Plant-Based Nanoparticles Prepared from Proteins and Phospholipids Consisting of a Core-Multilayer-Shell Structure: Fabrication, Stability, and Foamability

Biosynthesis of magnetic ZnO@Fe2O3 nanocomposites decorated with Ag/AgCl using Hormoz Island's red soil and Avicennia marina leaf extract

The development of environmentally sustainable and non-toxic visible-light (VL) sensitive nanostructured photocatalysts is a significant focus in nanotechnology, necessitating safe synthesis techniques for these nanocomposites. This study introduces a straightforward and low-temperature biosynthesis process using leaf extract from the Avicennia marina mangrove (MTLE) and red soil from Hormoz Island, Iran to produce Ag/AgCl-decorated magnetic ZnO@Fe2O3, a plasmonic triple heterojunction nanocomposite (NC). The biosynthesized Ag/AgCl/ZnO@Fe2O3 magnetic NC (BSNC) exhibited a particle size of ~ 60 nm, a magnetization of 8.04 emu.g-1, and a band gap energy (Eg) of 1.3 eV, optimized at an MTLE concentration of 0.5 g·100 mL-1. The concentration of MTLE significantly influenced the properties of the products, acting as a reducing and stabilizing agent. As MTLE concentration increased from 0.125 to 0.5 g·100 mL-1, VL light absorption intensity improved, alongside changes in Eg, suggesting an optimal concentration for enhanced photocatalytic activity. The BSNC demonstrated a broad absorption peak between 400 and 600 nm, attributed to surface plasmon resonance and electron dynamics involving Ag/AgCl and ZnO. This biosynthetic approach offers an eco-friendly alternative for producing Ag/AgCl/ZnO@Fe2O3 plasmonic NCs with improved VL photo-activity.

The stabilization mechanism of the pea protein and rutin complex at the gas/liquid interface and its application in low-fat cream

The objective of this study was to substitute partially fat with pea protein isolate (PP)/rutin (Ru) complexes to produce a healthy and stable low-fat whipped cream. Ru enhanced the foam properties of PP. The Ru binding equivalent was the best at a mass ratio of PP/Ru of 64:4, the PP/Ru complexes particle size was the smallest. The synergistic adsorption of Ru reduced the interfacial tension of the complexes and accelerated their diffusion, permeation, and rearrangement at the air/water interface. The results of rheology and Lissajous plots suggested that PP/Ru complexes functioned as an interfacing stabilizer, enhanced the elastic strength of interface film, and improved the stability of foam. PP/Ru complexes as a fat substitute promoted the aggregation of fat globules and the formation of fat globule network structure. When the substitution rate is 10 %, the texture, stability, and microstructure of the sample are nearly identical to those of full-fat cream.

Pickering emulsions stabilized by prolamin-based proteins as innovative carriers of bioactive compounds

Pickering emulsions (PEs) can be used as efficient carriers for encapsulation and controlled release of different bioactive compounds. Recent research has revealed the potential of prolamins in development of nanoparticle- and emulsion-based carriers which can improve the stability and bioavailability of bioactive compounds. Prolamin-based particles have been effectively used as stabilizers of various PEs including single PEs, high internal phase PEs, multiple PEs, novel triphasic PEs, and PE gels due to their tunable self-assembly behaviors. Prolamin particles can be fabricated via different techniques including anti-solvent precipitation, dissolution followed by pH adjustment, heating, and ion induced aggregation. Particles fabricated from prolamins alone or in combination with other hydrocolloids or polyphenols have also been used for stabilization of different PEs which were shown to be effective carriers for food bioactives, providing improved stability and functionality. This article covers the recent advances in various PEs stabilized by prolamin particles as innovative carriers for bioactive ingredients. Strategies applied for fabrication of prolamin particles and prolamin-based carriers are discussed. Emerging techno-functional applications of prolamin-based PEs and possible challenges are also highlighted.

Mechanism of sucrose improving the mechanical characteristics of foams stabilized by soy protein isolate/gellan gum/guar gum ternary complex

Sucrose shows the potential of stabilizing foam system. This study systematically evaluated the mechanism by which sucrose improved foaming properties and mechanical characteristics of foams stabilized by soy protein isolate/gellan gum/guar gum ternary complex. Results showed that sucrose could bond to the surface of ternary complex or self-aggregate within the continuous phase, resulting in the neutralization of charges (nearly zero) and an increase in particle size (up to 62.54 μm). The addition of 30 % sucrose reinforced foam system with an increased foamability (305.99 %) but a longer foaming time (10 min) during foaming process. Moreover, the mechanical characteristics, including hardness, elastic strength (Power-law constant) and solid characteristic (frequency exponent), were also significantly enhanced to 1.26 N, 354.7956 and 2.5873, respectively, which were 1.65, 1.94 and 1.11 times than those of foams without sucrose. The microscopic mechanism lied in the reduced water freedom degree caused by sucrose, which generated a compact structural network around bubbles for providing a stable and stiff structure to foams. These findings will provide clear theoretical guidance for regulating mechanical characteristics of aerated foods by using sucrose as structural building blocks.

Air-water interfacial and foaming properties of nanoparticles based on commercial and lab-scale isolated maize (Zea mays L.) zein

