Ultrasonicated resveratrol loaded starch nanocapsules: Characterization, bioactivity and release behaviour under in-vitro digestion

Effects of cold plasma pretreatment before different drying process on the structural and functional properties of starch in Chinese yam

This article compared the effects of hot air drying (HAD), infrared drying (IRD), and cold plasma (CP) as a pretreatment on the structure, quality, and digestive characteristics of starch extracted from yam. As the most commonly used drying method, HAD was used as a control. SEM and CLSM images showed that all treatments preserve the integrity of the yam starch. CP caused some cracks and breaks in the starch granules. IRD did not destroy the crystal structure of starch molecules, but made the spiral structure tighter and increased short-range orderliness. However, CP led to the depolymerization and dispersion of starch molecular chains, resulting in a decrease in average molecular weight and relative crystallinity. These molecular conformation changes caused by different processes led to differences in solubility, swelling power, pasting parameters, digestion characteristics, and functional characteristics. This study provided an important basis for the reasonable drying preparation and utilization of yam starch.

Recent advances in encapsulation of resveratrol for enhanced delivery

Due to its numerous biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-aging, anti-osteoporosis, anti-obesity, estrogenic, neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects, resveratrol has attracted a lot of attention in the food and pharmaceutical industries as a promising bioactive. However, low solubility in aqueous media, limited bioavailability, and low stability of resveratrol in hostile environments limit its applications. The necessity for a summary of recent developments is highlighted by the growing body of research on resveratrol encapsulation as a means of overcoming the mentioned application constraints. This review highlights the present developments in resveratrol delivery techniques, including spray drying, liposomes, emulsions, and nanoencapsulation. Bioaccessibility, bioavailability, stability, and release of resveratrol from encapsulating matrices are discussed. Future research should focus on encapsulation approaches with high loading capacity, targeted delivery, and controlled release. In light of the growing interest in resveratrol and the increasing complexity of resveratrol-based formulations, review of current encapsulation methods is crucial to address existing limitations and pave the way for the development of next-generation delivery systems. This review discusses how the delivery systems with different structures and release mechanisms can unlock the full potential and benefits of resveratrol by enhancing its bioavailability and stability.

Research progress of nano-delivery systems for the active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine

INTRODUCTION

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for thousands of years in China, characterizing with novel pharmacological mechanisms, low toxicity, and limited side effects. However, the application of TCM active ingredients is often hindered by their physical and chemical properties, including poor solubility, low bioavailability, short half-life, toxic side effects within therapeutic doses, and instability in biological environments. Consequently, an increasing number of researchers are directing their attention towards the discovery of nano-delivery systems for TCM to overcome these clinical challenges.

OBJECTIVES

This review aims to provide the latest knowledge and results concerning the studies on the nano-delivery systems for the active ingredients from TCM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Recent literature relating to nano-delivery systems for the active ingredients from TCM is summarized to provide a fundamental understanding of how such systems can enhance the application of phytochemicals.

RESULTS

The nano-delivery systems of six types of TCM monomers are summarized and categorized based on the skeletal structure of the natural compounds. These categories include terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, polyphenols, and polysaccharides. The paper analyzes the characteristics, types, materials used, and the efficacy achieved by TCM-nano systems. Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of nano-drug delivery systems for TCM are summarized in this paper.

CONCLUSION

Nano-delivery systems represent a promising approach to overcoming clinical obstacles stemming from the physical and chemical properties of TCM active ingredients, thereby enhancing their clinical efficacy.

Porous corn starch granules as effective host matrices for encapsulation and sustained release of curcumin and resveratrol

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a carbohydrate-rich diet-regulated ailment with carbohydrates digested and absorbed rapidly. Hence, modulating carbohydrate digestion is warranted; to this end, polyphenols from plant sources are handy. However, polyphenols' instability and low bioavailability limit their wholesome use, and thus, encapsulating them into an inexpensive and suitable wall material would be the best strategy. Herein, the potential of porous starch granules is demonstrated. Curcumin and resveratrol were chosen as the test polyphenols due to their proven health benefits, and porous corn starch granules were chosen as the wall material. Porous corn starch granules were prepared through enzymatic modification with 11, 22, and 33 units of amyloglucosidase at three reaction times of 2, 4, and 6 h. The polyphenols were loaded at 100, 200, and 500 mg concentrations in 1 g of starch for 21 days and were characterized through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. The encapsulation efficiency was determined, the rate of starch digestion was calculated through the Englyst test, and polyphenols' in vitro release behavior in gastric and intestinal fluids was measured. Results suggest that 33 enzyme units for a 2 h reaction time were optimal for forming spherical-oval pores on corn starch granules with the maximum encapsulation efficiency of 80.16 % and 88.33 % for curcumin and resveratrol, respectively. The FTIR results suggest the entrapment of polyphenols inside the starch matrix. The inclusion significantly reduced starch digestion and increased the percentage of resistant starch up to 41.11 % and 66.36 % with curcumin and resveratrol, respectively. The in vitro release behavior demonstrated good stability in the simulated gastric fluids and sustained release in simulated intestinal fluids. The encapsulated polyphenols showed a complex Fickian type of diffusion mechanism. Overall, the results suggest that porous corn starch granules could be a potential delivery system for curcumin and resveratrol and will aid in developing novel functional foods to address the T2DM concerns.

