Fabrication and characterization of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) using a plant-based emulsifier: Quillaja saponin

Encapsulation of Citrus sinensis essential oil and R-limonene in lipid nanocarriers: A potential strategy for the treatment of leishmaniasis

Leishmaniases, a group of neglected tropical diseases caused by an intracellular parasite of the genus Leishmania, have significant impacts on global health. Current treatment options are limited due to drug resistance, toxicity, and high cost. This study aimed to develop nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for delivering Citrus sinensis essential oil (CSEO) and its main constituent, R-limonene, against leishmaniasis. The influence of surface-modified NLCs using chitosan was also examined. The NLCs were prepared using a warm microemulsion method, and surface modification with chitosan was achieved through electrostatic interaction. These nanocarriers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). In vitro cytotoxicity was assessed in L929 and RAW 264.7 cells, and leishmanicidal activity was evaluated against promastigote and amastigote forms. The NLCs were spherical, with particle sizes ranging from 97.9 nm to 111.3 nm. Chitosan-coated NLCs had a positive surface charge, with zeta potential values ranging from 45.8 mV to 59.0 mV. Exposure of L929 cells to NLCs resulted in over 70 % cell viability. Conversely, surface modification significantly reduced the viability of promastigotes (93 %) compared to free compounds. Moreover, chitosan-coated NLCs presented a better IC50 against the amastigote forms than uncoated NLCs. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the feasibility of using NLCs to overcome the limitations of current leishmaniasis treatments, warranting further research.

Lipid-based nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers for cancer therapy

Cancer is a severe disease that results in death in all countries of the world. A nano-based drug delivery approach is the best alternative, directly targeting cancer tumor cells with improved drug cellular uptake. Different types of nanoparticle-based drug carriers are advanced for the treatment of cancer, and to increase the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of cancer therapy, many substances have been looked into as drug carriers. Lipid-based nanoparticles (LBNPs) have significantly attracted interest recently. These natural biomolecules that alternate to other polymers are frequently recycled in medicine due to their amphipathic properties. Lipid nanoparticles typically provide a variety of benefits, including biocompatibility and biodegradability. This review covers different classes of LBNPs, including their characterization and different synthesis technologies. This review discusses the most significant advancements in lipid nanoparticle technology and their use in medicine administration. Moreover, the review also emphasized the applications of lipid nanoparticles that are used in different cancer treatment types.

Effect of nanocomposite alginate-based edible coatings containing thymol-nanoemulsion and/or thymol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers on the microbial and physicochemical properties of carrot

In this study, the effect of thymol-nanoemulsion (NE) and thymol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) on the physiological and microbial quality of carrot was investigated. The NE and NLC droplet sizes were 86 and 140 nm with encapsulation efficiency of 97 and 94 %, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of thymol decreased in NE and increased in NLC against E. coli and S. aureus. Moreover, thymol-containing coatings exhibited a higher peroxidase activity, total phenolic content, flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, pH, and lower respiration rate, TSS, weight loss, and decay with the preference for samples coated with NLC and NE (particularly NLC). The NE and NLC treatments significantly reduced the total viable, mold and yeast, lactic acid bacteria, and Enterobacteriaceae counts compared to the free thymol-containing coating. Results showed that the application of NE and NLC containing alginate-based coating (with the preference for NLC) improved the postharvest quality of carrot and extended its shelf life. Meanwhile, the separate application of these systems gave better results than the simultaneous application of both systems in one sample.

Effects of solid lipid ratio in curcumin loaded emulsions on its gastrointestinal fate: Colloidal stability and mucus absorption efficiency

Emulsions offer a promising approach for enhancing the bioavailability of lipophilic active compounds when administered orally. Nonetheless, the impact of lipid matrix composition on the efficacy of penetration and bioavailability remains uncertain. This research investigated the effects of solid lipid ratio in emulsions on colloidal stability, mucus permeability, and bioavailability in vivo. To assess colloidal stability in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), Turbiscan was employed. The results indicated that an elevated solid lipid ratio improved intestinal stability through the formation of aggregations that resisted pancreatic absorption, as confirmed by TEM. The absorption in various intestinal sections was tested using the Ussing Chamber model. Notably, emulsion with 0 % solid lipid (G0M10) exhibited the highest cumulative permeation across the duodenum (221.2 ± 21.19 ng), jejunum (713.1 ± 20.93 ng), and ileum (1056.3 ± 392.06 ng) due to its higher in vitro release rate (>60 %) and smaller particle size. The cumulative permeation decreased with increasing solid lipid ratio. CLSM revealed that emulsions with a solid lipid ratio exceeding 50 % exhibited poor mucus permeability within 15 min due to aggregation during the passage in the GIT. However, over an extended penetration time (30 min), higher permeability was observed, reaching approximately 30 μm. In vitro release studies indicated that a higher solid lipid ratio resulted in a reduced release rate of curcumin (<60 %) compared to G0M10 (66.9 ± 3.58 %). Correlation analysis unveiled a positive link between bioavailability and in vitro release rate, while a negative correlation emerged with the solid lipid ratio. This work underscores the significance of solid lipid ratios in emulsions for optimizing bioavailability through their influence on stability, permeability, and release of lipophilic compounds in the GIT.