Maize zein based nanoparticles (ZNPs) can have applications as food dispersion stabilizers. It has not been documented to what extent the used zein isolation method and conditions thereof impact the structure and functionality of nanoparticles (NPs) based thereupon. Here, zein extracted from maize flour on lab scale (LS-zein) was compared with a commercial zein powder (CS-zein). On a dry matter basis, CS-zein contained 96.5% protein, while LS-zein contained 74.5% protein, 12.7% lipid, 2.9% ash, and a residual fraction, likely starch remnants. SE-HPLC analysis showed that 27.8% of CS-zein protein occurred in an aggregated and insoluble form, while LS-zein mainly contained mono-/dimeric proteins but also approximately 30% hydrophilic peptides. These differences resulted in notably different behavior in the functionality of ZNPs based on CS- and LS-zein (CS-ZNPs and LS-ZNPs, respectively) produced via liquid antisolvent precipitation. CS-ZNPs had poor foaming properties regardless of the pH, in line with their low interfacial dilatational moduli (12.9-15.0 mN/m). The foaming properties of LS-ZNPs were notably better. The high LS-ZNP foam stability (FS) at pH 8.0 and 10.0 was attributed to electrostatic repulsive effects between interfaces of adjacent air bubbles due to the adsorption of peptides and to synergistic protein-lipid interaction effects at the air-water interface. The LS-ZNP FS at pH 4.0 was low despite a high interfacial dilatational modulus (52.6 mN/m). It is hypothesized that intact LS-ZNPs in the liquid thin films between gas bubbles negatively affect FS by a bridging de-wetting effect. Overall, it can be concluded that the (partial) co-isolation of lipids with zein may positively influence foaming properties of NPs based thereupon, while extensive zein purification as applied in industrial zein isolation leads to (partial) zein aggregation and overall low foaming capacity of the obtained CS-ZNPs.

Elevated Cellular Uptake of Succinimide- and Glucose-Modified Liposomes for Blood-Brain Barrier Transfer and Glioblastoma Therapy

The uptake of four liposomal formulations was tested with the murine endothelial cell line bEnd.3 and the human glioblastoma cell line U-87 MG. All formulations were composed of DPPC, cholesterol, 5 mol% of mPEG (2000 Da, conjugated to DSPE), and the dye DiD. Three of the formulations had an additional PEG chain (nominally 5000 Da, conjugated to DSPE) with either succinimide (NHS), glucose (PEG-bound at C-6), or 4-aminophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (bound at C-1) as ligands at the distal end. Measuring the uptake kinetics at 1 h and 3 h for liposomal incubation concentrations of 100 µM, 500 µM, and 1000 µM, we calculated the liposomal uptake saturation S and the saturation half-time t1/2. We show that only succinimide has an elevated uptake in bEnd.3 cells, which makes it a very promising and so far largely unexplored candidate for BBB transfer and brain cancer therapies. Half-times are uniform at low concentrations but diversify for high concentrations for bEnd.3 cells. Contrary, U-87 MG cells show almost identical saturations for all three ligands, making a uniform uptake mechanism likely. Only mPEG liposomes stay at 60% of the saturation for ligand-coated liposomes. Half-times are diverse at low concentrations but unify at high concentrations for U-87 MG cells.

Effects of Protein on Green Tea Quality in a Milk-Tea Model during Heat Treatment: Antioxidant Activity, Foaming Properties, and Unbound Small-molecule Metabolome

Tea drinks/beverage has a long history and milk is often added to enhance its taste and nutritional value, whereas the interaction between the tea bioactive compounds with proteins has not been systematically investigated. In this study, a milk-tea model was prepared by mixing green tea solution with milk and then heated at 100°C for 15 min. The milk tea was then measured using biochemical assay, antioxidant detection kit, microscopy as well as HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS after ultrafiltration. The study found that as the concentration of milk protein increased in the milk-tea system, the total phenol-protein binding rate raised from 19.63% to 51.08%, which led to a decrease in free polyphenol content. This decrease of polyphenol was also revealed in the antioxidant capacity, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power, in a dose-dependent manner. Untargeted metabolomics results revealed that the majority of small-molecule compounds/polyphenols in tea, such as epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-epicatechin gallate, and Catechin 5,7,-di-O-gallate, bound to milk proteins and were removed by ultrafiltration after addition of milk and heat treatment. The SDS-PAGE and Native-PAGE results further indicated that small molecule compounds in tea formed covalent and non-covalent complexes by binding to milk proteins. All above results partially explained that milk proteins form conjugates with tea small-molecule compounds. Consistently, the particle size of the tea-milk system increased as the tea concentration increased, but the polymer dispersity index decreased, indicating a more uniform molecular weight distribution of the particles in the system. Addition of milk protein enhanced foam ability in the milk-tea system but reduced foam stability. In summary, our findings suggest that the proportion of milk added to tea infusion needs to be considered to maintain the quality of milk-tea from multiple perspectives, including stability, nutritional quality and antioxidant activity.

Synergistic effect of gellan gum and guar gum on improving the foaming properties of soy protein isolate-based complexes: Interaction mechanism and interfacial behavior

Interactions among multi-component play a critical role in modulating the foaming properties of aerated foods. This study evaluated the mechanisms of synergistic improvement of gellan gum (GEG) and guar gum (GUG) on the foaming properties of soy protein isolate (SPI)-based complex. The results showed that the GEG/GUG ratio was closely related to the intermolecular interactions of SPI-based ternary complex and the dynamical changing of its foaming properties. The SPI/GEG/GUG ternary complex with a GEG/GUG ratio of 2/3 exhibited the highest foamability (195 %) and comparable foam stability (99.17 %), which were 32.95 % and 2.99 % higher than that of SPI/GEG binary complex. At this ratio, GUG promoted the interactions between SPI and GEG, and bound to complex's surface through hydrogen bonding, resulting in the increase of particle size and surface charge, and the decrease of surface hydrophobicity. Although this reduced the diffusion of complex onto the air/water interface, it increased permeation rate and molecular rearrangement behavior, which were the potential mechanisms to improve the foaming properties. Additionally, the synergistic effect of GEG and GUG also enhanced the elastic strength and solid characteristics of foam systems. This study provided a theoretical guidance for the targeted modulation of foaming properties of multi-component aerated foods.

Increased Cellular Uptake of ApoE3- or c(RGD)-Modified Liposomes for Glioblastoma Therapy Depending on the Target Cells

As effective treatment of glioblastoma is still an unmet need, targeted delivery systems for efficient treatment are of utmost interest. Therefore, in this paper, surface modifications with a small peptide c(RGD) or physiological protein (ApoE3) were investigated. Cellular uptake in murine endothelial cells (bEnd.3) and different glioma cells (human U-87 MG, rat F98) was tested to elucidate possible differences and to correlate the uptake to the receptor expression. Different liposomal formulations were measured at 1 and 3 h for three lipid incubation concentrations. We calculated the liposomal uptake saturation S and the saturation half-time t1/2. An up to 9.6-fold increased uptake for ApoE3-modified liposomes, primarily in tumor cells, was found. Contrarily, c(RGD) liposomes showed a stronger increase in uptake in endothelial cells (up to 40.5-fold). The uptake of modified liposomes revealed enormous differences in S and t1/2 when comparing different tumor cell lines. However, for ApoE3-modified liposomes, we proved comparable saturation values (~25,000) for F98 cells and U-87 MG cells despite a 6-fold lower expression of LRP1 in F98 cells and a 5-fold slower uptake rate. Our findings suggest that cellular uptake of surface-modified liposomes depends more on the target structure than the ligand type, with significant differences between cell types of different origins.