Engineering resveratrol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles for potential use against Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a microorganism directly linked to severe clinical conditions affecting the stomach. The virulence factors and its ability to form biofilms increase resistance to conventional antibiotics, growing the need for new substances and strategies for the treatment of H. pylori infection. The trans-resveratrol (RESV), a bioactive polyphenol from natural sources, has a potential activity against this gastric pathogen. Here, Chitosan nanoparticles (NP) containing RESV (RESV-NP) were developed for H. pylori management. The RESV-NP were prepared using the ionic gelation method and characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) and, Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy (Cryo - TEM). The encapsulation efficiency (EE) and in vitro release rate of RESV were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESV-NP performance against H. pylori was evaluated by the quantification of the minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations (MIC/MBC), time to kill, alterations in H. pylori morphology in its planktonic form, effects against H. pylori biofilm and in an in vitro infection model. RESV-NP cytotoxicity was evaluated against AGS and MKN-74 cell lines and by hemolysis assay. Acute toxicity was tested using Galleria mellonella model assays. RESV-NP showed a spherical shape, size of 145.3 ± 24.7 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.28 ± 0.008, and zeta potential (ZP) of + 16.9 ± 1.81 mV in DLS, while particle concentration was 3.12 x 1011 NP/mL (NTA). RESV-NP EE was 72 %, with full release within the first 5 min. In microbiological assays, RESV-NP presented a MIC/MBC of 3.9 µg/mL, a time to kill of 24 h for complete eradication of H. pylori. At a concentration of 2xMIC (7.8 µg/mL), RESV-NP completely eradicated the H. pylori biofilm, and in an in vitro infection model, RESV-NP (4xMIC - 15.6 µg/mL) showed a significant decrease in bacterial load (1 Log10CFU/mL) when compared to the H. pylori J99 control. In addition, they did not demonstrate a toxic character at MIC concentration for both cell lines. The use of the RESV-NP with mucoadhesion profile is an interesting strategy for oral administration of substances targeting gastric disorders, linked to H. pylori infections.

Development of stability, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of biopolymeric chitosan modified starch nanocapsules containing essential oil

Lemon essential oil (LEOs) is used as a bioactive compound with unique health properties as a medicine or dietary supplement. Nevertheless, essential oils are chemical compounds sensitive to light, oxidation, and thermal processes. Therefore, encapsulation technique can be a good way to protect them from degradation and evaporation. In current study, biopolymeric nanocapsules containing lemon essential oils (LEOs) were prepared by the emulsion method. The nanocapsules were characterized by their particle size and Encapsulation efficiency (%) ranged from 339.3 to 553.3 nm and 68.09% to 85.43%, respectively. Long-term storage (30 days) under different temperatures (4 °C, 25 °C, and 40 °C) conditions showed that nanocapsules stored at 4 °C were more stable than samples stored at higher temperatures. DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity were measured to evaluate the values of antioxidant activity of LEOs and nanocapsules. The free LEO and nanocapsules were investigated for its antibacterial activity against common Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) using disk diffusion followed by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Our results indicated that the encapsulated LEOs had a significant antioxidant and antibacterial activities, as compared to the free LEO. The LEOs nanocapsules in CS and Hicap can be suggested as an important natural alternative with suitable stability, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties to overcome the challenges associated with the direct application of these bioactive compounds in food.

Novel nano-drug delivery system for natural products and their application

The development of natural products for potential new drugs faces obstacles such as unknown mechanisms, poor solubility, and limited bioavailability, which limit the broadened applicability of natural products. Therefore, there is a need for advanced pharmaceutical formulations of active compounds or natural products. In recent years, novel nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS) for natural products, including nanosuspensions, nanoliposomes, micelle, microemulsions/self-microemulsions, nanocapsules, and solid lipid nanoparticles, have been developed to improve solubility, bioavailability, and tissue distribution as well as for prolonged retention and enhanced permeation. Here, we updated the NDDS delivery systems used for natural products with the potential enhancement in therapeutic efficiency observed with nano-delivery systems.

In vitro gastrointestinal digestion methods of carbohydrate-rich foods

The trend toward healthier food products has led to an increase in the research of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion methods. Among the most used models, static models are the simplest. Most static models have three stages: oral, gastric, and intestinal, simulating the enzymatic, electrolyte, pH, temperature, and bile salt conditions. The studies that have taken the most notice are those related to antioxidant activity, followed by those dealing with proteins and carbohydrates using most of them static in vitro digestion models. The number of these studies has increased over the years, passing from 45 to 415 in a 10-year period (2012-2023) and showing an interest in knowing the impact of food on human health. Nevertheless, published papers report different methodologies and analytical approaches. This review discusses the similarities and differences between the published static in vitro gastrointestinal digestion methods, with a focus on carbohydrates, finding that the most used protocol is Infogest, but with differences, mainly in the type of enzymes and their activity. Regarding in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of carbohydrates, many of the published studies are related to food and biomacromolecules, being the oral phase the most omitted, while the intestinal phase in the most diverse. Other methodologies to study the intestinal phase have been recommended, but the number of in vitro digestion studies using these methodologies (RSIE and BBMV) is still scarce but could represent a good alternative to analyze carbohydrates foods when combining with Infogest. More studies are required in this area.

