Modulating the glycemic response of starch-based foods using organic nanomaterials: strategies and opportunities

Traditionally, diverse natural bioactive compounds (polyphenols, proteins, fatty acids, dietary fibers) are used as inhibitors of starch digestive enzymes for lowering glycemic index (GI) and preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In recent years, organic nanomaterials (ONMs) have drawn a great attention because of their ability to overcome the stability and solubility issues of bioactive. This review aimed to elucidate the implications of ONMs in lowering GI and as encapsulating agents of enzymes inhibitors. The major ONMs are presented. The mechanisms underlying the inhibition of enzymes, the stability within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and safety of ONMs are also provided. As a result of encapsulation of bioactive in ONMs, a more pronounced inhibition of enzymes was observed compared to un-encapsulated bioactive. More importantly, the lower the size of ONMs, the higher their inhibitory effects due to facile binding with enzymes. Additionally, in vivo studies exhibited the potentiality of ONMs for protection and sustained release of insulin for GI management. Overall, regulating the GI using ONMs could be a safe, robust and viable alternative compared to synthetic drugs (acarbose and voglibose) and un-encapsulated bioactive. Future researches should prioritize ONMs in real food products and evaluate their safety on a case-by-case basis.

The State of the Art of Natural Polymer Functionalized Fe3O4 Magnetic Nanoparticle Composites for Drug Delivery Applications: A Review

Natural polymers have received a great deal of interest for their potential use in the encapsulation and transportation of pharmaceuticals and other bioactive compounds for disease treatment. In this perspective, the drug delivery systems (DDS) constructed by representative natural polymers from animals (gelatin and hyaluronic acid), plants (pectin and starch), and microbes (Xanthan gum and Dextran) are provided. In order to enhance the efficiency of polymers in DDS by delivering the medicine to the right location, reducing the medication's adverse effects on neighboring organs or tissues, and controlling the medication's release to stop the cycle of over- and under-dosing, the incorporation of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles with the polymers has engaged the most consideration due to their rare characteristics, such as easy separation, superparamagnetism, and high surface area. This review is designed to report the recent progress of natural polymeric Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles in drug delivery applications, based on different polymers' origins.

Electrospinning as a Promising Process to Preserve the Quality and Safety of Meat and Meat Products

Fresh and processed meat products are staple foods worldwide. However, these products are considered perishable foods and their deterioration depends partly on the inner and external properties of meat. Beyond conventional meat preservation approaches, electrospinning has emerged as a novel effective alternative to develop active and intelligent packaging. Thus, this review aims to discuss the advantages and shortcomings of electrospinning application for quality and safety preservation of meat and processed meat products. Electrospun fibres are very versatile, and their features can be modulated to deliver functional properties such as antioxidant and antimicrobial effects resulting in shelf-life extension and in some cases product quality improvement. Compared to conventional processes, electrospun fibres provide advantages such as casting and coating in the fabrication of active systems, indicators, and sensors. The approaches for improving, stabilizing, and controlling the release of active compounds and highly sensitive, rapid, and reliable responsiveness, under changes in real-time are still challenging for innovative packaging development. Despite their advantages, the active and intelligent electrospun fibres for meat packaging are still restricted to research and not yet widely used for commercial products. Industrial validation of lab-scale achievements of electrospinning might boost their commercialisation. Safety must be addressed by evaluating the impact of electrospun fibres migration from package to foods on human health. This information will contribute into filling knowledge gaps and sustain clear regulations.

Fabrication and Modelling of a Reservoir-Based Drug Delivery System for Customizable Release

Localized therapy approaches have emerged as an alternative drug administration route to overcome the limitations of systemic therapies, such as the crossing of the blood–brain barrier in the case of brain tumor treatment. For this, implantable drug delivery systems (DDS) have been developed and extensively researched. However, to achieve an effective localized treatment, the release kinetics of DDS needs to be controlled in a defined manner, so that the concentration at the tumor site is within the therapeutic window. Thus, a DDS, with patient-specific release kinetics, is crucial for the improvement of therapy. Here, we present a computationally supported reservoir-based DDS (rDDS) development towards patient-specific release kinetics. The rDDS consists of a reservoir surrounded by a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel membrane. By tailoring the rDDS, in terms of membrane porosity, geometry, and drug concentration, the release profiles can be precisely adapted, with respect to the maximum concentration, release rate, and release time. The release is investigated using a model dye for varying parameters, leading to different distinct release profiles, with a maximum release of up to 60 days. Finally, a computational simulation, considering exemplary in vivo conditions (e.g., exchange of cerebrospinal fluid), is used to study the resulting drug release profiles, demonstrating the customizability of the system. The establishment of a computationally supported workflow, for development towards a patient-specific rDDS, in combination with the transfer to suitable drugs, could significantly improve the efficacy of localized therapy approaches.