Efficient formation of carvacrol inclusion complexes during β-cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase-catalyzed cyclodextrin synthesis

Formulation and characterization of amiodarone-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes: A molecular modelling perspective

This study aimed to develop immediate-release tablets containing amiodarone hydrochloride (AM). AM is a BCS class II compound, i.e., high permeable, and poorly soluble. The interactions between amiodarone and methyl-β-cyclodextrin were DFT-based, theoretically measured, supporting the complexation of AM with cyclodextrin by using methyl-β-cyclodextrin through a spray-drying process. Thus, increasing substantially the drug solubility to 93.31% and 87.14%, respectively. Solubility studies demonstrated the formation of the Drug-Methyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex with 1:1 stoichiometry. The complex formation was characterized by SBET, XRD, DSC, SEM, FTIR, and 1H NMR. Complementing, immediate-release tablets containing the inclusion complex were developed by direct compression, and in vitro dissolution studies were performed in gastrointestinal fluids using USP Pharmacopeia standard dissolution rate testing equipment. The dissolution rate of immediate-release tablets was substantially higher than the pristine drug in all mediums evaluated. These results confirm the application of methyl-β-cyclodextrin as an effective excipient for incorporation in novel dosage forms to increase the solubility of poorly soluble drugs.

A comprehensive review of intelligent controlled release antimicrobial packaging in food preservation

Intelligent responsive packaging provides informative feedback or control the release of active substances like antimicrobial agents in response to stimuli in food or the environment to ensure food safety. This paper provides an overview of two types of intelligent packaging, information-responsive and intelligent controlled-release, focusing on the recent research progress of intelligent controlled-release antimicrobial packaging with enzyme, pH, relative humidity, temperature, and light as triggering factors. It also summarizes the current status of application in different food categories, as well as the challenges and future prospects. Intelligent controlled-release technology aims to optimize the antimicrobial effect and ensure the quality of food products by synchronizing the release of active substances with food preservation needs through sensing stimuli, which is an innovative and challenging packaging technology. The paper seeks to provide a reference for the research and industrial development of responsive intelligent packaging and controlled-release packaging applications in food.

Valorization of Spent Coffee Grounds as a Natural Source of Bioactive Compounds for Several Industrial Applications-A Volatilomic Approach

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, whose production and consumption result in large amounts of waste, namely spent coffee grounds, constituting an important source of compounds for several industrial applications. This work focused on the establishment of the volatile fingerprint of five spent coffee grounds from different geographical origins using headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS), as a strategy to identify volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) with potential application in the food industry as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative agents. One hundred eleven VOMs belonging to different chemical families were identified, of which 60 were found in all spent coffee grounds analyzed. Furanic compounds (34%), nitrogen compounds (30%), and esters (19%) contributed significant to the total volatile fingerprint. The data obtained suggest that spent coffee grounds have great potential to be used as raw material for different approaches in the food industry towards the development of new food ingredients or products for human consumption, in addition to pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications, namely as antioxidant (e.g., limonene, carvacrol), antimicrobial (e.g., pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde, β-myrcene) and anti-inflammatory (e.g., furfural, 2-furanmethanol) agents, promoting their integral valorization within the circular bioeconomy concept.

Novel β-Cyclodextrin and Catnip Essential Oil Inclusion Complex and Its Tick Repellent Properties

Cyclodextrin inclusion complexes have been successfully used to encapsulate essential oils, improving their physicochemical properties and pharmacological effects. Besides being well-known for its effects on cats and other felines, catnip (Nepeta cataria) essential oil demonstrates repellency against blood-feeding pests such as mosquitoes. This study evaluates the tick repellency of catnip oil alone and encapsulated in β-cyclodextrin, prepared using the co-precipitation method at a 1:1 molar ratio. The physicochemical properties of this inclusion complex were characterized using GC-FID for encapsulation efficiency and yield and SPME/GC-MS for volatile emission. Qualitative assessment of complex formation was done by UV-Vis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and SEM analyses. Catnip oil at 5% (v/v) demonstrated significant tick repellency over time, being comparable to DEET as used in commercial products. The prepared [catnip: β-CD] inclusion complex exerted significant tick repellency at lower concentration of the essential oil (equivalent of 1% v/v). The inclusion complex showed that the release of the active ingredient was consistent after 6 h, which could improve the effective repellent duration. These results demonstrated the effective tick repellent activity of catnip essential oil and the successful synthesis of the inclusion complex, suggesting that β-CDs are promising carriers to improve catnip oil properties and to expand its use in repellent formulations for tick management.