An Injectable Thermosensitive Hydrogel Containing Resveratrol and Dexamethasone-Loaded Carbonated Hydroxyapatite Microspheres for the Regeneration of Osteoporotic Bone Defects

Bone defects in osteoporosis usually present excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), abnormal inflammation levels, irregular shapes and impaired bone regeneration ability; therefore, osteoporotic bone defects are difficult to repair. In this study, an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel poly (D, L-lactide)-poly (ethylene glycol)- poly (D, L-lactide) (PLEL) system containing resveratrol (Res) and dexamethasone (DEX) is designed to create a microenvironment conducive to osteogenesis in osteoporotic bone defects. This PLEL hydrogel is injected and filled irregular defect areas and achieving a rapid sol-gel transition in situ. Res has a strong anti-inflammatory effects that can effectively remove excess free radicals at the damaged site, guide macrophage polarization to the M2 phenotype, and regulate immune responses. Additionally, DEX can promote osteogenic differentiation. In vitro experiments showed that the hydrogel effectively promoted osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, removed excess intracellular ROS, and regulated macrophage polarization to reduce inflammatory responses. In vivo experiments showed that the hydrogel promoted osteoporotic bone defect regeneration and modulated immune responses. Overall, this study confirmed that the hydrogel can treat osteoporotic bone defects by synergistically modulating bone damage microenvironment, alleviating inflammatory responses, and promoting osteogenesis; thus, it represents a promising drug delivery strategy to repair osteoporotic bone defects.

A new sight separation for collecting starch nanocrystals with small size and high crystallinity based on the hydrolysis mechanism

To prevent starch nanocrystals (SNCs) that are generated at an early stage from being hydrolyzed excessively, this study proposed a new separation method, named "neutral dispersion and acidic precipitation." SNCs were prepared from waxy potato starch by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. Based on the results of kinetics and molecular weight, the hydrolysis was divided into three stages, e.g., rapid (initial 1 day), medium (subsequent 1 day) and slow stage (2-5 days). The rapid and medium stages were related to the degradation of amorphous region in starch, and the slow stage mainly referred to SNC release. Therefore, the method was developed to separate SNCs at the slow stage. After centrifugation at 6000 rpm, large particles were removed from the SNC suspension under pH 7. The SNCs with small average size and crystallite size, high relative crystallinity (RC), and high dispersion stability in the supernatant were retained and were then precipitated entirely under pH 5, because pH 5 led to the reduction of dispersion stability of SNCs. Meanwhile, the hydrothermal and dry-thermal stability of separated SNCs were significantly promoted. The separation method has the potential in SNC preparation for increasing the yield and collecting products with small size and high RC.

Recent advances in oral delivery systems of resveratrol: foreseeing their use in functional foods

Herein, we review the current state-of-the-art on the use of micro- and nano-delivery systems, a possible solution to some of the drawbacks associated with the incorporation of resveratrol in foods. Specifically, we present an overview of a wide range of micro-nanostructures, namely, lipidic and polymeric, used for the delivery of resveratrol. Also, the gastrointestinal fate of resveratrol-loaded micro-nanostructures, as a critical parameter for their use as functional food, is explored in terms of stability, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability. Different micro-nanostructures are of interest for the development of functional foods given that they can provide different advantages and properties to these foods and even be tailor-made to address specific issues (e.g., controlled or targeted release). Therefore, we discuss a wide range of micro-nanostructures, namely, lipidic and polymeric, used to deliver resveratrol and aimed at the development of functional foods. It has been reported that the use of some production methodologies can be of greater interest than others, for example, emulsification, solvent displacement and electrohydrodynamic processing (EHDP) enable a greater increase in bioaccessibility. Additionally, the use of coatings facilitates further improvements in bioaccessibility, which is likely due to the increased gastric stability of the coated micro-nanostructures. Other properties, such as mucoadhesion, can also help improve bioaccessibility due to the increase in gut retention time. Additionally, cytotoxicity (e.g., biocompatibility, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory) and possible sensorial impact of resveratrol-loaded micro- and nano-systems in foods are highlighted.

Nanoparticles prepared by polysaccharides extracted from Biyang floral mushroom loaded with resveratrol: Characterization, bioactivity and release behavior under in vitro digestion

Resveratrol (RES) is a common active factor in the functional food field, but poor water solubility and low bioavailability have limited its application. In the present study, the novel nanoparticles (RES-CBFMP NPs) using floral mushroom polysaccharide as the wall material have been developed for delivering RES, aiming to overcome its application shortcomings. After ratio optimization, RES-CBFMP NPs (RES-CBFMP,1:8 w/w), which combined through the hydrogen bonds between RES and CBFMP, showed the best overall performance, with the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 49.74 ± 0.16%, loading efficiency (LE) of 5.53 ± 0.02%, particle size of 158.56 ± 1.97 nm and zeta-potential of -17.56 ± 0.24 mV. In addition, RES-CBFMP NPs exhibited good physicochemical stabilities, sustained gastrointestinal digestive release property, as well as improved in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activities. This study may contribute to the development of RES oral delivery systems and the application of hydrophobic active molecules in the functional food field.

Development, application and future trends of starch-based delivery systems for nutraceuticals: A review

As a natural biopolymer, starch is ideally adapted as an encapsulant material for nutraceutical delivery systems due to its unique nature of extensive sources, versatility and high biocompatibility. This review offers an outline of recent advances in the development of starch-based delivery systems. The structure and functional properties of starch in encapsulating and delivering bioactive ingredients are first introduced. Structural modification of starch improves the functionalities and extends the applications of starch in novel delivery systems. Then, various nutraceutical delivery systems are systematically summarized, which include porous starch, starch particle, amylose inclusion complex, cyclodextrin, gel, edible film and emulsion. Next, the delivery process of nutraceuticals is discussed in two parts: digestion and release. Intestinal digestion plays an important role during the whole digestion process of starch-based delivery systems. Moreover, controlled release of bioactives can be achieved by porous starch, starch-bioactive complexation and core-shell structure. Finally, the challenges of the existing starch-based delivery systems are deliberated, and the directions for future research are pointed out. Composite delivery carriers, co-delivery, intelligent delivery, delivery in real food systems, and reuse of agricultural wastes may be the research trends for starch-based delivery systems in the future.