Characterization and stability of solid lipid nanoparticles produced from different fully hydrogenated oils

The use of lipids from conventional oils and fats to produce solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) attracting interest from the food industry, since due their varying compositions directly affects crystallization behavior, stability, and particle sizes (PS) of SLN. Thus, this study aimed evaluate the potential of fully hydrogenated oils (hardfats) with different hydrocarbon chain lengths to produce SLN using different emulsifiers. For that, fully hydrogenated palm kern (FHPkO), palm (FHPO), soybean (FHSO), microalgae (FHMO) and crambe (FHCO) oils were used. Span 60 (S60), soybean lecithin (SL), and whey protein isolate (WPI) were used as emulsifiers. The physicochemical characteristics and crystallization properties of SLN were evaluated during 60 days. Results indicates that the crystallization properties were more influenced by the hardfat used. SLN formulated with FHPkO was more unstable than the others, and hardfats FHPO, FHSO, FHMO, and FHCO exhibited the appropriate characteristics for use to produce SLN. Concerning emulsifiers, S60- based SLN showed high instability, despite the hardfat used. SL-based and WPI-based SLN formulations, showed a great stability, with crystallinity properties suitable for food incorporation.

The Gelatin-Coated Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (NLC) Containing Salvia officinalis Extract: Optimization by Combined D-Optimal Design and Its Application to Improve the Quality Parameters of Beef Burger

The current study aims to synthesize the gelatin-coated nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) to encapsulate sage extract and use this nanoparticle to increase the quality parameters of beef burger samples. NLCs were prepared by formulation of gelatin (as surfactant and coating biopolymer), tallow oil (as solid lipid), rosemary essential oil (as liquid lipid), sage extract (as active material or encapsulant), polyglycerol ester and Tween 80 (as low-molecular emulsifier) through the high-shear homogenization-sonication method. The effects of gelatin concentrations and the solid/liquid ratio on the particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of sage extract-loaded NLCs were quantitatively investigated and optimized using a combined D-optimal design. Design expert software suggested the optimum formulation with a gelatin concentration of 0.1 g/g suspension and solid/liquid lipid ratio of 60/40 with a particle size of 100.4 nm, PDI of 0.36, and EE% 80%. The morphology, interactions, thermal properties, and crystallinity of obtained NLC formulations were investigated by TEM, FTIR, DSC, and XRD techniques. The optimum sage extract-loaded/gelatin-coated NLC showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than free extract after 30 days of storage. It also indicated a higher inhibitory effect against E. coli and P. aeruginosa than free form in MIC and MBC tests. The optimum sage extract-loaded/gelatin-coated NLC, more than free extract, increased the oxidation stability of the treated beef burger samples during 90 days of storage at 4 and -18 °C (verified by thiobarbituric acid and peroxide values tests). Incorporation of the optimum NLC to beef burgers also effectively decreased total counts of mesophilic bacteria, psychotropic bacteria, S. aureus, coliform, E. coli, molds, and yeasts of treated beef burger samples during 0, 3, and 7 days of storage in comparison to the control sample. These results suggested that the obtained sage extract-loaded NLC can be an effective preservative to extend the shelf life of beef burgers.

The Commonly Used Stabilizers for Phytochemical-Based Nanoparticles: Stabilization Effects, Mechanisms, and Applications

Phytochemicals, such as resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin, have many benefits for health, but most of them have a low bioavailability due to their poor water solubility and stability, quick metabolism, and clearance, which restricts the scope of their potential applications. To overcome these issues, different types of nanoparticles (NPs), especially biocompatible and biodegradable NPs, have been developed. NPs can carry phytochemicals and increase their solubility, stability, target specificity, and oral bioavailability. However, NPs are prone to irreversible aggregation, which leads to NP instability and loss of functions. To remedy this shortcoming, stabilizers like polymers and surfactants are incorporated on NPs. Stabilizers not only increase the stability of NPs, but also improve their characteristics. The current review focused on discussing the state of the art in research on synthesizing phytochemical-based NPs and their commonly employed stabilizers. Furthermore, stabilizers in these NPs were also discussed in terms of their applications, effects, and underlying mechanisms. This review aimed to provide more references for developing stabilizers and NPs for future research.

