Antitumor Assessment of Liposomal Beta-Carotene with Tamoxifen Against Breast Carcinoma Cell Line: An In Vitro Study

The present study was designed to characterize the interactions between lecithin liposomes, a model membrane, and either β-carotene or tamoxifen. In addition, the cytotoxicity of liposomal beta-carotene with tamoxifen was screened in vitro in human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 in addition to the normal WI38 cell line. All liposomes were nearly spherical and evenly distributed and had fewer aggregates for encapsulated and empty vesicles. Measurements using dynamic light scattering verified that each sample was monodisperse. When tamoxifen is incorporated into liposomal membranes, the zeta potential values tend to decrease. In the test for cytotoxicity using MCF-7 treated cells, the liposomal β-carotene IC50 value was at least 0.45 μg/mL, whereas the IC50 of free β-carotene treated cells was 7.8 μg/mL. For MCF-7 treated cells treated with free tamoxifen, the IC50 was 9.92 μg/mL, but for its liposomal form, it was 20.88 μg/mL. According to the cytotoxicity test using MDA-MB-231 treated cells, the IC50 values for free tamoxifen, free β-carotene, liposomal β-carotene, liposomal tamoxifen, and liposomal tamoxifen β-carotene were 15.5 μg/mL, 38.1 μg/mL, 12.1 μg/mL, 21.2 μg/mL, and 11.4 μg/mL, respectively. This investigation demonstrated that free β-carotene has a more potent cytotoxic impact than tamoxifen. The findings showed that each comet assay variable for the liposomal β-carotene was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in comparison with tamoxifen and control values. Analysis using flow cytometry revealed that the MCF-7 cells displayed a greater degree of cell apoptosis than the control cells following a 48 h exposure to liposomal β-carotene. Based on available data, a novel treatment plan that includes liposomal β-carotene may boost antitumor activity toward the MCF-7 cancer cell line. The current findings demonstrated that preparations of natural products might be a good substitute for pharmaceutical interventions in the treatment of breast cancer.

Protective effect of serum carotenoids on mortality among metabolic syndrome patients: attenuated by lipid-lowering drugs

BACKGROUND

Limited evidence exists about the relationship between serum carotenoid and mortality in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients, and the effects of medication use on this association remains unclear.

METHODS

The study encompassed 2,521 MetS patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2006 and 2017-2018. A total of 7 serum carotenoids were evaluated. Death data were sourced from the National Death Index, with causes assessed using ICD-10 codes. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and random survival forest (RSF) were utilized to investigate serum carotenoid mixture on mortality and identify key carotenoids. "Qgcompint" R package was used to explore the modifying effects of medication use.

RESULTS

The serum carotenoid levels at baseline ranged from 0.04 to 1.37 µmol/L. During a follow-up of 15.1 years, there were 696 deaths (27.61%), with 247 (35.49%) by cardiovascular disease (CVD), 148 (21.26%) by cancer, and 301 (43.25%) by other diseases. Individual and combined serum carotenoids were negatively associated with all-cause mortality (HR range:0.70-0.88, 95%CI range:0.56-0.99, all P < 0.05). α-carotene (VIMP = 0.223 in RSF) and lutein/zeaxanthin (PIP = 1.000 in BKMR) emerged as the greatest contributors to all-cause mortality. Lipid-lowering drugs attenuate the negative effect of serum carotenoids on MetS patients' mortality (Pint = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

The present study identified a protective effect of serum carotenoid on mortality in MetS patients, which was probably weakened by lipid-lowering drugs. Early dietary interventions for MetS patients taking lipid-lowering drugs, particularly those rich in carotenoids like α-carotene and lutein/zeaxanthin, could help reduce mortality.

Design and Bioanalysis of Nanoliposome Loaded with Premium Red Palm Oil for Improved Nutritional Delivery and Stability

Red palm oil (RPO), which is rich in carotenoids and tocotrienols, offers significant health-promoting properties. However, its utilization in functional foods is hindered by poor water solubility and instability under certain processing conditions. This study aimed to overcome these limitations by enhancing the bioactivity and stability of RPO through the ultrasound-assisted fabrication of nanoliposomes, formulated with varying ratios of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EYPC) to RPO. At a 3:1 ratio, the encapsulation efficiency (EE) began to reach >90%. Nanoliposome with the highest β-carotene EE (94.9%) (p < 0.05) and a typical oil loading content of 13.40% was produced by EYPC-to-RPO at a 7:1 ratio. As EYPC levels increased, the average vesicle size and the polydispersity index decreased, but the zeta potential and pH gradually increased. Nanoliposome prepared with an EYPC: RPO ratio of 3:1 showed the lowest peroxide value (PV) of 4.99 meqO2/kg, a thiobarbuturic acid reactive substances (TBARS) value of 0.20 mmol/kg, and greater 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•) inhibition over 30 days of storage at 25 °C. All nanoliposomes showed anti-inflammatory activity without cell toxicity. Nanoliposomes present a promising delivery system for enhancing the biological activity and storage stability of RPO.

Formation Mechanisms of Protein Coronas on Food-Related Nanoparticles: Their Impact on Digestive System and Bioactive Compound Delivery

The rapid development of nanotechnology provides new approaches to manufacturing food-related nanoparticles in various food industries, including food formulation, functional foods, food packaging, and food quality control. Once ingested, nanoparticles will immediately adsorb proteins in the biological fluids, forming a corona around them. Protein coronas alter the properties of nanoparticles, including their toxicity, cellular uptake, and targeting characteristics, by altering the aggregation state. In addition, the conformation and function of proteins and enzymes are also influenced by the formation of protein coronas, affecting the digestion of food products. Since the inevitable application of nanoparticles in food industries and their subsequent digestion, a comprehensive understanding of protein coronas is essential. This systematic review introduces nanoparticles in food and explains the formation of protein coronas, with interactions between proteins and nanoparticles. Furthermore, the potential origin of nanoparticles in food that migrate from packaging materials and their fates in the gastrointestinal tract has been reviewed. Finally, this review explores the possible effects of protein coronas on bioactive compounds, including probiotics and prebiotics. Understanding the formation mechanisms of protein coronas is crucial, as it enables the design of tailored delivery systems to optimize the bioavailability of bioactive compounds.