Application of soy protein isolate-naringenin complexes as fat replacers in low-fat cream: Based on protein conformational changes, aggregation states and interfacial adsorption behavior

In this study, changes in the structural and functional properties of soybean protein isolate (SPI)-naringenin (NG) complexes under different amounts of naringenin treatments were explored, elucidating the effect of the complexes as fat replacers at the 15 % substitution level on the properties of low-fat cream. Finally, the correlation between the structure and function of the complex and the properties of low-fat cream was further analyzed. The addition of NG promotes the increase of SPI aggregation and particle size, and reduces the interfacial tension of the complex. Meanwhile, at the mass ratio of 48:3, NG and SPI formed a dendritic network structure suitable for stabilizing cream. The fat properties of cream indicate that low-fat creams stabilized by appropriate proportions of SPI-NG complexes displayed small and dense fat crystal network structures. In addition, low-fat cream stabilized by the SPI-NG complexes have improved whipping time, overrun, firmness, storage stability and rheological properties compared to natural SPI. It is worth noting that the overall quality of the cream stabilized by the SPI-NG complex with a mass ratio of 48:3 was almost close to that of full-fat cream. Therefore, this study promotes the potential applications of protein-polyphenol complexes as fat replacers in the food industry.

Simple Method to Assess Foam Structure and Stability using Hydrophobin and BSA as Model Systems

The properties and arrangement of surface-active molecules at air-water interfaces influence foam stability and bubble shape. Such multiscale-relationships necessitate a well-conducted analysis of mesoscopic foam properties. We introduce a novel automated and precise method to characterize bubble growth, size distribution and shape based on image analysis and using the machine learning algorithm Cellpose. Studying the temporal evolution of bubble size and shape facilitates conclusions on foam stability. The addition of two sets of masks, for tiny bubbles and large bubbles, provides for a high precision of analysis. A python script for analysis of the evolution of bubble diameter, circularity and dispersity is provided in the Supporting Information. Using foams stabilized by bovine serum albumin (BSA), hydrophobin (HP), and blends thereof, we show how this technique can be used to precisely characterize foam structures. Foams stabilized by HP show a significantly increased foam stability and rounder bubble shape than BSA-stabilized foams. These differences are induced by the different molecular structure of the two proteins. Our study shows that the proposed method provides an efficient way to analyze relevant foam properties in detail and at low cost, with higher precision than conventional methods of image analysis.

Understanding the foam stability mechanisms of complex formed by soy protein isolate and different charged polysaccharides: Air/water interfacial behavior and rheological characteristics

This study evaluated the foaming properties, the dynamic adsorption behavior at the air/water (A/W) interface and the foam rheological characteristics of complexes formed by soy protein isolate (SPI) and different charged polysaccharides, including chitosan (CS), guar gum (GUG) and gellan gum (GEG). The results showed that the SPI/CS10 had the highest initial foam volume (26.67 mL), which were 3.89 %, 100.08 % and 70.19 % higher than that of single SPI, SPI/GUG and SPI/GEG complexes, respectively. Moreover, three charged polysaccharides could all significantly improve the foam stability of complexes. Among them, foams stabilized by SPI/GEG10 were the most stable that the foam volume slightly changed (approximately 1 mL) and no drainage occurred throughout the whole recording process. The interfacial behavior analysis showed that SPI/CS10 had higher diffusion (Kdiff) and rearrangement rate (KR) but lower penetration rate (KP) at the A/W interface compared with single SPI, while SPI/GUG10 and all SPI/GEG complexes showed higher KR and KP but lower Kdiff. In addition, SPI/CS10 was beneficial to concurrently enhance the elastic strength and solid-like behavior of foam system, while all SPI/GEG complexes could improve the elastic strength of foam system but was not conducive to the solid-like behavior.

Complex bio-nanoparticles assembled by a pH-driven method: environmental stress stability and oil-water interfacial behavior

BACKGROUND

Protein-based nanoparticles have gained considerable interest in recent years due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and functional properties. However, nanoparticles formed from hydrophobic proteins are prone to instability under environmental stress, which restricts their potential applications. It is therefore of great importance to develop green approaches for the fabrication of hydrophobic protein-based nanoparticles and to improve their physicochemical performance.

RESULTS

Gliadin/shellac complex nanoparticles (168.87 ~ 403.67 nm) with various gliadin/shellac mass ratios (10:0 ~ 5:5) were prepared using a pH-driven approach. In comparison with gliadin nanoparticles, complex nanoparticles have shown enhanced stability against neutral pH, ions, and boiling. They remained stable under neutral conditions at NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 mmol L-1 and even when boiled at 100 °C for 90 min. These nanoparticles were capable of effectively reducing oil-water interfacial tension (5 ~ 11 mNm-1 ) but a higher amount of shellac in the nanoparticles compromised their ability to lower interfacial tension. Moreover, the wettability of the nanoparticles changed as the gliadin/shellac mass ratio changed, leading to a range of three-phase contact angles from 52.41° to 84.85°. Notably, complex nanoparticles with a gliadin/shellac mass ratio of 8:2 (G/S 8:2) showed a contact angle of 84.85°, which is considered suitable for the Pickering stabilization mechanism. Moreover, these nanoparticles exhibited the highest emulsifying activity of 52.42 m2 g-1 and emulsifying stability of 65.33%.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the study revealed that gliadin/shellac complex nanoparticles exhibited excellent resistance to environmental stress and demonstrated superior oil-water interfacial behavior. They have strong potential for further development as food emulsifiers or as nano-delivery systems for nutraceuticals. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Nanotechnology's frontier in combatting infectious and inflammatory diseases: prevention and treatment