Homogalacturonan enriched pectin based hydrogel enhances 6-gingerol's colitis alleviation effect via NF-κB/NLRP3 axis

A nanolipidcarrier (NLC) loaded homogalacturonan enriched pectin (citrus modified pectin, MCP4) hydrogel was designed as a novel colon inflammation site-specific oral delivery system for 6-gingerol (6G) (6G-NLC/MCP4 hydrogel) administration, and its colitis alleviation effect were investigated. 6G-NLC/MCP4 exhibited typical "cage-like" ultrastructure with 6G-NLC embedded in the hydrogel matrix as observed by cryoscanning electron microscope. And due to the homogalacturonan (HG) domain in MCP4 specifically combined with Galectin-3, which is overexpressed in the inflammatory region, the 6G-NLC/MCP4 hydrogel targeted to severe inflammatory region. Meanwhile, the prolonged-release characteristics of 6G-NLC provided sustained release of 6G in severe inflammatory regions. The matrix of hydrogel MCP4 and 6G achieved synergistic alleviation effects for colitis through NF-κB/NLRP3 axis. Specifically, 6G mainly regulated the NF-κB inflammatory pathway and inhibited the activity of NLRP3 protein, while MCP4 regulated the expression of Galectin-3 and peripheral clock gene Rev-Erbα/β to prevent the activation of inflammasome NLRP3.

Physicochemical and In Vitro Digestion Properties of Curcumin-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles with Different Solid Lipids and Emulsifiers

Curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (Cur-SLN) were prepared using medium- and long chain diacylglycerol (MLCD) or glycerol tripalmitate (TP) as lipid matrix and three kinds of surfactants including Tween 20 (T20), quillaja saponin (SQ) and rhamnolipid (Rha). The MLCD-based SLNs had a smaller size and lower surface charge than TP-SLNs with a Cur encapsulation efficiency of 87.54-95.32% and the Rha-based SLNs exhibited a small size but low stability to pH decreases and ionic strength. Thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction results confirmed that the SLNs with different lipid cores showed varying structures, melting and crystallization profiles. The emulsifiers slightly impacted the crystal polymorphism of MLCD-SLNs but largely influenced that of TP-SLNs. Meanwhile, the polymorphism transition was less significant for MLCD-SLNs, which accounted for the better stabilization of particle size and higher encapsulation efficiency of MLCD-SLNs during storage. In vitro studies showed that emulsifier formulation greatly impacted on the Cur bioavailability, whereby T20-SLNs showed much higher digestibility and bioavailability than that of SQ- and Rha-SLNs possibly due to the difference in the interfacial composition. Mathematical modeling analysis of the membrane release further confirmed that Cur was mainly released from the intestinal phase and T20-SLNs showed a faster release rate compared with other formulations. This work contributes to a better understanding of the performance of MLCD in lipophilic compound-loaded SLNs and has important implications for the rational design of lipid nanocarriers and in instructing their application in functional food products.

Saponins and Tannin Levels in Chayote, Mung Beans, and Biscuits from Chayote and Mung Beans

BACKGROUND: Saponins and tannins are active compounds of secondary metabolites which are known to have several health benefits, including antibacterial and antioxidant. Chayote and green beans are natural ingredients that contain saponins and tannins. Starch from these two ingredients is used as a basic ingredient for making biscuits. AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of saponins and tannins in biscuits made from chayote and green beans. METHODS: Saponins and tannins in the samples were extracted and analyzed using the Gravimetric method. The tannin content of flour and biscuits based on chayote and green beans was analyzed spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: The results of the saponin analysis of biscuits made from chayote, flour, and chayote were 5.693%, 2.813%, and 2.574%. Meanwhile, the tannin levels were 1.143%, 4.308%, and 1.922%, respectively. The saponin levels in biscuits made from mung bean, flour, and mung bean obtained were 6.742%, 4.593%, and 4.315%, respectively, while the tannin levels were 4.464%, 3.250%, and 3.893%, respectively. From the sample of chayote and green bean flour biscuit formulation (1:1), the saponin content was 1.558%, while the tannin content was 3.436%. CONCLUSION: In mung bean flour and mung bean biscuits, the saponin content was higher than that of chayote flour and chayote biscuits. The increase in tannin content in the formulation (1:1) was derived from mung bean flour, because the tannin content in mung bean was higher than that of chayote.