Recent advancement in protected delivery methods for carotenoid: a smart choice in modern nutraceutical formulation concept

Carotenoids are fat-soluble bio pigments often responsible for red, orange, pink and yellow coloration of fruits and vegetables. They are commonly referred as nutraceutical which is an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs claiming to have numerous physiological benefits. However their activity often get disoriented by photonic exposure, temperature and aeration rate thus leading to low bioavailability and bio accessibility. Most of the market value for carotenoids revolves around food and cosmetic industries as supplement where they have been continuously exposed to rigorous physico-chemical treatment. Though several encapsulation techniques are now in practice to improve stability of carotenoids, the factors like shelf life during storage and controlled release from the delivery vehicle always appeared to be a bottleneck in this field. In this situation, different technologies in nanoscale is showing promising result for carotenoid encapsulation and delivery as they provide greater mass per surface area and protects most of their bioactivities. However, safety concerns related to carrier material and process must be evaluated crucially. Thus, the aim of this review was to collect and correlate technical information concerning the parameters playing pivotal role in characterization and stabilization of designed vehicles for carotenoids delivery. This comprehensive study predominantly focused on experiments carried out in past decade explaining how researchers have fabricated bioprocess engineering in amalgamation with nano techniques to improve the bioavailability for carotenoids. Furthermore, it will help the readers to understand the cognisance of carotenoids in nutraceutical market for their trendy application in food, feed and cosmeceutical industries in contemporary era.

Encapsulation of lemongrass essential oil by bilayer liposomes based on pectin, gum Arabic, and carrageenan: Characterization and application in chicken meat preservation

The volatile characteristics of lemongrass essential oil (LO) have seriously hindered its further application, and encapsulation it with multilayer modified liposomes may be an effective strategy to improve this dilemma. This study selected chitosan (CH) and three anionic polymers, pectin (P) / gum arabic (GA) / carrageenan (C), as the first and second coating polymers to modify nano liposomes (NL) by layer-by-layer electrostatic deposition, obtaining three bilayer liposomes, P-CH-NL, GA-CH-NL, and C-CH-NL as high-quality stabilized carriers of LO. The bilayer liposomes showed a dense membrane structure ranging from 110 to 150 nm uniformly, with good antioxidant properties. All bilayer liposomes had good stability during 28-day storage at 4 °C, while C-CH-NL performed relatively better inferred by smaller changes of size, PDI and Zeta potential. The total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) values of fresh chicken meat and a total number of bacterial colonies (TBC) experiments showed that GA-CH-NL and C-CH-NL could better retard the increase of volatile salt base nitrogen. All bilayer liposomes could delay the time for the total bacterial count to exceed 6 log CFU/g (from 7 days to 10 / 12 days). Therefore, the bilayer liposomes P-CH-NL, GA-CH-NL, and C-CH-NL may be promising natural preservatives for food products.

Design and Characterization of Liposomal-Based Carriers for the Encapsulation of Rosa canina Fruit Extract: In Vitro Gastrointestinal Release Behavior

The increasing demand for natural compounds as an alternative to synthetic antioxidants and conservans has led to the utilization of secondary plant metabolites in the food industry, as these bioactive compounds possess great antioxidative and antimicrobial properties without side effects on human health. Despite this, the sensitivity of plant-derived compounds is a restrictive factor in terms of their full potential. The current research aimed to characterize rosehip-fruit-extract-loaded liposomes (non-treated and UV-irradiated) in terms of their density, surface tension, viscosity, chemical composition (FTIR and HPLC analyses), and thermal behavior. In the storage stability study, the vesicle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, conductivity, and mobility of the liposomes were monitored. FTIR analysis confirmed that the plant compounds were successfully loaded within the carrier, while no chemical reaction between the rosehip fruit extract and phospholipids was detected. The results of the HPLC analysis evidence the high potential for liposomal encapsulation to protect sensitive bioactives in the rosehip fruit extract from the degrading effect of UV irradiation. The size of the rosehip-fruit-extract-encapsulated liposomes increased on the seventh day of storage from 250 nm to 300 nm, while the zeta potential values were between -21 mV and -30 mV in the same period and further stabilized over 60 days of monitoring. In Vitro release studies in water and simulated gastrointestinal fluids showed that the presence of enzymes and bile salts (in intestinal fluid) enhanced the rosehip-polyphenol permeability from liposomes (70.3% after 6 h) compared with their release in water after 24 h and in gastric fluid after 4 h (38.9% and 41.4%, respectively). The obtained results indicate that the proliposome method was an effective method for rosehip fruit extract liposomal encapsulation and for the delivery of these plant-derived bioactives in foods.

In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Liposomal Formulations of Sea Buckthorn and Grape Pomace

This study evaluated the impact of the encapsulation of sea buckthorn and grape pomace extracts in liposomal formulations on the retention and release of bioactive compounds and their antioxidant activity. The profile and composition of lipophilic extracts of sea buckthorn and hydrophilic extracts of grape pomace were analyzed. Encapsulation efficiency, retention rate, and the content of bioactive compounds encapsulated in liposomal formulations prepared in two media-water and ethanol-were evaluated. The encapsulation efficiency varied between 84 and 90%, indicating the superior encapsulation of the bioactive compounds. The retention rate varied between 79 and 86%, which indicated the stability of the liposome-encapsulated compounds over time. The antioxidant activity of the encapsulated samples was determined in vitro, under the conditions of gastric (pH 1.8) and intestinal (pH 8.2) digestion, in relation to the non-encapsulated extracts. The antioxidant activity of both liposomal formulations was higher than that of the nonencapsulated extracts during gastric digestion. Moreover, an increase over time in the antioxidant activity, expressed as % DPPH inhibition, was observed for all samples, with around 90% DPPH inhibition for non-encapsulated extracts and 92% for the encapsulated extracts, demonstrating the stability of bioactive compounds in acidic pH. Oppositely, when exposed to intestinal simulated digestion (alkaline pH), the antioxidant activity decreased over time to around 24% DPPH inhibition for both encapsulated and nonencapsulated extracts. These results provide a foundation for the further development and application of liposomal delivery systems in functional foods.