Inflammation-associated diseases encompass a range of infectious diseases and non-infectious inflammatory diseases, which continuously pose one of the most serious threats to human health, attributed to factors such as the emergence of new pathogens, increasing drug resistance, changes in living environments and lifestyles, and the aging population. Despite rapid advancements in mechanistic research and drug development for these diseases, current treatments often have limited efficacy and notable side effects, necessitating the development of more effective and targeted anti-inflammatory therapies. In recent years, the rapid development of nanotechnology has provided crucial technological support for the prevention, treatment, and detection of inflammation-associated diseases. Various types of nanoparticles (NPs) play significant roles, serving as vaccine vehicles to enhance immunogenicity and as drug carriers to improve targeting and bioavailability. NPs can also directly combat pathogens and inflammation. In addition, nanotechnology has facilitated the development of biosensors for pathogen detection and imaging techniques for inflammatory diseases. This review categorizes and characterizes different types of NPs, summarizes their applications in the prevention, treatment, and detection of infectious and inflammatory diseases. It also discusses the challenges associated with clinical translation in this field and explores the latest developments and prospects. In conclusion, nanotechnology opens up new possibilities for the comprehensive management of infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Zein/Polysaccharide Nanoscale Electrostatic Complexes: Preparation, Drug Encapsulation and Antibacterial Properties

Characterization of zein aqueous solutions, as a function of the ethanol content and pH, was performed, giving information on the zein aggregation state for the construction of complexes. The aggregation state and surface charge of zein was found to depend on the mixed solvent composition and pH. Nonstoichiometric complex nanoparticles (NPECs) were prepared by electrostatically self-assembling zein, as the polycation, and sodium alginate or chondroitin sulfate, as the polyanions, at a pH of 4. A wide range of parameters were investigated: the alcohol-water content in the zein solutions, the charge molar ratios, the solution addition order and the addition rate. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, circular dichroism and scanning electron microscopy. The smallest size for the NPECs (100 nm) was obtained when the polysaccharides acted as the titrate with an addition rate of 0.03 mL·min-1. The NPECs with the best characteristics were selected for loading with ciprofloxacin and then deposited on a cellulosic material in order to evaluate their antibacterial activity. Substantial drug encapsulation with desired drug release profiles were found together with notable antibacterial efficiency, showing the tunability of the properties for both the zein and its complexes with polysaccharides, together with their application potential in the biomedical field.

Plant exosome nanovesicles (PENs): green delivery platforms

Natural plants have been attracting increasing attention in biomedical research due to their numerous benefits. Plant exosome-derived vesicles, some of the plant's components, are small nanoscale vesicles secreted by plant cells. These vesicles are rich in bioactive substances and play significant roles in intercellular communication, information transfer, and maintaining homeostasis in organisms. They also hold promise for treating diseases, and their vesicular structures make them suitable carriers for drug delivery, with large-scale production feasible. Therefore, this paper aims to provide an overview of nanovesicles from different plant sources and their extraction methods. We also outline the biological activities of nanovesicles, including their anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor properties, and systematically introduce their applications in drug delivery. These applications include transdermal delivery, targeted drug delivery, gene delivery, and their potential use in the modern food industry. This review provides new ideas and methods for future research on plant exosomes, including their empowerment by artificial intelligence and gene editing, as well as their potential application in the biomedicine, food, and agriculture industries.

Optimization of food-grade colloidal delivery systems for thermal processing applications: a review

Colloidal delivery systems are widely used in the food industry to enhance the dispersibility, stability, efficacy, or bioavailability. However, when exposed to the high temperature, delivery systems are often prone to degradation, which limits its application in thermal processing. In this paper, the effects of thermal processing on the performance of traditional protein-based or starch-based delivery systems are firstly described, including the molecular structure changes of proteins, starches or lipids, and the degradation of embedded substances. These effects are unfavorable to the application of the delivery system in thermal processing. Then, strategies of improving the heat resistance of food grade colloid delivery system and their use in frying, baking and cooking food are mainly introduced. The heat resistance of the delivery system can be improved by a variety of strategies, including the development of new heat-resistant materials, the addition of heat-resistant coatings to the surface of delivery systems, the cross-linking of proteins or starches using cross-linking agents, the design of particle structures, the use of physical means such as ultrasound, or the optimization of the ingredient formula. These strategies will help to expand the application of heat-resistant delivery systems so that they can be used in real thermal processing.

The impact of silver nanoparticles on the growth of plants: The agriculture applications

Nanotechnology is the most advanced and rapidly progressing field of science and technology. It primarily deals with developing novelty in nanomaterials by understanding and controlling matter at the nanoscale level. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most prominent nanoparticles incorporated with wide-ranging applications, owing to their distinct characteristics. Different methods have been employed for nanoparticles synthesis like chemical method, physical method, photochemical method, top-down/bottom-up approach and biological methods. The positive impacts of silver nanoparticles have been observed in various economy-based sectors, including agriculture. The scientific curiosity about AgNPs in agriculture and plant biotechnology has shown optimum efficacy over the last few years. It not only enhances seed germination and plant growth, but also improves the quantum efficiency of the photosynthetic process. AgNPs play a vital role in agriculture by having several applications that are crucial for ensuring food security and improving crop production. Moreover, they also act as nano-pesticides, providing sufficient dose to the target plants without releasing unnecessary pesticides into the environment. Nano-fertilizers slowly release nutrients to the plants, thereby preventing excessive nutrient loss. AgNPs are utilized for effective and non-toxic pest management, making them an excellent tool for combating pests safely. They combine either edible or non-biodegradable polymers for active food packaging. In addition, AgNPs also possess diverse biological properties such as antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal activities, which protect plants from hazardous microbes. The aim of this review is to comprehensively survey and summarize recent literature regarding the positive and negative impacts of AgNPs on plant growth, as well as their agricultural applications.