Comparative Study on Hydrolysis, Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties in Simulated Digestion System between Cooked Pork and Fish Meat

Pork and grass carp are commonly consumed animal protein sources, classified as red meat and white meat, respectively. This study aimed to better understand the differences in digestive behavior, nutrition, and functionality during digestion between these two types of meat after fat removal. The results showed that grass carp was more easily digested than pork, with a higher degree of hydrolysis, a smaller protein particle size, and a greater release of oligopeptides and amino acids (p < 0.05). During gastric digestion, all α-helix structures were destroyed, and the effect of the whole digestion process on the secondary and tertiary structure of pork protein was greater than that of grass carp. The antioxidant properties of the digestive fluids from the two types of meat showed different strengths in various assays, but the correlation analysis revealed that TCA-soluble peptides, random coil content, and particle size significantly influenced both types of meat. These findings provide new insights into the structural state and antioxidant properties of protein in meat digestion, which contribute to our understanding of the nutritional value of pork and grass carp.

Co-encapsulation of multivitamins in micro & nano-sized starch, target release, capsule characterization and interaction studies

This study aims to protect sensitive vitamins D, E, B1 and B2 by co-encapsulation in micro and nanoparticles of water chestnut starch for synergistic effects. The encapsulation efficiency, particle size, thermal properties and molecular configuration & interactions studies were analysed. The nano-sized starch with a particle size of 362 nm showed better encapsulation potential than micro-sized starch having an average particle size of 3.47 μm. The encapsulation efficiency was found to be 35 %, 81.17 %, 83.13 %, & 76.07 % and 46.27 %, 89.29 %, 84.91 %, & 77.60 % for vitamin D, E, B1 and B2 in micro and nano-sized starch, respectively. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed higher intensity for non-covalent interactions within the internal matrix of capsules. The FTIR peak at 877 cm^-1 belonging to vitamin ring structures was prominent and confirmed the presence of vitamins in encapsulated powders. The nano starch capsules of vitamins showed better thermal stability with low crystallinity than micro starch capsules of vitamins. The study suggests the use of co-encapsulated vitamins in food fortification/supplementation to overcome the issues related to vitamin deficiencies.

Resveratrol-loaded selenium/chitosan nano-flowers alleviate glucolipid metabolism disorder-associated cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease

Resveratrol (Res) is a common natural polyphenol that inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the absorption efficiency and in vivo bioactivity of Res are poor. High fat diet-induced metabolic disorders, including obesity and insulin resistance, can promote AD-related β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation, Tau protein phosphorylation and neurotoxicity. Gut microbiota play a role in modulating metabolic syndrome and cognitive impairment. Herein, flower-like Res-loaded selenium nanoparticles/chitosan nanoparticles (Res@SeNPs@Res-CS-NPs) with higher loading capacity (64 %) were prepared to regulate gut microbiota in cases of AD with metabolic disorder. The nano-flowers could restore gut microbiota homeostasis to reduce lipopolysaccharide (LPS) formation and LPS-induced neuroinflammation. Additionally, Res@SeNPs@Res-CS-NPs can prevent lipid deposition and insulin resistance by decreasing Firmicutes levels and increasing Bacteroidetes levels in the gut, further inhibiting Aβ aggregation and Tau protein phosphorylation through the JNK/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway. Moreover, Res@SeNPs@Res-CS-NPs treatment was able to regulate the relative levels of gut microbiota associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and lipid deposition, including Entercoccus, Colidextribacter, Rikenella, Ruminococcus, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Alloprevotella and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006. Overall, Res@SeNPs@Res-CS-NPs significantly enhances cognitive ability in AD mice with metabolic disorder, highlighting their potential for preventing cognitive impairments in AD.

Starches in the encapsulation of plant active ingredients: state of the art and research trends

As a natural polymer, starches and their derivatives have received widespread attention in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, particularly for their use as a coating material. In this sense, as an encapsulating agent, starches stand out, considering the number of compounds that they can trap. Additionally, they provide a nutritional contribution and may improve acceptance by patients. As such, this type of material may serve as an alternative to overcome gaps such as loss of activity of the active principles, low assimilation, or deterioration under environmental and physiological conditions. In this paper, we aim to present the state of the art and research trends on the use of starch as a wall material for the encapsulation of active principles of plant origin. It was found that the most-encapsulated active principles are essential oils and polyphenols; native or modified starches are typically used, either as the sole wall material or in combination with other polymers; and the most widely used methodology is spray drying. The reviewed studies indicate the potential of starches for their use in active ingredient encapsulation processes, improving their viability and expanding their range of applications in different industries, as well as showing a clearly increasing publication trend over the last 10 years.

Graphical abstract

Starch Nanoparticles: Preparation, Properties and Applications

Starch as a natural polymer is abundant and widely used in various industries around the world. In general, the preparation methods for starch nanoparticles (SNPs) can be classified into 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' methods. SNPs can be produced in smaller sizes and used to improve the functional properties of starch. Thus, they are considered for the various opportunities to improve the quality of product development with starch. This literature study presents information and reviews regarding SNPs, their general preparation methods, characteristics of the resulting SNPs and their applications, especially in food systems, such as Pickering emulsion, bioplastic filler, antimicrobial agent, fat replacer and encapsulating agent. The aspects related to the properties of SNPs and information on the extent of their utilisation are reviewed in this study. The findings can be utilised and encouraged by other researchers to develop and expand the applications of SNPs.