Hyaluronic Acid-Coated Nanoliposomes as Delivery Systems for Fisetin: Stability, Membrane Fluidity, and Bioavailability

Fisetin has shown numerous health benefits, whereas its food application is constrained by water insolubility, poor stability, and low bioaccessibility. This work investigated the potential of hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated nanoliposomes for the encapsulation and delivery of fisetin. It was observed that HA can adsorb onto the liposomal membrane through hydrogen bonding and maintain the spherical shape of nanoliposomes. Fluorescence analysis suggested that the HA coating restricted the motion and freedom of phospholipid molecules in the headgroup region and reduced the interior micropolarity of the nanoliposomes but did not affect the fluidity of the hydrophobic core. These effects were more pronounced for the HA with a low molecular weight (35 kDa) and moderate concentration (0.4%). The HA coating improved the storage and thermal stability of the nanoliposomes, as well as the digestive stability and bioaccessibility of the encapsulated fisetin. These findings could guide the development of HA-coated nanoliposomes for the controlled delivery of hydrophobic bioactives such as fisetin in functional foods.

Liposomes as Carriers of Bioactive Compounds in Human Nutrition

This article provides an overview of the literature data on the role of liposomal structures and encapsulated substances in food technology and human nutrition. The paper briefly describes how liposomes are created and how they encapsulate food ingredients, which can either be individual compounds or plant extracts. Another very interesting application of liposomes is their use as antimicrobial carriers to protect food products from spoilage during storage. The encapsulation of food ingredients in liposomes can increase their bioavailability, which is particularly important for compounds with health-promoting properties but low bioavailability. Particular attention was paid to compounds such as phytosterols, which lower blood cholesterol levels but have very low absorption in the human body. In addition, consumer expectations and regulations for liposomes in food are discussed. To date, no in vivo human studies have been conducted to indicate which encapsulation methods give the best results for gastrointestinal effects and which food-added substances are most stable during food storage and processing. The paper identifies further lines of research that are needed before liposomes can be introduced into food.

High hydrostatic pressure induced gastrointestinal digestion behaviors of quercetin-loaded casein delivery systems under different calcium concentration

Casein micelle has a structure of outer hydrophilicity and inner hydrophobicity, its typical digestion characteristic is gastric coagulation. Based on calcium content as the key factor to control this process, high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) was firstly used to modify the micelle structure by mediating the tight connection between casein molecules themselves and with colloidal calcium, then the quercetin-loaded delivery systems were prepared. And in order to investigate the effect of exogenous calcium, calcium chloride was added for digestion. The results indicated that HHP broke the limitation of casein micelles as delivery carriers for hydrophobic components and increased the EE from 51.18 ± 3.07 % to 76.17 ± 3.41 %. During gastric digestion, higher pressure and exogenous calcium synergistically increased the clotting ability and inhibited the release of quercetin. In the small intestine, curds decomposed more slowly under higher pressure and calcium concentration, so the degradation of quercetin was effectively inhibited.

p-Coumaric acid-loaded nanoliposomes: Optimization, characterization, antimicrobial properties and preservation effects on fresh pod pepper fruit

Novel p-coumaric acid (pCA)-loaded nanoliposomes were prepared by the thin-film hydration method, assisted with ultrasonic treatment, and optimized by the response surface methodology. The characterization showed that the fabricated pCA-loaded liposomes were nanosized spherical vesicles (83.55 ± 0.34 nm), exhibiting favorable dispersibility and encapsulation efficiency (55.70 ± 0.10 %). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that pCA was encapsulated into phospholipid bilayer through hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding. Tests of temperature stability and centrifugal stability suggested that pCA-loaded nanoliposomes were less sensitive to aggregation and fusion during storage. Incubation experiments revealed that pCA-loaded nanoliposomes had a good inhibitory effect on the expansion of disease area on fresh pod pepper fruit caused by Botrytis cinerea. Additionally, pCA-loaded nanoliposomes effectively extended shelf life of fresh pod peppers by reducing weight loss and naturally-infected decays. The findings presented a viable strategy for designing liposomal encapsulation technology to efficiently enhance antimicrobial activity of pCA in food preservation.

Effects of carotenoids on mitochondrial dysfunction

Oxidative stress, an imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant status, favouring the pro-oxidant state is a result of increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or inadequate antioxidant protection. ROS are produced through several mechanisms in cells including during mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Increased mitochondrial-derived ROS are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, an early event in age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's diseases (ADs) and in metabolic disorders including diabetes. AD post-mortem investigations of affected brain regions have shown the accumulation of oxidative damage to macromolecules, and oxidative stress has been considered an important contributor to disease pathology. An increase in oxidative stress, which leads to increased levels of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and other ROS in a potentially vicious cycle is both causative and a consequence of mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction may be ameliorated by molecules with antioxidant capacities that accumulate in mitochondria such as carotenoids. However, the role of carotenoids in mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction is not fully understood. A better understanding of the role of antioxidants in mitochondrial function is a promising lead towards the development of novel and effective treatment strategies for age-related diseases. This review evaluates and summarises some of the latest developments and insights into the effects of carotenoids on mitochondrial dysfunction with a focus on the antioxidant properties of carotenoids. The mitochondria-protective role of carotenoids may be key in therapeutic strategies and targeting the mitochondria ROS is emerging in drug development for age-related diseases.

Effect of beta glucan coating on controlled release, bioaccessibility, and absorption of β-carotene from loaded liposomes

Recently, the use of biopolymers as coating material to stabilise phospholipid-based nanocarriers has increased. One such class of biopolymers is the dietary fibre beta-glucan (βG). In this study, we developed and characterized beta-carotene (βC) loaded βG coated nanoliposomes (GNLs) to investigate the effect of βG coating on the stability, controlled release, bioaccessibility, diffusion and subsequent absorption of the lipophilic active agent. The size, charge (Z-potential), and FTIR spectra were measured to determine the physicochemical stability of GNLs. βG coating reduced the bioaccessibility, provided prolonged release and improved the antioxidant activity of the nanoliposomes. Multiple particle tracking (MPT) data suggested that βC-GNLs were less diffusive in porcine intestinal mucus (PIM). Additionally, the microviscosity of the PIM treated with GNLs was observed to be higher (0.04744 ± 0.00865 Pa s) than the PIM incubated with uncoated NLs (0.015 ± 0.0004 Pa s). An Ex vivo experiment was performed on mouse jejunum to measure the absorption of beta-carotene from coated (βC-GNLs) and uncoated nanoliposomes (βC-NLs). Data showed that after 2 hours, 27.7 ± 1.3 ng mL-1 of βC encapsulated in GNLs and 61.54 ± 3 ng mL-1 of the βC encapsulated in uncoated NLs was absorbed by mouse intestinal mucosa. These results highlight that coating with βG stabilise NLs during gastrointestinal digestion and provides more sustained release of βC from nanoliposomes.