Green Preparation of Lightweight, High-Strength Cellulose-Based Foam and Evaluation of Its Adsorption Properties

In recent years, the application scope of most cellulose-based foams is limited due to their low adsorbability and poor recyclability. In this study, a green solvent is used to extract and dissolve cellulose, and the structural stability of the solid foam is enhanced by adding a secondary liquid via the capillary foam technology, and the strength of the solid foam is improved. In addition, the effects of the addition of different gelatin concentrations on the micro-morphology, crystal structure, mechanical properties, adsorption, and recyclability of the cellulose-based foam are investigated. The results show that the cellulose-based foam structure becomes compact, the crystallinity is decreased, the disorder is increased, and the mechanical properties are improved, but its circulation capacity is decreased. When the volume fraction of gelatin is 2.4%, the mechanical properties of foam are the best. The stress of the foam is 55.746 kPa at 60% deformation, and the adsorption capacity reaches 57.061 g/g. The results can serve as a reference for the preparation of highly stable cellulose-based solid foams with excellent adsorption properties.

Establishment and evaluation of glucose-modified nanocomposite liposomes for the treatment of cerebral malaria

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a life-threatening neurological complication caused by Plasmodium falciparum. About 627,000 patients died of malaria in 2020. Currently, artemisinin and its derivatives are the front-line drugs used for the treatment of cerebral malaria. However, they cannot target the brain, which decreases their effectiveness. Therefore, increasing their ability to target the brain by the nano-delivery system with brain-targeted materials is of great significance for enhancing the effects of antimalarials and reducing CM mortality. This study used glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) on the blood-brain barrier as a target for a synthesized cholesterol-undecanoic acid-glucose conjugate. The molecular dynamics simulation found that the structural fragment of glucose in the conjugate faced the outside the phospholipid bilayers, which was conducive to the recognition of brain-targeted liposomes by GLUT1. The fluorescence intensity of the brain-targeted liposomes (na-ATS/TMP@lipoBX) in the mouse brain was significantly higher than that of the non-targeted liposomes (na-ATS/TMP@lipo) in vivo (P < 0.001) after intranasal administration. The infection and recurrence rate of the mice receiving na-ATS/TMP@lipoBX treatment were significantly decreased, which had more advantages than those of other administration groups. The analysis of pharmacokinetic data showed that na-ATS/TMP@lipoBX could enter the brain in both systemic circulation and nasal-brain pathway to treat malaria. Taken together, these results in this study provide a new approach to the treatment of cerebral malaria.

Curcumenol triggered ferroptosis in lung cancer cells via lncRNA H19/miR-19b-3p/FTH1 axis

Curcumenol, an effective ingredient of Wenyujin, has been reported that exerted its antitumor potential in a few cancer types. However, the effect and molecular mechanism of curcumenol in lung cancer are largely unknown. Here, we found that curcumenol induced cell death and suppressed cell proliferation in lung cancer cells. Next, we demonstrated that ferroptosis was the predominant method that contributed to curcumenol-induced cell death of lung cancer in vitro and vivo for the first time. Subsequently, using RNA sequencing, we found that the long non-coding RNA H19 (lncRNA H19) was significantly downregulated in lung cancer cells treated with curcumenol, when compared to untreated controls. Overexpression of lncRNA H19 eliminated the anticancer effect of curcumenol, while lncRNA H19 knockdown promoted ferroptosis induced by curcumenol treatment. Mechanistically, we showed that lncRNA H19 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA to bind to miR-19b-3p, thereby enhanced the transcription activity of its endogenous target, ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), a marker of ferroptosis. In conclusion, our data show that the natural product curcumenol exerted its antitumor effects on lung cancer by triggering ferroptosis, and the lncRNA H19/miR-19b-3p/FTH1 axis plays an essential role in curcumenol-induced ferroptotic cell death. Therefore, our findings will hopefully provide a valuable drug for treating lung cancer patients.

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Curcumenol exhibited its anticancer activity by triggering ferroptosis both in vitro and in vivo.

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Loss of lncRNA H19 leads to ferroptotic cell death in lung cancer.

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LncRNA H19 plays an important role in curcumenol-induced ferroptotic cell death in lung cancer.

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Curcumenol induced ferroptosis through a ceRNA network based on lncRNA H19/miR-19b-3p/FTH1 axis.

Nano-enabled plant-based colloidal delivery systems for bioactive agents in foods: Design, formulation, and application

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of their dietary choices on the environment, animal welfare, and health, which is causing many of them to adopt more plant-based diets. For this reason, many sectors of the food industry are reformulating their products to contain more plant-based ingredients. This article describes recent research on the formation and application of nano-enabled colloidal delivery systems formulated from plant-based ingredients, such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and phospholipids. These delivery systems include nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoliposomes, nanophytosomes, and biopolymer nanoparticles. The composition, size, structure, and charge of the particles in these delivery systems can be manipulated to create novel or improved functionalities, such as improved robustness, higher optical clarity, controlled release, and increased bioavailability. There have been major advances in the design, assembly, and application of plant-based edible nanoparticles within the food industry over the past decade or so. As a result, there are now a wide range of different options available for creating delivery systems for specific applications. In the future, it will be important to establish whether these formulations can be produced using economically viable methods and provide the desired functionality in real-life applications.

Combined effect of chitosan and bovine serum albumin/whey protein isolate on the characteristics and stability of shrimp oil-in-water emulsion

The effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA) or whey protein isolate (WPI) at various concentrations (0.5%, 1.5%, and 3%; w/v) on the properties of shrimp oil-in-water emulsion was investigated. Both proteins at 1.5% showed the highest emulsifying properties. Moreover, the combined impact of chitosan (CS) at different levels (0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1%; w/v) and 1.5% BSA or 1.5% WPI on emulsion properties was also studied. For the same protein used, those stabilized by BSA and WPI in conjunction with CS solution at 0.5% and 0.25% had the highest emulsion stability index, respectively. During storage for 28 days, the BSA-CSstabilized emulsion had higher turbidity, a*, b* but the lowest L* values compared to the WPI-CS counterpart (p < 0.05). Emulsion stabilized by the BSA-CS complex showed higher stability, as witnessed by lower d₃₂ and d₄₃ and lower flocculation factor and coalescence index, but it had a lower negative charge than those stabilized by the WPI-CS complex (p < 0.05). Oil droplets of the BSA-CS-stabilized emulsion showed a lower extent of size enlargement after storage. Rheological studies revealed viscous, shear-thinning, and non-Newtonian behavior of emulsions. Overall, emulsion stabilized by the BSA-CS complex had higher stability than that stabilized by the WPI-CS complex, and the former could maintain the stability of pigment in shrimp oil to some extent. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Oil from shrimp hepatopancreas is a rich source of both astaxanthin and polyunsaturated fatty acids with health benefits. It can be used for the preparation of food emulsion, such as mayonnaise, with nutraceutical properties. However, emulsion stability determines the quality of the emulsion. The use of protein (bovine serum albumin) in conjunction with polysaccharides, especially chitosan at appropriate concentrations, was proven to improve shrimp oil-in-water emulsion during extended storage. Additionally, chitosan can act as an antioxidant to prevent the degradation of astaxanthin to some extent. This finding could be potentially beneficial to produce emulsion with high stability using protein-chitosan complexes.

Improving foam performance using colloidal protein-polyphenol complexes: Lactoferrin and tannic acid

In this study, colloidal complexes were prepared from bovine lactoferrin (BLF) and tannic acid (TA) and then their ability to form and stabilize foams was characterized. The molecular interactions between BLF and TA were studied using fluorescence and molecular docking analysis, which suggested that hydrophobic forces were primarily involved in holding the complexes together. The production of colloidal BLF-TA complexes was supported by increases in turbidity and mean particle diameter, quenching of intrinsic fluorescence, decrease in surface hydrophobicity, and change in conformation. When used alone, BLF exhibited good foam formation but poor foam stability properties. In contrast, BLF-TA complexes exhibited good foam stability but poor foamability properties. The change in foaming properties of the proteins was closely related to their interactions with the polyphenols. These findings may be useful for the development of novel functional ingredients to construct food foams with good physicochemical and nutritional attributes.

Chondroitin sulfate deposited on foxtail millet prolamin/caseinate nanoparticles to improve physicochemical properties and enhance cancer therapeutic effects

In this study, curcumin (Cur)-loaded chondroitin sulfate (CS)-sodium caseinate (NaCas)-stabilized foxtail millet prolamin (FP) composite nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated via a one-pot process. FP is capable of self-assembly via liquid antisolvent precipitation under neutral and alkaline conditions (pH 7.0-11.0). Under this condition, the microstructures of hydrophobic FP cores, amphiphilic NaCas and hydrophilic CS shells were fabricated readily by a one-pot method. With an optimal FP/NaCas/CS weight ratio of 3 : 2 : 4, FP-NaCas-CS NPs shared globular microstructures at about 145 nm, and hydrophobic interactions, electrostatic forces, and hydrogen bonds were the main driving forces for the formation and maintenance of stable FP-NaCas-CS NPs. CS coating enhanced the pH stability but reduced the ionic strength stability. The formed NPs were stable over a wide pH range from 2.0 to 8.0 and elevated salt concentrations from 0 to 3 mol L^-1 NaCl. FP-NaCas-CS NPs exhibited a higher Cur encapsulation efficiency of 93.4% and re-dispersion capability after lyophilization. Moreover, CS coating promoted selective accumulation in CD44-overexpressing HepG2 cells, resulting in higher inhibition of tumor growth compared to free Cur and FP-NaCas NP-encapsulated Cur. As for comparison, encapsulated Cur exhibited reduced cytotoxicity on normal liver cells L-O2. This preclinical study suggests that FP-NaCas-CS NPs could be very beneficial in terms of encapsulating hydrophobic drugs, improving the effectiveness of cancer therapies and reducing side effects on normal tissues.

Preparation of novel self-assembled albumin nanoparticles from Camellia seed cake waste for lutein delivery

The potential utilization value of Camellia seed cake was explored by extracting albumin (CSCA) to develop nanoparticles for lutein delivery. First, thermal property and amphiphilicity of CSCA were evaluated to guide nanoparticle preparation. Next, CSCA nanoparticles modified with chitosan (CS) were prepared through a thermally induced self-assembly method derived by electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction. The optimized nanoparticles were prepared from CSCA:CS at a mass ratio of 2:1 with pH of 4.5, and an incubation temperature and time of 80 ℃ and 10 min, respectively. The nanoparticles had the highest effective loading capacity for lutein at 5.89 ± 0.78%, and the corresponding encapsulation efficiency was 43.82 ± 5.69%. The storage stability of lutein was improved by nanoparticle loading, and the bioaccessibility of lutein in simulated intestinal digestion increased from 26.8 ± 4.4% to 57.3 ± 9.6% after encapsulation into nanoparticles. These findings may facilitate the development of new and sustainable proteins from plant waste for delivery system applications.

Development of composite nanoparticles from gum Arabic and carboxymethylcellulose-modified Stauntonia brachyanthera seed albumin for lutein delivery

Lutein is a carotenoid with several beneficial functions, but its poor water solubility, chemical instability, and low bioavailability limits its application. To overcome these shortcomings, self-assembly composite nanoparticles from Stauntonia brachyanthera seed albumin (SBSA), gum Arabic (GA), and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were developed for lutein encapsulation. Firstly, SBSA was extracted from seeds and its physicochemical properties were evaluated. Followingly, the nanoparticles were prepared with SBSA through a heat induced self-assembly method which were modified by GA and CMC. The nanoparticles exhibited good storage, pH, and salt stability. Hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions were proved to derive the formation of nanoparticles. The maximum effective loading capacity (LC) of the lutein in nanoparticles was 0.92 ± 0.01% with an encapsulation efficiency (EE) at 83.95 ± 0.98%. Heat stability and storage stability of lutein were significantly enhanced after encapsulation into nanoparticles. In addition, the bioaccessibility of lutein increased from 17.50 ± 2.60% to 46.80 ± 4.70% after encapsulation into nanoparticles.