Reactive Oxygen Species-Responsive Polypeptide Drug Delivery System Targeted Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells to Ameliorate Liver Fibrosis

Hepatic fibrosis is a chronic liver disease that lacks effective pharmacotherapeutic treatments. As part of the disease's mechanism, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are activated by damage-related stimuli to secrete excessive extracellular matrix, leading to collagen deposition. Currently, the drug delivery system that targets HSCs in the treatment of liver fibrosis remains an urgent challenge due to the poor controllability of drug release. Since the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increases sharply in activated HSCs (aHSCs), we designed ROS-responsive micelles for the HSC-specific delivery of a traditional Chinese medicine, resveratrol (RES), for treatment of liver fibrosis. The micelles were prepared by the ROS-responsive amphiphilic block copolymer poly(l-methionine-block-N^ε-trifluoro-acetyl-l-lysine) (PMK) and a PEG shell modified with a CRGD peptide insertion. The CRGD-targeted and ROS-responsive micelles (CRGD-PMK-MCs) could target aHSCs and control the release of RES under conditions of high intracellular ROS in aHSCs. The CRGD-PMK-MCs treatment specifically enhanced the targeted delivery of RES to aHSCs both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro experiments show that CRGD-PMK-MCs could significantly promote ROS consumption, reduce collagen accumulation, and avert activation of aHSCs. In vivo results demonstrate that CRGD-PMK-MCs could alleviate inflammatory infiltration, prevent fibrosis, and protect hepatocytes from damage in fibrotic mice. In conclusion, CRGD-PMK-MCs show great potential for targeted and ROS-responsive controlled drug release in the aHSCs of liver fibrosis.

Upscaling of Apple By-Product by Utilising Apple Seed Protein as a Novel Wall Material for Encapsulation of Chlorogenic Acid as Model Bioactive Compound

Encapsulation is a versatile technique used to protect sensitive bioactive compounds under gastrointestinal conditions. In this study, nanoencapsulation of chlorogenic acid into the apple seed protein matrix was performed using the green technique ultrasonication to protect it from harsh gastric conditions and increase its biological activity and bioavailability upon digestion. Both nano (Nano-Chl) and native capsules (NT-Chl) were characterised by particle size, charge, structure, and morphology. The encapsulation efficiency, release behaviour, antioxidant and antidiabetic properties were also evaluated. The experimental results show that the particle size of the NT-Chl and Nano-Chl was found in the range of 1.4 µm to 708 nm. The encapsulation efficiency was found to be 69% and 80% for NT-Chl and Nano-Chl, respectively. Furthermore, an in vitro digestion study revealed that Nano-Chl showed controlled-release behaviour under simulated intestinal conditions in comparison to NT-Chl. Moreover, Nano-Chl showed enhanced antioxidant and antidiabetic activity in comparison to NT-Chl after simulated digestion. It was concluded that the protein from apple seeds could be utilised as a functional ingredient itself or as a wall material for the encapsulation of sensitive bioactive compounds. Furthermore, these encapsulated particles can be fortified into different food formulations for the development of functional food.

Polysaccharide-based porous biopolymers for enhanced bioaccessibility and bioavailability of bioactive food compounds: Challenges, advances, and opportunities

Bioactive food compounds, such as lycopene, curcumin, phytosterols, and resveratrol, have received great attention due to their potential health benefits. However, these bioactive compounds (BCs) have poor chemical stability during processing and low bioavailability after consumption. Several delivery systems have been proposed for enhancing their stability and bioavailability. Among these methods, porous biopolymers have emerged as alternative encapsulation materials, as they have superior properties like high surface area, porosity, and tunable surface chemistry to entrap BCs. This reduces the crystallinity (especially for the lipophilic ones) and particle size, and in turn, increases solubilization and bioavailability. Also, loading BCs into the porous matrix can protect them against environmental stresses such as light, heat, oxygen, and pH. This review introduces polysaccharide-based porous biopolymers for improving the bioaccessibility/bioavailability of bioactive food compounds and discusses their recent applications in the food industry. First, bioaccessibility and bioavailability are described with a special emphasis on the factors affecting them. Then, porous biopolymer fabrication methods, including supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂ ) drying, freeze-drying, and electrospinning and electrospraying, are thoroughly discussed. Finally, common polysaccharide-based biopolymers (i.e., starch, nanocellulose, alginate, and pectin) used for generating porous materials are reviewed, and their current and potential future food applications are critically discussed.

Oxidized Chitin Nanocrystals Greatly Strengthen the Stability of Resveratrol-Loaded Gliadin Nanoparticles

Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenol with a variety of health beneficial properties, but its application is greatly limited due to low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability. This study aims to address these issues via gliadin nanoparticles stabilized with oxidized chitin nanocrystals (O-ChNCs) as a delivery system for RES. RES-loaded gliadin nanoparticles (GRNPs) were fabricated by an antisolvent method, and their formation mechanism was elucidated using zeta-potential, FTIR, XRD, and TEM. Furthermore, the effect of O-ChNCs on the colloidal stability and bioactiveness of GRNPs was discussed. The results demonstrate that O-ChNCs are adsorbed onto the surface of GRNPs through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, leading to the enhanced absolute potential and the improved hydrophobicity of the particles, which in turn facilitates the stability of the GRNPs. Furthermore, the changes in the release profile and antioxidant activity of RES in the simulated gastric and intestinal tracts indicate that the adsorption of O-ChNCs not only delays the release of RES but also has a protective effect on the antioxidant capacity of RES. This study provides significant implications for developing stable gliadin nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for bioactive substances.