Multifunctional Liposomes Co-Modified with Ginsenoside Compound K and Hyaluronic Acid for Tumor-Targeted Therapy

Liposomes show promise for anti-cancer drug delivery and tumor-targeted therapy. However, complex tumor microenvironments and the performance limitations of traditional liposomes restrict clinical translation. Hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified nanoliposomes effectively target CD44-overexpressing tumor cells. Combination therapy enhances treatment efficacy and delays drug resistance. Here, we developed paclitaxel (PTX) liposomes co-modified with ginsenoside compound K (CK) and HA using film dispersion. Compared to cholesterol (Ch), CK substantially improved encapsulation efficiency and stability. In vitro release studies revealed pH-responsive behavior, with slower release at pH 7.4 versus faster release at pH 5. In vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that replacing Ch with CK in modified liposomes considerably decreased HCT-116 cell viability. Furthermore, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy showed a higher cellular uptake of PTX-CK-Lip-HA in CD44-high cells, reflected in the lower half maximal inhibitory concentrations. Overall, CK/HA-modified liposomes represent an innovative, targeted delivery system for enhanced tumor therapy via pH-triggered drug release and CD44 binding.

Designing and fabrication of colloidal nano-phytosomes with gamma-oryzanol and phosphatidylcholine for encapsulation and delivery of polyphenol-rich extract from pomegranate peel

Nano-carriers are well-known delivery systems to encapsulate different bioactive compounds and extracts. Such nano-systems are used in various food and drug areas to protect active ingredients, increase bioavailability, control the release, and deliver bioactive substances. This study aimed to design and fabricate a stable colloidal nano-delivery system to better preserve the antioxidant properties of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) and protect its sustained release in a gastrointestinal model. To achieve this goal, a nano-phytosomal system was fabricated with plant-based, cost-effective, and food-grade compounds, i.e., phosphatidylcholine (PC) and gamma-oryzanol (GO) for encapsulation of PPE. To fabricate the nano-phytosomes, thin film hydration/sonication method was used. The parameters of particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), loading capacity (LC), and encapsulation efficiency (EE) were investigated to evaluate the efficiency of the produced nano-system. In summary, the size, zeta potential, PDI, LC, and EE of homogenous spherical PC-GO-PPE nano-phytosomes (NPs) in the ratio of 8:2:2 % w/w were achieved as 60.61 ± 0.81 nm, -32.24 ± 0.84 mV, 0.19 ± 0.01, 19.13 ± 0.30 %, and 95.66 ± 1.52 %, respectively. Also, the structure of NPs was approved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The optimized NPs were stable during one month of storage at 4 °C, and changes in the size of particles and PPE retention rate were insignificant (p > 0.05). The nano-encapsulation of PPE significantly decreased the loss of its antioxidant activity during one month of storage at 4 °C. The optimized NPs exhibited prolonged and sustained release of PPE in a gastrointestinal model, so that after 2 h in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and 4 h in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), 22.66 ± 2.51 % and 69.33 ± 4.50 % of initially loaded PPE was released, respectively. Optimized NPs had considerable cytotoxicity against the Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 cell line (MCF7) (IC50 = 103 μg/ml), but not against Human Foreskin Fibroblast cell line (HFF-2) (IC50 = 453 μg/ml). In conclusion, spherical PC-GO-PPE NPs were identified as a promising delivery system to efficiently encapsulate PPE, as well as protect and preserve its bioactivity, including antioxidant and cytotoxicity against cancer cell line.

Evaluating β-cryptoxanthin antioxidant properties against ROS-induced macromolecular damages and determining its photo-stability and in-vitro SPF

Natural antioxidants have become vital to minimize macromolecular damage caused by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). This study investigated the antioxidant property of β-cryptoxanthin (β-CRX) extracted from Kocuria marina DAGII and its protective effect against macromolecular damages by generating ROS via two models: UV radiation and the Fenton reaction. β-cryptoxanthin exhibited the highest scavenging activity towards hydrogen peroxide radicals with an IC50 value of 38.30 ± 1.13 μg/ml, favoring the hydrogen atom transfer mechanism. The total antioxidant capacity value of 872.0101 ± 1.84 μg BHT/mg β-CRX indicated the cumulative ROS scavenging ability of β-cryptoxanthin. β-cryptoxanthin could protect against ROS-induced lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and DNA damage. The highest lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation inhibition values of β-cryptoxanthin against ROS were 99.371 ± 0.51% and 78.19 ± 0.15%, respectively. β-cryptoxanthin also showed a protective effect in maintaining DNA intactness against ROS-mediated DNA damage. Allium cepa test showed the non-genotoxic nature of β-cryptoxanthin and its protective effect against ROS genotoxic effects. A photo-stability study of β-cryptoxanthin toward UVA and UVB radiation showed a rapid bleaching result of UVB obeying pseudo-zero order kinetics with an average R2 value of 0.9897 and a higher k value (-6.3 × 10-11 ± 0.2 M/s) than UVA (k value -3.1 × 10-11 ± 0.17 M/s), signifying that UVB is more potent toward photo-degradation. The good SPF value of 23.1737 ± 0.15 showed the UV protection capability of β-cryptoxanthin. Thus, the present study suggests that β-cryptoxanthin could be a valuable antioxidant to protect against ROS-induced various macromolecular damages and act as a good UV protectant.

Comparative study of the properties of lutein nanoliposomes coated with chitosan/(-)-epigallocatechin- 3-gallate (EGCG) complexes

BACKGROUND

Numerous positive effects have been attributed to lutein, a lipophilic nutrient, including resisting ultraviolet radiation and protecting retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells against blue light damage. It also has preventive effects against cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, its use could be limited by its poor stability and low bioaccessibility in the human digestive system. An encapsulation delivery system was therefore developed to resolve these limitations. In this study, chitosan-modified lutein nanoliposomes (CS-LNLs), chitosan-EGCG covalently modified lutein nanoliposomes (C-CS-EGCG-LNLs), and chitosan-EGCG noncovalently modified lutein nanoliposomes (non-C-CS-EGCG-LNLs) were designed. The average particle size, ζ-potential, and retention of lutein during storage were measured to indicate the physicochemical stability of the modified lutein nanoliposomes. The bioaccessibility of modified lutein nanoliposomes was also investigated to demonstrate the availability of lutein in the human digestive system.