Development of dendrimer-like glucan-stabilized Pickering emulsions incorporated with β-carotene

The impact of sugary maize dendrimer-like glucan octenyl succinate (OSA-SMDG) on the storage stability and antioxidant activity of β-carotene (BC)-loaded emulsions as well as bioaccessibility were investigated. The encapsulation efficiency of β-carotene in emulsions containing 3% OSA-SMDG (3OSA-SMDG-BC) or 5% OSA-SMDG (5OSA-SMDG-BC) was 89.6% and 94.9%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of both emulsions was higher than that of pure β-carotene. During simulated digestion, the particle size of emulsions was immediately reduced, whereas zeta-potential was continuously increased in intestinal digestion. After 2 h digestion, the free fatty acids (FFA) release rate of 3OSA-SMDG-BC and 5OSA-SMDG-BC was significantly higher than that of blank emulsion. Bioaccessibility of β-carotene encapsulated in 3OSA-SMDG-BC and 5OSA-SMDG-BC was also significantly higher than that of blank emulsion. FFA release rate and β-carotene bioaccessibility of 5OSA-SMDG-BC were higher than that of 3OSA-SMDG-BC. These results demonstrated that OSA-SMDG could be used to fabricate food-grade O/W Pickering emulsion as a delivery system for bioactive compounds.

Nanomaterials for Postharvest Management of Insect Pests: Current State and Future Perspectives

Globally, between one quarter and one-third of total grains produced each year are lost during storage mainly through infestation of insect pests. Among the available control options such as chemical and physical techniques, fumigation with aluminum phosphide (AlP) is so far considered the best control strategy against storage insect pests. However, these insect pests are now developing resistance against AIP due to its indiscriminate use due to non-availability of any effective alternative control option. Resistance to AIP among storage insect pests is increasing, and its inhalation has shown adverse effects on animals and human beings. Nanotechnology has opened up a wide range of opportunities in various fields such as agriculture (pesticides, fertilizers, etc.), pharmaceuticals, and electronics. One of the applications of nanotechnology is the usage of nanomaterial-based insecticide formulations for mitigating field and storage insect pests. Several formulations, namely, nanoemulsions, nanosuspensions, controlled release formulations, and solid-based nanopesticides, have been developed with different modes of action and application. The major advantage is their small size which helps in proper spreading on the pest surface, and thus, better action than conventional pesticides is achieved. Besides their minute size, these have no or reduced harmful effects on non-target species. Nanopesticides can therefore provide green and efficient alternatives for the management of insect pests of field and storage. However, an outcry against the utilization of nano-based pesticides is also revealed. It is considered by some that nano-insecticides may also have hazardous effects on humans as well as on the environment. Due to limited available data, nanopesticides have become a double-edged weapon. Therefore, nanomaterials need to be evaluated extensively for their large-scale adoption. In this article, we reviewed the nanoformulations that are developed and have proved effective against the insect pests under postharvest storage of grains.

Recent progress in Pickering emulsions stabilised by bioderived particles

In recent years, the demand for non-surfactant based Pickering emulsions in many industrial applications has grown significantly because of the option to select biodegradable and sustainable materials with low toxicity as emulsion stabilisers. Usually, emulsions are a dispersion system, where synthetic surfactants or macromolecules stabilise two immiscible phases (typically water and oil phases) to prevent coalescence. However, synthetic surfactants are not always a suitable choice in some applications, especially in pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics, due to toxicity and lack of compatibility and biodegradability. Therefore, this review reports recent literature (2018-2021) on the use of comparatively safer biodegradable polysaccharide particles, proteins, lipids and combinations of these species in various Pickering emulsion formulations. Also, an overview of the various tuneable factors associated with the functionalisation or surface modification of these solid particles, that govern the stability of the Pickering emulsions is provided.

Artificial intelligence-powered microfluidics for nanomedicine and materials synthesis

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology with great potential, and its robust calculation and analysis capabilities are unmatched by traditional calculation tools. With the promotion of deep learning and open-source platforms, the threshold of AI has also become lower. Combining artificial intelligence with traditional fields to create new fields of high research and application value has become a trend. AI has been involved in many disciplines, such as medicine, materials, energy, and economics. The development of AI requires the support of many kinds of data, and microfluidic systems can often mine object data on a large scale to support AI. Due to the excellent synergy between the two technologies, excellent research results have emerged in many fields. In this review, we briefly review AI and microfluidics and introduce some applications of their combination, mainly in nanomedicine and material synthesis. Finally, we discuss the development trend of the combination of the two technologies.

Construction of Hohenbuehelia serotina polysaccharides-mucin nanoparticles and their sustain-release characteristics under simulated gastrointestinal digestion in vitro

In this study, Hohenbuehelia serotina polysaccharides-mucin nanoparticles (HSP-MC NPs) were fabricated based on hydrogen bonding and hydrophobicity effects for improving the bioavailability of HSP. The structural characteristics and morphology of HSP-MC NPs prepared by different conditions were respectively identified and observed. The results showed that HSP-MC NPs (HSP/MC, 1/1, w/w) presented the optimal physicochemical characteristics, with the encapsulation efficiency of 88.09 ± 0.01%, average particle size of 509.4 ± 9.76 nm and zeta potential of -20.6 ± 0.7 mV. Furthermore, HSP-MC NPs (HSP/MC, 1/1, w/w), belonged to non-crystalline substances, exhibited the excellent physicochemical stabilities against temperature, pH and ionic strength, and had the uniform spherical morphological characteristics. In addition, under simulated gastrointestinal digestion in vitro, HSP-MC NPs (HSP/MC, 1/1, w/w) showed the good sustained release performances, that might effectively improve the absorption rate of HSP. The present research is meaningful for designing the polysaccharides-loaded nano-delivery system based on natural non-toxic carrier that can be used in function food field.