Green Extraction of Annatto Seed Oily Extract and Its Use as a Pharmaceutical Material for the Production of Lipid Nanoparticles

This work developd nanomaterials formulated from annatto seed oily extract (ASE), myristic acid (tetradecanoic acid), and their fatty acid esters. The annatto seed oily extract was obtained using only soybean oil (ASE + SO) and Brazil nut oil (ASE + BNO). The UV/VIS analysis of the oily extracts showed three characteristic peaks of the bixin molecule at 430, 456 and 486 nm. The lipid nanoparticles obtained using myristic acid and ASE + BNO or only BNO showed better results than the oil soybean extract, i.e., the particle size was <200 nm, PDI value was in the range of 0.2−0.3, and had no visual physical instability as they kept stable for 28 days at 4 °C. Lipid nanoemulsions were also produced with esters of myristic acid and ASE + BNO. These fatty acid esters significantly influenced the particle size of nanoemulsions. For instance, methyl tetradecanoate led to the smallest particle size nanoemulsions (124 nm), homogeneous size distribution, and high physical stability under 4 and 32 °C for 28 days. This work demonstrates that the chemical composition of vegetable oils and myristic acid esters, the storage temperature, the chain length of fatty acid esters (FAE), and their use as co-lipids improve the physical stability of lipid nanoemulsions and nanoparticles from annatto seed oily extract.

Nano-enabled plant-based colloidal delivery systems for bioactive agents in foods: Design, formulation, and application

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of their dietary choices on the environment, animal welfare, and health, which is causing many of them to adopt more plant-based diets. For this reason, many sectors of the food industry are reformulating their products to contain more plant-based ingredients. This article describes recent research on the formation and application of nano-enabled colloidal delivery systems formulated from plant-based ingredients, such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and phospholipids. These delivery systems include nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoliposomes, nanophytosomes, and biopolymer nanoparticles. The composition, size, structure, and charge of the particles in these delivery systems can be manipulated to create novel or improved functionalities, such as improved robustness, higher optical clarity, controlled release, and increased bioavailability. There have been major advances in the design, assembly, and application of plant-based edible nanoparticles within the food industry over the past decade or so. As a result, there are now a wide range of different options available for creating delivery systems for specific applications. In the future, it will be important to establish whether these formulations can be produced using economically viable methods and provide the desired functionality in real-life applications.

Fabrication, characterization, and performance of antimicrobial alginate-based films containing thymol-loaded lipid nanoparticles: Comparison of nanoemulsions and nanostructured lipid carriers

Antimicrobial biopolymer films were prepared by incorporating thymol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) or nanoemulsions (NE) into Ca-alginate solutions. Thymol-loaded-NLCs with thymol/lipid mass ratios of 0.1 and 0.2 were prepared and then used to fabricate NLC/alginate films containing either 20% (NLC20 film) or 10% (NLC10 film) of NLCs. Consequently, these two films had the same total thymol mass fraction: R _{thymol/alginate} = 0.02. A nanoemulsion-loaded film (NE film) containing the same amount of thymol and a neat alginate film (control) were also prepared. Incorporation of the NLCs increased the porosity and surface roughness, thickness, water vapor permeability, and yellowness of the films, but decreased their water contact angle, mechanical strength, and swelling ratio. The release of thymol into the air and into water-ethanol solutions was slower for NLC-loaded than NE-loaded films, moreover being slower for the NLC20 than NLC10 films. The antimicrobial activity of the active films was tested on ground beef samples. Their antimicrobial activity was correlated to their release rates, with the NLC20 film giving the longest protection against the enumerated microorganisms. Our results show that encapsulating antimicrobial essential oils within NLCs was more effective at creating antimicrobial films with sustained release properties than encapsulating them within NEs.

A designed self-microemulsion delivery system for dihydromyricetin and its dietary intervention effect on high-fat-diet fed mice

The present study aims to design a self-microemulsion delivery system (d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate - quillaja saponin) to enhance the absorptivity of dihydromyricetin (DMY-S), and to investigate its dietary intervention effect on high-fat-diet (HFD) fed mice. We find DMY-S can inhibit the increase of body weight and fat mass, preventing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Compared to the model group, the abundance of mice intestinal flora is mainly changed in certain bacterial genera of Firmicutes and Bacteroides, including norank_f_Muribaculaceae and Blautia. The result of metabolism analysis indicated that the expression levels of cincassiol B, creatine, pantothenic acid and aminobutyric acid in the liver tissues of mice treated with DMY-S showed a down-regulation. The DMY-S prevented hyperlipidemia in HFD mice mainly by affecting different pathways including glycerophospholipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis.