RESULTS

First, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) verified that covalent bonds between chitosan and EGCG were formed. Subsequently, ζ-potential results revealed that C-CS-EGCG-LNLs had a relatively stable structure in comparison with lutein nanoliposomes (LNLs). The retention rate of lutein in CS-LNLs, C-CS-EGCG-LNLs, and non-C-CS-EGCG-LNLs was improved, especially in C-CS-EGCG-LNLs (at around 70% of lutein in initial system). An in vitro digestion experiment illustrated that CS-LNLs, C-CS-EGCG-LNLs, and non-C-CS-EGCG-LNLs presented relatively higher bioaccessibility, especially in C-CS-EGCG-LNLs (at around 33% of luein in initial system), which increased 2.5 and 1.65 times in comparison with free lutein and LNLs, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the results showed that C-CS-EGCG-LNLs presented greater physicochemical stability and bioaccessibility than LNLs, CS-LNLs, and non-C-CS-EGCG-LNLs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Protein-Mediated Carotenoid Delivery Suppresses the Photoinducible Oxidation of Lipofuscin in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Lipofuscin of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells is a complex heterogeneous system of chromophores which accumulates as granules during the cell's lifespan. Lipofuscin serves as a source of various cytotoxic effects linked with oxidative stress. Several age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration of the retina, as well as some severe inherited eye pathologies, are accompanied by a significant increase in lipofuscin granule concentration. The accumulation of carotenoids in the RPE could provide an effective antioxidant protection against lipofuscin cytotoxic manifestations. Given the highly lipophilic nature of carotenoids, their targeted delivery to the vulnerable tissues can potentially be assisted by special proteins. In this study, we demonstrate how protein-mediated delivery of zeaxanthin using water-soluble Bombyx mori carotenoid-binding protein (BmCBP-ZEA) suppresses the photoinducible oxidative stress in RPE cells caused by irradiation of lipofuscin with intense white light. We implemented fluorescence lifetime imaging of the RPE cell culture ARPE-19 fed with lipofuscin granules and then irradiated by white light with and without the addition of BmCBP-ZEA. We demonstrate that after irradiation the mean fluorescence lifetime of lipofuscin significantly increases, while the presence of BmCBP-ZEA at 200 nM concentration suppresses the increase in the average lifetime of lipofuscin fluorescence, indicating an approx. 35% inhibition of the oxidative stress. This phenomenon serves as indirect yet important evidence of the efficiency of the protein-mediated carotenoid delivery into pigment epithelium cells.

Preparation and properties of fucoxanthin-loaded liposomes stabilized by sea cucumber derived cholesterol sulfate instead of cholesterol

The preparation of steady-state phospholipid liposomes requires cholesterol as a stabilizer, but excessive intake of cholesterol may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The sulfated sterols extracted from sea cucumber, mainly including sulfated 24-methylene cholesterol and cholesterol sulfate, have been reported to have a variety of physiological activities. Sulfated sterols are similar to cholesterol in structure and have the potential to replace cholesterol to prepare novel stable multifunctional liposomes, allowing the liposomes to act as carriers for the delivery of less bioavailable nutrients while allowing sulfated sterols in the lipid bilayer to exert physiologically active effects. This study aimed to prepare a novel multifunctional nanoliposome stabilized with sulfated sterols from sea cucumber instead of cholesterol by ultrasound-assisted thin-film dispersion method. The results showed that stable and uniformly dispersed nanoliposomes could be formed when the substitution ratio of sea cucumber-derived cholesterol sulfate was 100% and the ratio of lecithin to cholesterol sulfate was 3:1. Fucoxanthin encapsulated liposome with egg yolk lecithin/sea cucumber-derived cholesterol sulfate/fucoxanthin mass ratio of 6:2:3 was successfully prepared, with an average particle size of 214 ± 3 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) value of 0.297 ± 0.006, the zeta potential of -57.2 ± 1.10 mV, and the encapsulation efficiency of 85.5 ± 0.8%. The results of digestion and absorption in vitro and in vivo showed that liposomes could significantly improve the bioavailability of fucoxanthin and prolong its residence time in serum. As an efficient multifunctional carrier, this novel liposome has great potential for applications in functional foods and biomedicine.

Lycopene, but not zeaxanthin, serves as a skeleton for the formation of an orthorhombic organization of intercellular lipids within the lamellae in the stratum corneum: Molecular dynamics simulations of the hydrated ceramide NS bilayer model

Carotenoids play an important role in the protection of biomembranes against oxidative damage. Their function depends on the surroundings and the organization of the lipid membrane they are embedded in. Carotenoids are located parallel or perpendicular to the surface of the lipid bilayer. The influence of carotenoids on the organization of the lipid bilayer in the stratum corneum has not been thoroughly considered. Here, the orientation of the exemplary cutaneous carotenoids lycopene and zeaxanthin in a hydrated ceramide NS24 bilayer model and the influence of carotenoids on the lateral organization of the lipid bilayer model were studied by means of molecular dynamics simulations for 32 °C and 37 °C. The results confirm that lycopene is located parallel and zeaxanthin perpendicular to the surface of the lipid bilayer. The lycopene-loaded lipid bilayer appeared to have a strong orthorhombic organization, while zeaxanthin-loaded and pure lipid bilayers were organized in a disordered hexagonal-like and liquid-like state, respectively. The effect is stronger at 32 °C compared to 37 °C based on p-values. Therefore, it was assumed that carotenoids without hydroxyl polar groups in their structure facilitate the formation of the orthorhombic organization of lipids, which provides the skin barrier function. It was shown that the distance between carotenoid atoms matched the distance between atoms in the lipids, indicating that parallel located carotenoids without hydroxyl groups serve as a skeleton for lipid membranes inside the lamellae. The obtained results provide reasonable prediction of the overall qualitative properties of lipid model systems and show the importance of parallel-oriented carotenoids in the development and maintenance of the skin barrier function.

