Chitosan binding to a novel alfalfa phytoferritin nanocage loaded with baicalein: Simulated digestion and absorption evaluation

Possibility and challenge of plant-derived ferritin cages encapsulated polyphenols in the precise nutrition field

Polyphenols have attracted extensive attention due to their rich functional activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor. However, the low solubility and poor stability limit their bioavailability and functional activities. Plant-derived ferritin cages have a unique hollow cage structure that can embed polyphenols to improve their unfavorable properties. Therefore, it is essential to adequately elaborate and summarize plant-derived ferritin cages to maximize their potential benefits in nutritional interventions. This review focuses on the fundamental properties of plant-derived ferritin cages, including the preparation process, purification technology, identification methods, and structural and functional properties. The relevant research on ferritin cages in polyphenol delivery has been summarized, including the delivery of water/lipid soluble polyphenols, modification of ferritin cages, and the interaction between polyphenols and ferritin cages. The research progress, shortcomings and prospects of plant-derived ferritin cages in precise nutrition are introduced. In addition, the relevant research on ferritin in immune response and protein engineering is also discussed to provide the theoretical basis for applying plant-derived ferritin cages in many frontier fields.

Advancements of the Molecular Directed Design and Structure-Activity Relationship of Ferritin Nanocage

Ferritin nanocages possess remarkable structural properties and biological functions, making them highly attractive for applications in functional materials and biomedicine. This comprehensive review presents an overview of the molecular characteristics, extraction and identification of ferritin, ferritin receptors, as well as the advancements in the directional design of high-order assemblies of ferritin and the applications based on its unique structural properties. Specifically, this Review focuses on the regulation of ferritin assembly from one to three dimensions, leveraging the symmetry of ferritin and modifications on key interfaces. Furthermore, it discusses targeted delivery of nutrition and drugs through facile loading and functional modification of ferritin. The aim of this Review is to inspire the design of micro/nano functional materials using ferritin and the development of nanodelivery vehicles for nutritional fortification and disease treatment.

Gastrointestinal fate of blueberry anthocyanins in ferritin-based nanocarriers

Blueberries contain an important amount of anthocyanins, which possess numerous biological properties. Nonetheless, the potential applications of anthocyanins may be constrained due to their limited stability and bioavailability. This study aimed to evaluate the stability and absorption of blueberry anthocyanin extracts (BAE) and anthocyanin standards (malvidin and cyanidin glycosides) when encapsulated using ferritin (FR) nanocarriers or a combination of FR and sodium alginate (SA) under simulated gastrointestinal conditions and Caco-2 cell monolayers. These results indicate that the use of FR nanocarriers resulted in an extended-release of anthocyanins during simulated digestion. Particularly, it was observed that after a period of 2 h in the intestinal phase, the anthocyanin concentration in BAE was greater (38.01 μg/mL, P < 0.05) when FR nanocarriers were employed, in comparison to untreated BAE (4.12 μg/mL). Furthermore, outcomes obtained from the Caco-2 cell monolayer assay revealed that FR-anthocyanin encapsulation resulted in substantially higher (P < 0.05) absorption rates ranging from 25.09 to 44.59 % compared to untreated anthocyanins (10.61-22.95 %). These findings provide evidence of an innovative approach for enhancing the stability and bioavailability of blueberry anthocyanins.

Fisetin, a dietary flavonoid, promotes transintestinal cholesterol excretion through the activation of PPARδ

Fisetin, a dietary polyphenol abundantly found in strawberries, exhibits a broad spectrum of health-promoting activities, including antihyperlipidemic effects. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory effect of fisetin on cholesterol elimination through novel transintestinal cholesterol excretion (TICE) pathway. A hypercholesterolemic mouse model and human colon epithelial cancer cell line Caco-2 were utilized to conduct the study. In hypercholesterolemic mice, fisetin (25 mg/kg) treatment reduced serum total cholesterol by 46.48% and significantly decreased lipid accumulation in the liver. Furthermore, fisetin administration led to a substantial increase in the fecal neutral sterol contents, including coprostanol, coprostanone, dihydrocholesterol, and cholesterol. Specifically, these sterol contents increased by approximately 224.20%, 151.40%, 70.40% and 50.72% respectively. The fluorescence intensity of 22-NBD-cholesterol in intestinal perfusion increased by 95.94% in fisetin group (25 mg/kg), indicating that fisetin stimulated TICE. In high cholesterol-induced Caco-2 cells, fisetin at a concentration of 30 μM reduced total cholesterol and free cholesterol by 37.21% and 45.30% respectively, stimulated cholesterol excretion, and inhibited cholesterol accumulation. Additionally, fisetin upregulated the gene and protein expression of cholesterol efflux transporters ABCG5/G8 and ABCB1, while downregulating the cholesterol uptake regulator NPC1L1. Furthermore, fisetin increased LDLR protein expression and decreased PCSK9 expression. Notably, fisetin significantly activated nuclear receptor PPARδ in Caco-2 cells. PPARδ antagonist pretreatment counteracted the regulatory effects of fisetin on TICE regulators, suggesting fisetin lowered cholesterol through enhancing TICE by activation of intestinal PPARδ. Fisetin could be used as functional dietarysupplement for eliminating cholesterol and reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