In Vitro and In Vivo Biocompatible and Controlled Resveratrol Release Performances of HEMA/Alginate and HEMA/Gelatin IPN Hydrogel Scaffolds

Scaffold hydrogel biomaterials designed to have advantageous biofunctional properties, which can be applied for controlled bioactive agent release, represent an important concept in biomedical tissue engineering. Our goal was to create scaffolding materials that mimic living tissue for biomedical utilization. In this study, two novel series of interpenetrating hydrogel networks (IPNs) based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/gelatin and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/alginate were crosslinked using N-ethyl-N'-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Characterization included examining the effects of crosslinker type and concentration on structure, morphological and mechanical properties, in vitro swelling, hydrophilicity as well as on the in vitro cell viability (fibroblast cells) and in vivo (Caenorhabditis elegans) interactions of novel biomaterials. The engineered IPN hydrogel scaffolds show an interconnected pore morphology and porosity range of 62.36 to 85.20%, favorable in vitro swelling capacity, full hydrophilicity, and Young's modulus values in the range of 1.40 to 7.50 MPa. In vitro assay on healthy human fibroblast (MRC5 cells) by MTT test and in vivo (Caenorhabditis elegans) survival assays show the advantageous biocompatible properties of novel IPN hydrogel scaffolds. Furthermore, in vitro controlled release study of the therapeutic agent resveratrol showed that these novel scaffolding systems are suitable controlled release platforms. The results revealed that the use of EDC and the combination of EDC/NHS crosslinkers can be applied to prepare and tune the properties of the IPN 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/alginate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/gelatin hydrogel scaffolds series, which have shown great potential for biomedical engineering applications.

Application of Curcumin Emulsion Carrier from Ultrasonic-Assisted Prepared Octenyl Succinic Anhydride Rice Starch

The emulsification of ultrasonic-assisted prepared octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) rice starch on curcumin was investigated in the present study. The results indicated that the encapsulation efficiency of curcumin in emulsions stabilized by OSA-ultrasonic treatment rice starch was improved, from 81.65 ± 0.14% to 89.03 ± 0.09%. During the in vitro oral digestion, the particle size and Zeta potential of the curcumin emulsion did not change significantly (p > 0.05). During the in vitro digestive stage of the stomach and small intestine, the particle size of the curcumin emulsion continued to increase, and the absolute potential continued to decrease. Our work showed that OSA-pre-treatment ultrasonic rice starch could improve curcumin bioavailability by increasing the encapsulation efficiency with stronger stability to avoid the attack of enzymes and high intensity ion, providing a way to develop new emulsion-based delivery systems for bioactive lipophilic compounds using OSA starch.

Lecithin-Polysaccharide Self-Assembled Microspheres for Resveratrol Delivery

Poor water solubility and low chemical stability, seriously limit the efficient bioavailability of resveratrol. Here, we propose encapsulating resveratrol in lecithin-polysaccharide self-assembled microspheres (LPSM). An LPSM was designed with a lecithin core, and alginate-carboxymethyl chitosan biolayer shell. The LPSM had a spherical shape with 12.171 ± 0.960 μm of particle size and −30.86 ± 1.37 mV of zeta potential. The introduce of lecithin remarkably increased the encapsulation efficiency of resveratrol to 92.78 ± 0.82%. The LPSM elevated the antioxidant capacity and ultraviolet resistance of resveratrol. Moreover, LPSM inhibited release in a simulated gastric environment, promoted sustained release in simulated intestinal environment, and elevated the bioavailability of resveratrol during in vitro simulated digestion. Results indicate that LPSM is promising as a carrier for resveratrol delivery to enhance stability and bioaccessibility.

Changes of physico-chemical properties of nano-biomaterials by digestion fluids affect the physiological properties of epithelial intestinal cells and barrier models

Background

The widespread use of nano-biomaterials (NBMs) has increased the chance of human exposure. Although ingestion is one of the major routes of exposure to NBMs, it is not thoroughly studied to date. NBMs are expected to be dramatically modified following the transit into the oral-gastric-intestinal (OGI) tract. How these transformations affect their interaction with intestinal cells is still poorly understood. NBMs of different chemical nature—lipid-surfactant nanoparticles (LSNPs), carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), surface modified Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (FNPs) and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HNPs)—were treated in a simulated human digestive system (SHDS) and then characterised. The biological effects of SHDS-treated and untreated NBMs were evaluated on primary (HCoEpiC) and immortalised (Caco-2, HCT116) epithelial intestinal cells and on an intestinal barrier model.

Results

The application of the in vitro SDHS modified the biocompatibility of NBMs on gastrointestinal cells. The differences between SHDS-treated and untreated NBMs could be attributed to the irreversible modification of the NBMs in the SHDS. Aggregation was detected for all NBMs regardless of their chemical nature, while pH- or enzyme-mediated partial degradation was detected for hydroxyapatite or polymer-coated iron oxide nanoparticles and lipid nanoparticles, respectively. The formation of a bio-corona, which contains proteases, was also demonstrated on all the analysed NBMs. In viability assays, undifferentiated primary cells were more sensitive than immortalised cells to digested NBMs, but neither pristine nor treated NBMs affected the intestinal barrier viability and permeability. SHDS-treated NBMs up-regulated the tight junction genes (claudin 3 and 5, occludin, zonula occludens 1) in intestinal barrier, with different patterns between each NBM, and increase the expression of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-22, IL-10). Notably, none of these NBMs showed any significant genotoxic effect.

Conclusions

Overall, the results add a piece of evidence on the importance of applying validated in vitro SHDS models for the assessment of NBM intestinal toxicity/biocompatibility. We propose the association of chemical and microscopic characterization, SHDS and in vitro tests on both immortalised and primary cells as a robust screening pipeline useful to monitor the changes in the physico-chemical properties of ingested NBMs and their effects on intestinal cells.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12989-022-00491-w.