Current trends in nano-delivery systems for functional foods: a systematic review

Background

Increased awareness of the relationship between certain components in food beyond basic nutrition and health has generated interest in the production and consumption. Functional foods owe much of their health benefits to the presence of bioactive components. Despite their importance, their poor stability, solubility, and bioavailability may require the use of different strategies including nano-delivery systems (NDS) to sustain delivery and protection during handling, storage, and ingestion. Moreover, increasing consumer trend for non-animal sourced ingredients and interest in sustainable production invigorate the need to evaluate the utility of plant-based NDS.

Method

In the present study, 129 articles were selected after screening from Google Scholar searches using key terms from current literature.

Scope

This review provides an overview of current trends in the use of bioactive compounds as health-promoting ingredients in functional foods and the main methods used to stabilize these components. The use of plant proteins as carriers in NDS for bioactive compounds and the merits and challenges of this approach are also explored. Finally, the review discusses the application of protein-based NDS in food product development and highlights challenges and opportunities for future research.

Key Findings

Plant-based NDS is gaining recognition in food research and industry for their role in improving the shelf life and bioavailability of bioactives. However, concerns about safety and possible toxicity limit their widespread application. Future research efforts that focus on mitigating or enhancing their safety for food applications is warranted.

Encapsulation of Vitamins Using Nanoliposome: Recent Advances and Perspectives

Nowadays the importance of vitamins is clear for everyone. However, many patients are suffering from insufficient intake of vitamins. Incomplete intake of different vitamins from food sources due to their destruction during food processing or decrease in their bioavailability when mixing with other food materials, are factors resulting in vitamin deficiency in the body. Therefore, various lipid based nanocarriers such as nanoliposomes were developed to increase the bioavailability of bioactive compounds. Since the function of nanoliposomes containing vitamins on the body has a direct relationship with the quality of produced nanoliposomes, this review study was planned to investigate the several aspects of liposomal characteristics such as size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency on the quality of synthesized vitamin-loaded nanoliposomes.

Nanoscale Delivery Systems of Lutein: An Updated Review from a Pharmaceutical Perspective

Carotenoids are natural lipid-soluble pigments that produce yellow to red colors in plants as well as providing bright coloration in vegetables and fruits. Lutein belongs to the xanthophyll subgroup of the carotenoid family, which plays an essential role in photosynthesis and photoprotection in nature. In the human body, lutein, together with its isomer zeaxanthin and its metabolite meso-zeaxanthin, accumulates in the macula of the eye retina, which is responsible for central, high-resolution, and color vision. As a bioactive phytochemical, lutein has essential physiological functions, providing photoprotection against damaging blue light, along with the neutralization of oxidants and the preservation of the structural and functional integrity of cellular membranes. As a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, lutein unfortunately has a low bioavailability because of its lipophilicity and a low stability as a result of its conjugated double bonds. In order to enhance lutein stability and bioavailability and achieve its controlled delivery to a target, nanoscale delivery systems, which have great potential for the delivery of bioactive compounds, are starting to be employed. The current review highlights the advantages and innovations associated with incorporating lutein within promising nanoscale delivery systems, such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, polymer nanoparticles, and polymer–lipid hybrid nanoparticles, as well as their unique physiochemical properties.

Development of functional cakes rich in bioactive compounds extracted from saffron and tomatoes

Demand for health-promoting food products rich in bioactive compounds and fibers is increasing. The current study was aimed to evaluate the physicochemical, antioxidant and sensory characteristics of whole wheat flour cakes enriched with tomato powder (TP), crude lycopene (CL) and saffron extracts (SE). Physical characteristics such as loaf weight of cakes containing TP increased significantly (p < 0.05) while loaf volume decreased as compared to the control. The color of the crust and crumb of cakes enriched with TP and CL was dark red while cakes containing SE were bright and yellowish. Firmness of the fresh cake samples was found in the range of 7.25-14.53 N. Antioxidant properties were significantly (p < 0.05) improved after enrichment of cakes with TP, CL and SE. The storage period increased the water activity while antioxidant activity and concentration of total carotenoids was reduced. Thus, cakes enriched with TP, CL and SE could be successfully developed with improved antioxidant properties, without compromising the sensory quality of the product.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-021-05267-2.

A Comparative Study on Inhibition of Breast Cancer Cells and Tumors in Mice by Carotenoid Extract and Nanoemulsion Prepared from Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Peel

The objectives of this study were to determine carotenoid composition in sweet potato (TNG66) peel and prepare carotenoid nanoemulsion to study its inhibition effect on breast cancer cells MCF-7 and tumors in mice. Results showed that a total of 10 carotenoids were separated within 30 min by employing a YMC C30 column and a gradient mobile phase of methanol/acetonitrile/water (74:14:12, v/v/v) and dichloromethane (B) with a flow rate of 1 mL/min, column temperature of 25 °C, and detection wavelength of 450 nm. Following quantitation, all-trans-β-carotene was present in the highest amount (663.8 μg/g). The method validation data demonstrated a high accuracy and precision of this method. The carotenoid nanoemulsion was prepared by mixing an appropriate proportion of carotenoid extract, Tween 80, PEG 400, soybean oil and deionized water with the mean particle size being 15.7 nm (transmission electron microscope (TEM)), polydispersity index 0.238, encapsulation efficiency 97% and zeta potential -69.8 mV. A high stability of carotenoid nanoemulsion was shown over a 90-day storage period at 25 °C and during heating at 100 °C for 2 h. The release percentage of total carotenoids from carotenoid nanoemulsion under gastric and intestinal condition was 18.3% and 49.1%, respectively. An antiproliferation study revealed that carotenoid nanoemulsion was more effective than carotenoid extract in inhibiting the growth of human breast cancer cells MCF-7. Following treatments of paclitaxel (10 μg/mL), carotenoid nanoemulsion (20 and 10 μg/mL) and carotenoid extract (20 and 10 μg/mL), the tumor weight of mice respectively decreased by 77.4, 56.2, 40.3, 36.1 and 18.7%, as well as tumor volume of mice by 75.4, 65.0, 49.7, 46.7 and 26.5%. Also, both carotenoid extract and nanoemulsion could reduce the levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and (vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum, with the latter being more effective. This finding suggested that carotenoid nanoemulsion was more effective than carotenoid extract in inhibiting tumor growth in mice.