Construction and functional evaluation of oral long-acting insulin hydrogel microparticles based on physical and chemical double crosslinking

The objective of this study was to enhance the convenience and effectiveness of diabetes treatment by developing hydrogel microparticles as an oral insulin delivery system, aiming to reduce the necessity for frequent treatments. The hydrogel microparticles were prepared with polysaccharides through a combination of physical and chemical crosslinking method, they achieved good results in insulin loading efficiency (70 %), insulin release efficiency (98 %) and sustained release time (>20 h). The effective transmembrane transport was validated using an intestinal epithelial cell model, which demonstrated a continuous hypoglycemic effect lasting from 6 to 26 h in a type 2 diabetes mouse model. Additionally, the relative bioavailability of insulin reached 30.14 ± 2.62 %, representing a significant breakthrough in the field of oral insulin delivery carriers. Furthermore, oral insulin hydrogel exhibited a substantial improvement in insulin resistance, organ damage, and diabetes-related complications stemming from hyperglycemia. These compelling findings underscore the potential of hydrogel microparticles as a cost-effective and valuable strategy for oral drug delivery in diabetes treatment.

Sustained release of chlorogenic acid by co-encapsulation of sodium alginate binding to the Northern pike (Esox Lucius) liver ferritin

Ferritin has a unique hollow spherical structure, which makes it a promising nanocarrier for food functional substances. In this study, a new ferritin was successfully extracted from the liver of Northern pike, purified, and identified. We used the reversible self-assembly characteristics of ferritin to fabricate chlorogenic acid (CA)-loaded apoferritin (Apo) complex (Apo-CA) and sodium alginate (SA)-apoferritin (Apo) co-encapsulate system. Apo-CA was encapsulated into the SA system to form SA-Apo-CA. The fabricated composites were analyzed using particle size, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, flourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope. Physicochemical property of analysis confirmed th successful preparation of Apo-CA/SA-Apo-CA and improved thermal and UV radiation stability. The effect of sustained-release of CA were tested in vitro of simulated gastrointestinal tract digestion. SA-Apo-CA exhibited greater release ability than unencapsulated CA and Apo-CA. This study provides a new strategy for designing a multilayer delivery system with improved stability and sustained-release property.

Dihydrocaffeic acid grafted chitosan self-assembled nanomicelles with enhanced intestinal transport and antioxidant properties of chicoric acid

Chicoric acid (CA) plays a crucial role as a functional factor within the realm of foods, showcasing a wide array of bioactivities. Nevertheless, its oral bioavailability is significantly limited. To optimize the intestinal absorption and bolster the antioxidant capacity of CA, a water-soluble dihydrocaffeic acid grafted chitosan copolymer (DA-g-CS) was synthesized using a conventional free radicals system, and subsequently utilized for the encapsulation of CA within self-assembled nanomicelles (DA-g-CS/CA). The average particle size of DA-g-CS/CA was 203.3 nm, while the critical micelle concentration was 3.98 × 10-4 mg/mL. Intestinal transport studies revealed that DA-g-CS/CA penetrated cells via the macropinocytosis pathway, exhibiting the cellular uptake rate 1.64 times higher than that of CA. This substantial enhancement in the intestinal transport of CA underscores the significant improvements achieved through DA-g-CS/CA delivery. The pharmacokinetic results demonstrated that DA-g-CS/CA exhibited a remarkable bioavailability 2.24 times that of CA. Furthermore, the antioxidant assessment demonstrated that DA-g-CS/CA exhibited exceptional antioxidant properties in comparison to CA. It demonstrated enhanced protective and mitigating effects in the H2O2-induced oxidative damage model, while also displaying a stronger emphasis on protective effects rather than attenuating effects. These findings aim to establish a solid theoretical foundation for the advancement of CA in terms of its oral absorption and the development of functional food products.