEM. The EE of fucoxanthin in the H-FBC-NPs was >93.6 %. The successfully prepared H-FBC-NPs nanosuspension was lyophilized by vacuum freeze-drying technique with lyoprotectants, which was applied to the long-term preservation of H-FBC-NPs. H-FBC-NPs were stable within 48 h at 4 °C, 25 °C, 37 °C and different pH-value environments. This study broadens the application of fucoxanthin and its H-aggregates in the fields of food and biomedicine.

Edible thermosensitive chitosan/hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin hydrogel with natural licoricidin for enhancing oral health: Biofilm disruption and demineralization prevention

Dental caries, a widespread and significantly detrimental health condition, is characterized by demineralization, pain, compromised tooth functionality, and various other adverse effects. Licoricidin (LC), a natural isoflavonoid, demonstrates potent antimicrobial properties for maintaining oral health. However, its practical application is significantly hindered by its limited water solubility and susceptibility to removal within the oral environment. To tackle this issue, we developed a delivery oral system by an edible thermosensitive chitosan- disodium beta-glycerol phosphate pentahydrate (CS/β-GP) hydrogel to load LC/Hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) inclusion complexes. These hydrogels (LC/HP-β-CD/CS/β-GP) could solidify rapidly at oral temperature and sustainably release LC, thereby preventing its rapid clearance from the oral cavity. We confirmed the significant antibacterial activity of this hydrogel against Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the HP-β-CD combination enhanced LC to penetrate bacterial biofilms and inhibit biofilm growth, leading to leakage of cellular proteins and DNA. Additionally, we studied the effect of LC/HP-β-CD/CS/β-GP on intracellular ROS levels and MMP, comprehensively exploring its antimicrobial mechanism. Furthermore, LC/HP-β-CD/CS/β-GP exhibited the ability to inhibit demineralization and demonstrated excellent biocompatibility. In summary, this study presented a safer approach to oral delivering bioactive substances, offering a promising strategy for enhanced oral health and safety.

Advancements in cyclodextrin-based controlled drug delivery: Insights into pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles

This article discusses and summarizes some fascinating outcomes and applications of cyclodextrins (CDs) and their derivatives in drug delivery. These applications include the administration of protein, peptide medications, and gene delivery. Several innovative drug delivery systems, including NPs, microspheres, microcapsules, and liposomes, are designed with the help of CD, which is highlighted in this article. The use of these compounds as excipients in medicine formulation is reviewed, in addition to their well-known effects on drug solubility and dissolution, as well as their bioavailability, safety, and stability. Furthermore, the article focuses on many factors that influence the development of inclusion complexes, as having this information is necessary to manage these diverse materials effectively. An overview of the commercial availability, regulatory status, and patent status of CDs for pharmaceutical formulation is also presented. Due to the fact that CDs can discover new uses in drug delivery consistently, it is predicted that they will solve a wide range of issues related to the distribution of a variety of unique medications through various delivery channels.

Preparation and characterization of tea tree essential oil microcapsule-coated packaging paper with bacteriostatic effect

We prepared tea tree essential oil microcapsules, and the microcapsules and pullulan were coated on kraft paper to prepare an antibacterial paper. The antibacterial activity, structural characterization, and thermal stability of the prepared microcapsules and packaging paper were then tested. We found that the retention rate of microcapsules reached 87.1% after a 70 min of high-temperature treatment. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of microcapsules to S. aureus and E. coli were 112 mg/mL and 224 mg/mL, and the bacteriostatic zones of the packaging paper to E. coli and S. aureus were 17.49 mm and 22.75 mm, respectively. The prepared microcapsules were irregular. The paper coating was formed via hydrogen bonding, which filled the pores of paper fibers. When compared with the base paper, the roughness of the paper was reduced to 7.16 nm (Rq) and 5.61 nm (Ra), and no thermal decomposition occurred at <288 °C, which together implies a good application prospect.

Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted debittering of Ganoderma lucidum using response surface methodology, characterization, and evaluation of antioxidant activity

Background

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has gained increasing attention as a potential health care product and food source. However, the bitter taste of G. lucidum has limited its development and utilization for the food industry.

Methonds

The response surface methodology was employed to optimize the inclusion conditions for the debittering of G. lucidum. The effects of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin concentration (12-14 g/mL), ultrasound temperature (20-40 °C and host-guest ratio (1:1-2:1) on response variables were studied. The physical characteristics of inclusion complexes prepared through spray drying and freeze drying were analyzed. The antioxidant activity of the different treated samples was subsequently investigated.

Results

Study results showed that, in comparison to the control group, the inclusion solution displayed a significantly enhanced taste profile under optimal processing conditions, exhibiting an 80.74% reduction in bitterness value. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies indicated the successful formation of inclusion compounds. The moisture content and bulk density of spray-dried powder were found to be significantly superior to those of freeze-dried powder (p < 0.05). In comparison to the diluted solution, the inclusion liquid demonstrated a 20.27%, 30.01% and 36.55% increase in ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), hydroxyl radical scavenging and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging respectively. Further, the DPPH clearance of microencapsulated powder was not significantly different from that of tocopherol at a concentration of 25 mg/mL.