The spatial arrangement of astaxanthin in bilayers greatly influenced the structural stability of DPPC liposomes

Liposomes are regarded as the ideal nanocarrier for concurrent or separate delivery of nutraceuticals in the food industries. Precise control of the structural stability is essential for the processing, storage, and nutrition delivery of liposomes. Astaxanthin was found to significantly affect the membrane stability of liposomes by inserting into the phospholipid bilayers in a similar way to cholesterol. Compared with cholesterol, astaxanthin could significantly improve the phase transition temperature, membrane fluidity, and membrane compactness of liposomes. Additionally, the membrane stability was well modulated by controlling the distribution patterns of astaxanthin (monomers, H- and J-aggregates) in bilayers. For instance, astaxanthin H-aggregates could endow the liposomal membrane with highest rigidity and compactness. Additionally, astaxanthin aggregates, especially J-aggregates could greatly improve storage stability of liposomes, thus providing a novel strategy to regulate and optimize the stability of liposomes for their diversified applications.

Contribution of Nanoscience Research in Antioxidants Delivery Used in Nutricosmetic Sector

Nanoscience applications in the food and cosmetic industry offer many potential benefits for consumers and society. Nanotechnologies permit the manipulation of matter at the nanoscale level, resulting in new properties and characteristics useful in food and cosmetic production, processing, packaging, and storage. Nanotechnology protects sensitive bioactive compounds, improves their bioavailability and water solubility, guarantees their release at a site of action, avoids contact with other constituents, and masks unpleasant taste. Biopolymeric nanoparticles, nanofibers, nanoemulsions, nanocapsules, and colloids are delivery systems used to produce food supplements and cosmetics. There are no barriers to nanoscience applications in food supplements and cosmetic industries, although the toxicity of nano-sized delivery systems is not clear. The physicochemical and toxicological characterization of nanoscale delivery systems used by the nutricosmeceutic industry is reviewed in this work.

In Vitro Imaging of Lycopene Delivery to Prostate Cancer Cells

The ability to monitor the uptake and distribution of food nutrients in in vitro cell culture models is key to understanding the efficacy of these nutraceuticals to treat and prevent disease. Lycopene is a carotenoid found in chloroplasts and chromoplasts of tomatoes, providing the familiar red color, and a bioactive that inhibits prostate carcinogenesis. We employed live-cell Raman microscopy to visualize lycopene delivery from tween 80 micelles into PC-3 prostate cancer cells. The tween 80 micelle provides a mimic of natural lipoprotein complexes that deliver lycopene in vivo, overcomes the low aqueous solubility of lycopene and challenges replicating physiological uptake to cells, and provides a stable signal to assess cellular uptake of the nutraceutical formulation. The Raman images indicate subcellular localization of the lycopene within the cells. The lycopene Raman signal is resonantly enhanced at an excitation wavelength of 532 nm, providing a convenient, sensitive, and label-free technique to detect and quantify lycopene uptake in living cells. Analysis of the acquired Raman spectra in the maps determines the concentration of lycopene at each point in the cell. In addition to the expected lycopene Raman signal, Raman scattering from the tween 80 vehicle is also mapped in the cells. The Raman data correlates with scattering features observed in darkfield microscopy images of the cells, which display the cell membrane and other features for reference. Overall, the Raman maps indicate lycopene likely accumulates in lipid membranes of cytoplasmic organelles.

Surface characteristics and emulsifying properties of whey protein/nanoliposome complexes

The surface characteristics and emulsifying properties of whey proteins (WP) after complexation with nanoliposomes (NL) were investigated. WP surface hydrophobicity enhanced after complexation with NL, and it indicated the exposure increase of WP hydrophobic groups. WPNL interfacial tension significantly decreased compared with that of WP. The interfacial protein content of WPNL-stabilized emulsions was slightly different from that of WP-stabilized emulsions. WP emulsifying properties were significantly improved after complexation with NL. The mean sizes and polydispersity indexes of WPNL-stabilized emulsion droplets were smaller than those of WP-stabilized emulsion droplets. The absolute zeta-potential values of WPNL-stabilized emulsions were greater than those of WP-stabilized emulsions. Electrostatic repulsion played a vital role in WPNL-stabilized emulsion stability. Moreover, surface and emulsifying properties of WPNL were changed by exterior factor-induced alteration of protein advanced structures. The emulsifying properties of WP after complexation with NL were improved due to the modification of WP surface characteristics.

Enhanced cytotoxic activity of beta carotene conjugated liposomes towards breast cancer cell line: comparative studies with cyclophosphamide

This work aims to evaluate cyclophosphamide (Cyclo) cytotoxic efficacy combined with liposomes in the presence or absence of beta carotene (beta) by detecting the effects of these compounds on the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) DNA damage. The IC50 value for beta in cytotoxic assay with MCF-7 treated cells was 21.15 μg/ml, while with liposomal beta (LipoBeta) being 121 μg/ml. The free Cyclo IC50 value was 719.86 μg/ml, its liposomal form (LipoCyclo) was 172 μg/ml. The results indicated that in contrast with Cyclo and control values, all comet assay parameters for the LipoBeta were significantly increased (P < 0.05). In MCF-7 cells treated with beta, the findings show a higher intensity of comet tail than those treated with LipoBeta. The presence of several double-strand breaks suggests this high intensity relative to the head. The molecular combination between Cyclo and liposomes in the presence or absence of beta was characterized. Dynamic light scattering measurements confirmed the mono-dispersity of all samples. The incorporation of Cyclo or beta into liposomes exhibited a slight shift to higher temperature compared to the main peak of empty liposomes that exists at 101.5°C which creates a conformational disorder within the phospholipids. The FTIR study showed structural alterations in vesicles after liposome encapsulation.

Entrapment of rosemary extract by liposomes formulated by Mozafari method: physicochemical characterization and optimization

A major obstacle in the utilization of phenolic antioxidant compounds is their sensitivity and as a result stability issue. The current study aimed to encapsulate polyphenolic compounds, extracted from Rosemary, in liposomes prepared by the Mozafari method without the utilization of toxic solvents or detergents. The extract was prepared and converted into a powder by freeze-drying. The process conditions were optimized using response surface analysis, and the optimal parameters were as follows: phosphatidylcholine (PC), 2.5% (25 mg/mL); extract, 0.7% (7 mg/mL); process temperature, 70 °C and process time, 60 min. The entrapment efficiency in optimal sample was 54.59%. Also, optimal glycerosomes formulation were finally physicochemical characterized (permeability, zeta potential, and size distribution). The mean size of empty and containing rosemary extract glycerosome were 265.4 nm and 583.5 nm, respectively, and the Z-potential of optimal glycerosome was -65.1 mV. Total phenolic content was obtained 151.38 mg gallic acid/g extract, in optimal liposomal formulation, which was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol reagent. Also, the antioxidant activity of rosemary extract by DPPH for the free and optimal liposomal formulation was determined to be 84.57% and 92.5% respectively. It can be concluded that the liposomal rosemary extract formulation prepared in this study, employing a safe, scalable, and green technology, has great promise in food and pharmaceutical applications.