Emerging Trends in the Delivery of Resveratrol by Nanostructures: Applications of Nanotechnology in Life Sciences

Resveratrol (RES) is a stilbene group of natural polyphenolic compounds in trees, peanuts, and grapes. RES is revealed with anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective effects. Though it is proven with prominent therapeutic activity, low aqueous solubility, poor bioavailability, and short half-life had hindered its use to exploit the potential. Also, the first-pass metabolism and undergoing enterohepatic recirculation are obscure in the minds of researchers for their in vitro studies. Many approaches have been investigated and shown promising results in manipulating their physicochemical properties to break this barrier. Nanocarriers are one of them to reduce the first-pass metabolism and to overcome other hurdles. This article reviews and highlights such encapsulation technologies. Nanoencapsulated RES improves in vitro antioxidant effect, and this review also highlights the new strategies and the concept behind how resveratrol can be handled and implemented with better therapeutic efficacy.

Cannabidiol/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex: structure analysis, release behavior, permeability, and bioactivity under in vitro digestion

The inclusion complex of CBD greatly improved its release performance and bioactivity.

β-Glucan from mushrooms and dates as a wall material for targeted delivery of model bioactive compound: Nutraceutical profiling and bioavailability

Rutin was nano-encapsulated in date [En-Ru(D)] and mushroom [En-Ru(M)] β-glucan matrix to protect it from the harsh gastrointestinal environment and to enhance its bioavailability and biological activity upon digestion. The encapsulation was carried using green technology i.e., ultra-sonication. The En-Ru(D) and En-Ru (M) showed the hydrodynamic diameter of 314.04 and 482.21 nm with polydispersity index of 0.21 and 0.33. The in vitro release behaviour followed the Higuchi model. The antimicrobial activity of En-Ru(D) and En-Ru(M) were evaluated against gram negative E. coli (ATCC 25922) and gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Furthermore, En-Ru(D) and En-Ru(M) exhibited increased bioavailability of rutin in intestinal fluid with retention of anti-obesity and antioxidant activities after digestion (p < 0.05). Therefore, β-glucan matrix can efficiently encapsulate flavonoids and regulate the release of functional bioactive ingredients in the simulated human digestive conditions.

Nanoencapsulation of hydroxytyrosol in chitosan crosslinked with sodium bisulfate tandem ultrasonication: Techno-characterization, release and antiproliferative properties

This research includes production of chitosan nanocapsules through ionic gelation with sodium bisulfate for nanoencapsulation of hydroxytyrosol (HT) using ultrasonication in tandem. The resulting nanocapsules encapsulating HT were analyzed for particle size, ζ-potential, packaging characteristics, FESEM, ATR-FTIR, XRD, DSC, in vitro release, antioxidant potential and antiproliferative properties. The nanocapsules (size 119.50-365.21 nm) were spherical to irregular shaped with positive ζ-potential (17.50-18.09 mV). The encapsulation efficiency of 5 mg/g HT (HTS1) and 20 mg/g HT (HTS2) was 77.13% and 56.30%, respectively. The nanocapsules were amorphous in nature with 12.34% to 15.48% crystallinity and crystallite size between 20 nm and 27 nm. Formation of nanocapsules resulted in increasing the glass transition temperature. HTS2 delivered 67.12% HT (HTS1 58.89%) at the end of the simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The nanoencapsulated HT showed higher antioxidant and antiproliferative (against A549 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines) properties than the free HT.

Long-term quality retention and decay inhibition of chestnut using thymol loaded chitosan nanoparticle

Thymol (TMO) was loaded into chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) to inhibit chestnuts decay during storage. Three chestnut treatments were evaluated, including the CK (uncoated control), CSNPs (coated with chitosan nanoparticles), and TMO-CSNPs (coated with thymol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles). Quality assessments of chestnuts were conducted periodically for up to 180 days, which included starch content, amylase activity, water content, respiration rate, weight loss rate, microbiological indicators, decay rate, and quality evaluation. Results indicated that TMO-CSNPs had significantly less nutrient loss in soluble sugar (10.61%) and starch content (27.72%) compared with CK, which was attributed to low metabolic activities as evident in low amylase activity and respiration rate. Moreover, TMO-CSNPs significantly inhibited the growth of mold and yeast (4.17 log CFU g^-1 on day 180) and kept the lowest decay rate (5.33%). This study demonstrates the potential of food nanomaterial as an alternative strategy to promote food security and supply chain resilience.

Increasing the Power of Polyphenols through Nanoencapsulation for Adjuvant Therapy against Cardiovascular Diseases

Polyphenols play a therapeutic role in vascular diseases, acting in inherent illness-associate conditions such as inflammation, diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and oxidative stress, as demonstrated by clinical trials and epidemiological surveys. The main polyphenol cardioprotective mechanisms rely on increased nitric oxide, decreased asymmetric dimethylarginine levels, upregulation of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes via the Nrf2-ARE pathway and anti-inflammatory action through the redox-sensitive transcription factor NF-κB and PPAR-γ receptor. However, poor polyphenol bioavailability and extensive metabolization restrict their applicability. Polyphenols carried by nanoparticles circumvent these limitations providing controlled release and better solubility, chemical protection, and target achievement. Nano-encapsulate polyphenols loaded in food grade polymers and lipids appear to be safe, gaining resistance in the enteric route for intestinal absorption, in which the mucoadhesiveness ensures their increased uptake, achieving high systemic levels in non-metabolized forms. Nano-capsules confer a gradual release to these compounds, as well as longer half-lives and cell and whole organism permanence, reinforcing their effectiveness, as demonstrated in pre-clinical trials, enabling their application as an adjuvant therapy against cardiovascular diseases. Polyphenol entrapment in nanoparticles should be encouraged in nutraceutical manufacturing for the fortification of foods and beverages. This study discusses pre-clinical trials evaluating how nano-encapsulate polyphenols following oral administration can aid in cardiovascular performance.