Conclusions

In summary, the study provides theoretical basis and methodological guidance to eliminate the bitterness of G. lucidum, and therefore provide potential options to the use of G. lucidum as a food source.

Development of itraconazole ocular delivery system using β-cyclodextrin complexation incorporated into dissolving microneedles for potential improvement treatment of fungal keratitis

Itraconazole (ITZ) is one of the broad-spectrum antifungal agents for treating fungal keratitis. In clinical use, ITZ has problems related to its poor solubility in water, which results in low bioavailability when administered orally. To resolve the issue, we formulated ITZ into the inclusion complex (ITZ-IC) system using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), which can potentially increase the solubility and bioavailability of ITZ. The molecular docking study has confirmed that the binding energy of ITZ with the β-CD was -5.0 kcal/mol, indicating a stable conformation of the prepared inclusion complex. Moreover, this system demonstrated that the inclusion complex could significantly increase the solubility of ITZ up to 4-fold compared to the pure drug. Furthermore, an ocular drug delivery system was developed through dissolving microneedle (DMN) using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as polymeric substances. The evaluation results of DMN inclusion complexes (ITZ-IC-DMN) showed excellent mechanical strength and insertion ability. In addition, ITZ-IC-DMN can dissolve rapidly upon application. The ex vivo permeation study revealed that 75.71% (equivalent to 3.79 ± 0.21 mg) of ITZ was permeated through the porcine cornea after 24 h. Essentially, ITZ-IC-DMN exhibited no signs of irritation in the HET-CAM study, indicating its safety for application. In conclusion, this study has successfully developed an inclusion complex formulation containing ITZ using β-CD in the DMN system. This approach holds promise for enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of ITZ through ocular administration.

The characterization of the pectin/alginate nanoparticle for encapsulation of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-complexed naringin and its effects on cellular uptake and oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells

Naringin (NR) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) can form a water-soluble complex, but it is unstable. This study aimed to investigate the characterization of the pectin/alginate hydrogel nanoparticles (HNPs) loading HPCD-complexed naringin. The encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of the HNPs for NR were found to be 79.23 % ± 1.31 % and 23.79 % ± 0.67 %, respectively. HNPs had an average diameter of 409.5 ± 8.5 nm, a PDI of 0.237 ± 0.014, and a zeta-potential of -33.5 ± 0.2. FTIR, XRD, and DSC analysis confirmed that the NR-HPCD complex was embedded into the HNPs. In simulated gastrointestinal digestion, the HNPs exhibited a lower cumulative release rate compared to free NR. In Caco-2 cells, the HNPs were more efficiently transported into the cells. Consequently, the HNPs resulted in a greater decrease in ROS levels, more recovery of mitochondrial membrane potential and higher content of glutathione. This study provided a carrier for encapsulating NR, making it possible for use in food or functional food.

Application of Biomaterials in the Development of Hydrogel-Forming Microneedles Integrated with a Cyclodextrin Drug Reservoir for Improved Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Telmisartan

Telmisartan (TEL) is a promising antihypertensive agent among other angiotensin receptor blockers. However, its oral application is limited by its poor water solubility. This study presents the successful utilization of biomaterial-based hydrogel-forming microneedles integrated with a direct compressed tablet reservoir (HFMN-DCT) for the transdermal delivery of telmisartan in the treatment of hypertension. The combination of PVP, PVA, and tartaric acid was used in the HFMN formulation. A range of cross-linking temperatures and times were employed to optimize the characteristics of the HFMN. The HFMN exhibited excellent swelling capacity, mechanical strength, and insertion properties. Additionally, the poorly soluble characteristic of TEL was improved by the inclusion complex formulation with β-cyclodextrin (βCD). Phase solubility analysis showed an Ap-type diagram, indicating a higher-order complex between TEL and βCD, with respect to βCD. A ratio of TEL:βCD of 1:4 mM demonstrates the highest solubility enhancement of TEL. The inclusion complex formation was confirmed by FTIR, XRD, DSC, and molecular docking studies. A significantly higher release of TEL (up to 20-fold) from the inclusion complex was observed in the in vitro release study. Subsequently, a DCT reservoir was developed using various concentrations of sodium starch glycolate. Essentially, both the HFMN and DCT reservoir exhibit hemocompatibility and did not induce any skin irritation. The optimized combination of the HFMN-DCT reservoir showed an ex vivo permeation profile of 83.275 ± 2.405%. Notably, the proposed system showed superior pharmacokinetic profiles in the in vivo investigation using male Wistar rats. Overall, this study highlights the potential of HFMN-DCT reservoir systems as a versatile platform for transdermal drug delivery applications.