Preparation and characterisation of liposome loaded with chitosan-epigallocatechin gallate conjugate

Liposomes (LS) were prepared using chitosan-epigallocatechin gallate (CE) conjugate (0.1 and 0.5%, w/v) and soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC)/cholesterol as a lipid phase (LP) (30 and 60 µmol mL^-1). The encapsulation efficiency (EE), particle diameter, zeta potential, and polydispersity index of LS were observed. The highest EE (76.96%) was found when LS was prepared using 0.5% (w/v) of CE conjugate and 60 µmol mL^-1 of LP (CELP-60-0.5) (p < 0.05). FTIR analysis showed the interaction between choline present in SPC and OH-groups of CE conjugate. The phase transition temperature of CELP-60-0.5 was 134.67 °C, higher than other samples (p < 0.05). CELP-60-0.5 showed inhibitory action against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Higher retention of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of CELP-60-0.5 was observed than unencapsulated CE conjugate sample when stored for 28 days at 30 °C (p < 0.05). LS might be used as an efficient vesicle for maintaining bioactivities of CE conjugate, plausibly when used as a preservative in foods.

Carvacrol-loaded liposome suspension: optimization, characterization and incorporation into poly(vinyl alcohol) films

The purpose of this study was to encapsulate carvacrol into liposomes in order to promote its application in active food packaging. Response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effect of the concentration of the liposomal components on its characteristics. The optimum formulation for the preparation of liposomes with the highest encapsulation efficiency (59.0 ± 1.99%) was found to be 3000 μg mL^-1 of cholesterol and 4000 μg mL^-1 of carvacrol. Carvacrol reduced the polydispersity index and increased the zeta potential and the thermal stability of liposomes. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that the interaction of carvacrol with liposomes occurred probably through hydrogen-bonding. The incorporation into liposomes maintained the antibacterial effect of carvacrol, but when in the film, carvacrol liposomes were not effective against the microorganisms tested. Liposomes may offer a viable option for stabilizing carvacrol, however, more studies are necessary to enable its application in food packaging.

A Comparison of Microfluidic-Jet Spray Drying, Two-Fluid Nozzle Spray Drying, and Freeze-Drying for Co-Encapsulating β-Carotene, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Fish Oil

Various microencapsulation techniques can result in significant differences in the properties of dried microcapsules. Microencapsulation is an effective approach to improve fish oil properties, including oxidisability and unpleasant flavour. In this study, β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and fish oil were co-encapsulated by microfluidic-jet spray drying (MFJSD), two-fluid nozzle spray drying (SD), and freeze-drying (FD), respectively. The aim of the current study is to understand the effect of different drying techniques on microcapsule properties. Whey protein isolate (WPI) and octenylsuccinic anhydride (OSA) modified starch were used as wall matrices in this study for encapsulating carotenoids and fish oil due to their strong emulsifying properties. Results showed the MFJSD microcapsules presented uniform particle size and regular morphological characteristics, while the SD and FD microcapsules presented a large distribution of particle size and irregular morphological characteristics. Compared to the SD and FD microcapsules, the MFJSD microcapsules possessed higher microencapsulation efficiency (94.0–95.1%), higher tapped density (0.373–0.652 g/cm³), and higher flowability (the Carr index of 16.0–30.0%). After a 4-week storage, the SD microcapsules showed the lower retention of carotenoids, as well as ω-3 LC-PUFAs than the FD and MFJSD microcapsules. After in vitro digestion trial, the differences in the digestion behaviours of the microcapsules mainly resulted from the different wall materials, but independent of drying methods. This study has provided an alternative way of delivering visual-beneficial compounds via a novel drying method, which is fundamentally essential in both areas of microencapsulation application and functional food development.

Advancements in liposome technology: Preparation techniques and applications in food, functional foods, and bioactive delivery: A review

Liposomes play a significant role in encapsulation of various bioactive compounds (BACs), including functional food ingredients to improve the stability of core. This technology can be used for promoting an effective application in functional food and nutraceuticals. Incorporation of traditional and emerging methods for the developments of liposome for loading BACs resulted in viable and stable liposome formulations for industrial applications. Thus, the advance technologies such as supercritical fluidic methods, microfluidization, ultrasonication with traditional methods are revisited. Liposomes loaded with plant and animal BACs have been introduced for functional food and nutraceutical applications. In general, application of liposome systems improves stability, delivery, and bioavailability of BACs in functional food systems and nutraceuticals. This review covers the current techniques and methodologies developed and practiced in liposomal preparation and application in functional foods.

Nanoencapsulation of Pomegranate Extract to Increase Stability and Potential Dermatological Protection

Pomegranate extract (PG-E) has been reported to exert a protective effect on the skin due to its antioxidant activity. Ingredients rich in phenolic compounds are unstable in extract solutions, and, therefore, the use of a suitable nanosystem to encapsulate this type of extract could be necessary in different biotechnological applications. Thus, we investigated the capacity of Brassica oleracea L. (cauliflower) inflorescence vesicles (CI-vesicles) to encapsulate PG-E and determined the stability and the antioxidant capacity of the system over time. In addition, the protective effect against UV radiation and heavy metals in HaCaT cells was also tested. The CI-vesicles had an entrapment efficiency of around 50%, and accelerated stability tests did not show significant changes in the parameters tested. The results for the HaCaT cells showed the non-cytotoxicity of the CI-vesicles containing PG-E and their protection against heavy metals (lead acetate and mercuric chloride) and UV-B radiation through a reduction of oxidative stress. The reduction of the percentage of deleted mtDNA (mtDNA4977, "common deletion") in UV-treated HaCaT cells due to the presence of CI-vesicles containing PG-E indicated the mechanism of protection. Therefore, the effects of CI-vesicles loaded with PG-E against oxidative stress support their utilization as natural cosmeceuticals to protect skin health against external damage from environmental pollution and UV radiation.