Innovative Delivery Systems Loaded with Plant Bioactive Ingredients: Formulation Approaches and Applications

Plants constitute a rich source of diverse classes of valuable phytochemicals (e.g., phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids) with proven biological activity (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, etc.). However, factors such as low stability, poor solubility and bioavailability limit their food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications. In this regard, a wide range of delivery systems have been developed to increase the stability of plant-derived bioactive compounds upon processing, storage or under gastrointestinal digestion conditions, to enhance their solubility, to mask undesirable flavors as well as to efficiently deliver them to the target tissues where they can exert their biological activity and promote human health. In the present review, the latest advances regarding the design of innovative delivery systems for pure plant bioactive compounds, extracts or essential oils, in order to overcome the above-mentioned challenges, are presented. Moreover, a broad spectrum of applications along with future trends are critically discussed.

Synthesis of Starch Nanoparticles and Their Applications for Bioactive Compound Encapsulation

In recent years, starch nanoparticles (SNPs) have attracted growing attention due to their unique properties as a sustainable alternative to common nanomaterials since they are natural, renewable and biodegradable. SNPs can be obtained by the breakdown of starch granules through different techniques which include both physical and chemical methods. The final properties of the SNPs are strongly influenced by the synthesis method used as well as the operational conditions, where a controlled and monodispersed size is crucial for certain bioapplications. SNPs are considered to be a good vehicle to improve the controlled release of many bioactive compounds in different research fields due to their high biocompatibility, potential functionalization, and high surface/volume ratio. Their applications are frequently found in medicine, cosmetics, biotechnology, or the food industry, among others. Both the encapsulation properties as well as the releasing processes of the bioactive compounds are highly influenced by the size of the SNPs. In this review, a general description of the different types of SNPs (whole and hollow) synthesis methods is provided as well as on different techniques for encapsulating bioactive compounds, including direct and indirect methods, with application in several fields. Starches from different botanical sources and different bioactive compounds are compared with respect to the efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Applications and future research trends on SNPs synthesis have been included and discussed.

Development of novel functional snacks containing nano-encapsulated resveratrol with anti-diabetic, anti-obesity and antioxidant properties

In this study, functional snacks with addition of nanoenapsuated resveratrol were prepared to evaluate the nutraceutical and physical properties. The nanoencapsulated resveratrol was prepared from horse-chestnut (HRP), water-chestnut (WRP) and lotus-stem starch particles (LRP) and added to the wheat flour at the level of 0.4% for preparation of snacks by extrusing process. After extrusion, 43-53% and 5.42% of resveratrol was retained in snacks containing encapsulated and free resveratrol (FRP), respectively. The HRP, WRP and LRP showed significantly less peak viscosities and less elastic behaviour than native product (NP) which can influence the human sensory perception. The shift of few peaks towards higher wavelength and presence of additional peaks at 1384, 1229, 1513 and 1613 cm^-1 depicts change in molecular pattern and presence of resveratrol in functional snacks. The functional snacks containing encapsulated resveratrol showed significantly higher antioxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties than snacks containing no or free resveratrol.

pH - Responsive colloidal carriers assembled from β-lactoglobulin and Epsilon poly-L-lysine for oral drug delivery

Site specific oral delivery of many biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) class II and IV drugs is challenging due to their poor solubility, low permeability and degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. Whilst colloidal carriers have been used to improve the bioavailability of such drugs, most nanocarriers based drug delivery systems suffer from multiple disadvantages, including low encapsulation efficiency (liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles), complex synthesis methods (silica, silicon-based materials) and poorly understood biodegradability (inorganic nanoparticles). Herein, a novel pH responsive nanocolloids were self-assembled using natural compounds such as bovine β-lactoglobulin (BLG) and succinylated β-lactoglobulin (succ. BLG) cross-linked with epsilon poly l-lysine (BCEP and BCP), and found to possess high loading capacity, high aqueous solubility and site-specific oral delivery of a poorly soluble nutraceutical (curcumin), improving its physicochemical properties and biological activity in-vitro and ex-vivo. Our optimized synthesis formed colloids of around 200 nm which were capable of encapsulating curcumin with ~100% encapsulation efficiency and ~10% w/w drug loading. By forming nanocomplexes of curcumin with BLG and succ. BLG, the aqueous solubility of curcumin was markedly increased by ~160-fold and ~86-fold, respectively. Encapsulation with BLG increased the solubility, whereas succ. BLG prevent release of encapsulated curcumin when subjected to gastric fluids as it is resistant to breakdown on exposure to pepsin at acidic pH. In conditions mimicking the small intestine, Succ. BLG was more soluble resulting in sustained release of the encapsulated drug at pH 7.4. Additionally, crosslinking succ. BLG with E-PLL significantly enhanced curcumin's permeability in an in-vitro Caco-2 cell monolayer model compared to curcumin solution (dissolved in 1% DMSO), or non-crosslinked BLG/succ. and BLG. In a mouse-derived intestinal epithelial 3D organoid culture stimulated with IL-1β, BLG-CUR and crosslinked BCEP nanoparticles reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as Tnfα and Cxcl10 more than curcumin solution or suspension while these nanoparticles were non-toxic to organoids. Overall this work demonstrates the promise of nutraceutical-based hybrid self-assembled colloidal system to protect hydrophobic drugs from harsh gastrointestinal conditions and improve their solubility, dissolution, permeability and biological activity.