Designing and preparing supramolecular encapsulation systems based on fraxetin and cyclodextrins for highly selective detection of nicotine

Herein, a series of water-soluble supramolecular inclusion complexes (ICs) probes were prepared using cyclodextrins (CDs) and fraxetin (FRA) to detect nicotine (NT) with high selectivity in vitro and in vivo. The FRA/CD ICs prepared through the saturated solution method exhibited excellent water solubility, stability, and biocompatibility. A clear host-guest inclusion model was provided by the theoretical calculations. The investigation revealed that NT was able to enter into the cavities of FRA/β-CD IC and FRA/γ-CD IC, and further formed charge transfer complexes with FRA in the CD cavities, resulting in a rapid and highly selective fluorescence-enhanced response with the lowest detection limits of 1.9 × 10-6 M and 9.7 × 10-7 M, and the linear response ranged from 0.02 to 0.3 mM and 0.01-0.05 mM, respectively. The IC probes showed good anti-interference performance to common interferents or different pH environments, with satisfactory reproducibility and repeatability of response to NT. Furthermore, the potentiality of the probes was confirmed through fluorescence imaging experiments using human lung cancer cells and the lung tissue of mice. This study offers a fresh perspective for detecting NT in environmental and biomedical analysis.

Cyclodextrins for the Delivery of Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources: Medicinal, Food and Cosmetics Applications

Cyclodextrins have gained significant and established attention as versatile carriers for the delivery of bioactive compounds derived from natural sources in various applications, including medicine, food and cosmetics. Their toroidal structure and hydrophobic cavity render them ideal candidates for encapsulating and solubilizing hydrophobic and poorly soluble compounds. Most medicinal, food and cosmetic ingredients share the challenges of hydrophobicity and degradation that can be effectively addressed by various cyclodextrin types. Though not new or novel-their first applications appeared in the market in the 1970s-their versatility has inspired numerous developments, either on the academic or industrial level. This review article provides an overview of the ever-growing applications of cyclodextrins in the delivery of bioactive compounds from natural sources and their potential application benefits.

Preparation of Green Anti-Staphylococcus aureus Inclusion Complexes Containing Hinoki Essential Oil

This study aimed to prepare anti-Staphylococcus aureus inclusion complexes (ICs) of Hinoki essential oil (HEO) with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (2-HP-β-CD). An ultrasound-assisted kneading method was applied for the complexation for the first time. The recovery yield, embedding fraction and loading capacity of the HEO/β-CD ICs were 92.5%, 78.0% and 11.9%, respectively, while the corresponding values were 80.8%, 73.7% and 12.9% for the HEO/2-HP-β-CD ICs. As well, a comparative study confirmed the efficiency of the ultrasound-assisted kneading method was higher than the traditional kneading method. The results of SEM, XRD, GC-MS and FT-IR suggested the successful formation of ICs. A significant anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity of the fabricated ICs was demonstrated using a colony counting method. Notably, when the dose in liquid culture medium was 20 g L-1, inhibitory rates of 99.8% for HEO/β-CD ICs and 100% for HEO/2-HP-β-CD ICs were achieved. Furthermore, the hydrophilic property of the ICs was proved by water contact angle measurements, implying they have the potential to act as anti-Staphylococcus aureus agents for blending with hydrophilic biodegradable materials for diverse food packaging utilizations.

Evaluation on the inclusion behavior of β-cyclodextrins with lycorine and its hydrochloride

Lycorine (Lyc) and its hydrochloride (Lyc∙HCl) as effective drugs can fight against many diseases including novel coronavirus (COVID-19) based on their antiviral and antitumor mechanism. Beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is considered a promising carrier in improving its efficacy while minimizing cytotoxicity due to the good spatial compatibility with Lyc. However, the detailed mechanism of inclusion interaction still remains to be further evaluated. In this paper, six inclusion complexes based on β-CDs, Lyc and Lyc∙HCl were processed through ultrasound in the mixed solvent of ethanol and water, and their inclusion behavior was characterized after lyophilization. It was found that the inclusion complexes based on sulfobutyl-beta-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) and Lyc∙HCl had the best encapsulation effect among prepared inclusion complexes, which may be attributed to the electrostatic interaction between sulfonic group of SBE-β-CD and quaternary amino group of Lyc∙HCl. Moreover, the complexes based on SBE-β-CD displayed pH-sensitive drug release property, good solubilization, stability and blood compatibility, indicating their potential as suitable drug carriers for Lyc and Lyc∙HCl.

Formulation Approaches to Crystalline Status Modification for Carotenoids: Impacts on Dissolution, Stability, Bioavailability, and Bioactivities

Carotenoids, including carotenes and xanthophylls, have been identified as bioactive ingredients in foods and are considered to possess health-promoting effects. From a biopharmaceutical perspective, several physicochemical characteristics, such as scanty water solubility, restricted dissolution, and susceptibility to oxidation may influence their oral bioavailability and eventually, their effectiveness. In this review, we have summarized various formulation approaches that deal with the modification of crystalline status for carotenoids, which may improve their physicochemical properties, oral absorption, and biological effects. The mechanisms involving crystalline alteration and the typical methods for examining crystalline states in the pharmaceutical field have been included, and representative formulation approaches are introduced to unriddle the mechanisms and effects more clearly.