Characterization and stability of peppermint oil emulsions using polyglycerol esters of fatty acids and milk proteins as emulsifiers

Three peppermint oil emulsions using polyglycerol esters of fatty acids-casein (PGFE-CN), polyglycerol esters of fatty acids-sodium caseinate (PGFE-NaCN), and polyglycerol esters of fatty acids-whey protein isolate (PGFE-WPI) as emulsifiers were fabricated, and the droplet size, zeta potential, viscosity, and stability of emulsions were determined. The experimental results showed that the emulsion containing PGFE-CN has relatively smaller droplet size of 231.77 ± 0.49 nm. No significant changes were observed on the average particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential during 4-week of storage, indicating that the emulsions kept stable against pH, salt ion, freeze-thaw, and storage. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) results showed that the electrostatic interaction occurs between CN and PGFE in the emulsion. The confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) was used to observe the microstructure of the emulsion, proving that droplets were evenly distributed throughout the aqueous phase by PGFE-CN emulsifier. The protein-stabilized emulsions can be used as potential carriers for the delivery of the lipophilic nutrients such as peppermint oil. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: PGFE-CN emulsifier can be directly added to the beverage systems containing oil or protein, such as coconut milk, peanut milk, and walnut milk. It can enhance the stability of beverage, prevent the precipitation, stratification, and oil floating, improve the homogeneity of the system and therefore extend the shelf life.

Phospholipid/zein hybrid nanoparticles as promising carriers for the protection and delivery of all-trans retinoic acid

A totally biodegradable mixed system made up of phospholipids and zein was developed in order to effectively improve the photostability of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) preserving its pharmacological properties. Photon correlation spectroscopy showed that the formulation obtained using phospholipon 85G and zein at a ratio of 7:3 w/w was characterized by an average diameter of less than 200 nm, a narrow size distribution and a significant time- and temperature-dependent stability. The use of specific cryoprotectants such as mannose and glucose favoured the long-term storage of the nanocarriers after the freeze-drying procedure. The nanoparticles increased the stability of the ATRA against photochemical degradation with respect to the free drug and its antitumor effect was preserved as a consequence of the cell uptake of the colloidal systems. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed hybrid nanosystems to provide a high level of stabilization for sensitive and labile antitumor compounds.

Green synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using Pteris vittata extract and their therapeutic activities

The bacterial infections have been substantially increasing with higher mortality and new regimens required for their management. The present work deals with the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using leaf extract of Pteris vittata at pH 9.0. The AgNPs showed a single absorption peak at 407 nm. The morphology of AgNPs was found to be spherical in shape analyzed by scanning electron micrographs. The X-ray diffraction studies revealed the face-centered cubic structure of AgNPs with a 17-nm average crystallite size. They showed the antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the cell growth was completely ceased at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC); 100 μg/mL, with rapidly decreased cell viability. This bactericidal effect was due to the enhancement of cell permeability caused by cell disruption. The AgNPs lead to show a promising antiquorum-sensing activity by inhibition of toxin protease and pyocyanin in P. aeruginosa by 88% and, 94% respectively, at the sub-MIC concentration (0.25× MIC). These results conclude that the green synthesis of AgNPs shows a promising antimicrobial and antivirulence activity against P. aeruginosa.

Properties and Applications of Nanoparticles from Plant Proteins

Nanoparticles from plant proteins are preferred over carbohydrates and synthetic polymeric-based materials for food, medical and other applications. In addition to their large availability and relatively low cost, plant proteins offer higher possibilities for surface modifications and functionalizing various biomolecules for specific applications. Plant proteins also avoid the immunogenic responses associated with the use of animal proteins. However, the sources of plant proteins are very diverse, and proteins from each source have distinct structures, properties and processing requirements. While proteins from corn (zein) and wheat (gliadin) are soluble in aqueous ethanol, most other plant proteins are insoluble in aqueous conditions. Apart from zein and gliadin nanoparticles (which are relatively easy to prepare), soy proteins, wheat glutenin and proteins from several legumes have been made into nanoparticles. The extraction of soluble proteins, hydrolyzing with alkali and acids, conjugation with other biopolymers, and newer techniques such as microfluidization and electrospraying have been adopted to develop plant protein nanoparticles. Solid, hollow, and core-shell nanoparticles with varying sizes and physical and chemical properties have been developed. Most plant protein nanoparticles have been used as carriers for drugs and as biomolecules for controlled release applications and for stabilizing food emulsions. This review provides an overview of the approaches used to prepare nanoparticles from plant proteins, and their properties and potential applications. The review's specific focus is on the preparation methods and applications, rather than the properties of the proteins, which have been reported in detail in other publications.

MFC/NFC-Based Foam/Aerogel for Production of Porous Materials: Preparation, Properties and Applications

Nanofibrillated cellulose and microfibrillated cellulose are potential raw materials separated from plant fibers with a high aspect ratio and excellent mechanical properties, which can be applied in various fields (packaging, medicine, etc.). They have unique advantages in the preparation of aerogels and foams, and have attracted widespread attention in recent years. Cellulose-based porous materials have good biodegradability and biocompatibility, while high porosity and high specific surface area endow them with strong mechanical properties and liquid retention performance, which can be used in wall construction, sewage treatment and other fields. At present, the preparation method of this material has been widely reported, however, due to various process problems, the actual production has not been realized. In this paper, we summarize the existing technical problems and main solutions; in the meantime, two stable systems and several drying processes are described, and the application potential of cellulose-based porous materials in the future is described, which provides a reference for subsequent research.

Protein-polyphenol functional ingredients: The foaming properties of lactoferrin are enhanced by forming complexes with procyanidin

The solution turbidity and intrinsic fluorescence quenching increased after procyanidin was mixed with lactoferrin. The addition of procyanidin also caused a reduction in the surface hydrophobicity of the lactoferrin, suggesting procyanidin bound to non-polar patches on lactoferrin's surfaces. Moreover, the binding interaction caused an appreciable alteration in the structure of both the polyphenol and protein. Thermodynamic analysis indicated the interaction was spontaneous and mainly driven by entropy changes, suggesting that hydrophobic interactions dominated. A computational docking simulation provided insights into the location of the most-likely binding sites on the protein, as well as the nature of the interaction forces involved. In particular, both hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding were found to be important. The binding of the procyanidin to the lactoferrin enhanced its foaming properties. These results may lead to the development of a new class of natural functional ingredients that can be used in food products to improve their quality attributes.