Synthesis, characterization and stress-testing of a robust quillaja saponin stabilized oil-in-water phytocannabinoid nanoemulsion

BACKGROUND

This study describes the design, optimization, and stress-testing of a novel phytocannabinoid nanoemulsion generated using high-pressure homogenization. [Formula: see text], a plant-derived commercial emulsifier containing quillaja saponin, was used to stabilize the lipid phase droplets in water. Stress-testing was performed on this nanoemulsion in order to evaluate its chemical and colloidal stability under the influence of different environmental factors, encompassing both physical and chemical stressors.

METHODS

Extensive optimization studies were conducted to arrive at an ideal nanoemulsion formulation. A coarse emulsion containing 16.6 wt% CBD-enriched cannabis distillate and 83.4 wt% carrier (soybean) oil dispersed in 10 wt% [Formula: see text] (1.5 wt% quillaja saponin) solution after 10 homogenization cycles at a pressure of 30,000 psi produced a stable nanoemulsion. This nanoemulsion was then subjected to the stress studies.

RESULTS

The optimized nanoemulsion had an average droplet diameter of ca. 120 nm and average droplet surface ζ potentials of ca. -30 mV. It was imaged and characterized by a variety of protocols. It proved to be stable to droplet agglomeration and phase separation upon storage under ambient conditions for 6 weeks, as well as under a variety of physical stressors such as heat, cold, dilution, and carbonation. pH values ≤2 and moderately high salt concentrations (> 100 mM), however, destabilized the nanoemulsion, eventually leading to phase separation. Cannabis potency, determined by HPLC, was detrimentally affected by any changes in the nanoemulsion phase stability.

CONCLUSIONS

Quillaja saponin stabilized cannabidiol(CBD)-enriched nanoemulsions are stable, robust systems even at low emulsifier concentrations, and are therefore significant from both a scientific as well as a commercial perspective.

Microbial Biosurfactant: A New Frontier for Sustainable Agriculture and Pharmaceutical Industries

In the current scenario of changing climatic conditions and the rising global population, there is an urgent need to explore novel, efficient, and economical natural products for the benefit of humankind. Biosurfactants are one of the latest explored microbial synthesized biomolecules that have been used in numerous fields, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food processing, and environment-cleaning industries, as a source of raw materials, for the lubrication, wetting, foaming, emulsions formulations, and as stabilizing dispersions. The amphiphilic nature of biosurfactants have shown to be a great advantage, distributing themselves into two immiscible surfaces by reducing the interfacial surface tension and increasing the solubility of hydrophobic compounds. Furthermore, their eco-friendly nature, low or even no toxic nature, durability at higher temperatures, and ability to withstand a wide range of pH fluctuations make microbial surfactants preferable compared to their chemical counterparts. Additionally, biosurfactants can obviate the oxidation flow by eliciting antioxidant properties, antimicrobial and anticancer activities, and drug delivery systems, further broadening their applicability in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Nowadays, biosurfactants have been broadly utilized to improve the soil quality by improving the concentration of trace elements and have either been mixed with pesticides or applied singly on the plant surfaces for plant disease management. In the present review, we summarize the latest research on microbial synthesized biosurfactant compounds, the limiting factors of biosurfactant production, their application in improving soil quality and plant disease management, and their use as antioxidant or antimicrobial compounds in the pharmaceutical industries.

Encapsulation and Protection of Omega-3-Rich Fish Oils Using Food-Grade Delivery Systems

Regular consumption of adequate quantities of lipids rich in omega-3 fatty acids is claimed to provide a broad spectrum of health benefits, such as inhibiting inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Lipids isolated from many marine sources are a rich source of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the omega-3 form which are claimed to have particularly high biological activities. Functional food products designed to enhance human health and wellbeing are increasingly being fortified with these omega-3 PUFAs because of their potential nutritional and health benefits. However, food fortification with PUFAs is challenging because of their low water-solubility, their tendency to rapidly oxidize, and their variable bioavailability. These challenges can be addressed using advanced encapsulation technologies, which typically involve incorporating the omega-3 oils into well-designed colloidal particles fabricated from food-grade ingredients, such as liposomes, emulsion droplets, nanostructured lipid carriers, or microgels. These omega-3-enriched colloidal dispersions can be used in a fluid form or they can be converted into a powdered form using spray-drying, which facilitates their handling and storage, as well as prolonging their shelf life. In this review, we provide an overview of marine-based omega-3 fatty acid sources, discuss their health benefits, highlight the challenges involved with their utilization in functional foods, and present the different encapsulation technologies that can be used to improve their performance.

Systematic Characterization of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers from Cetyl Palmitate/Caprylic Triglyceride/Tween 80 Mixtures in an Aqueous Environment

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are gaining attention as the new generation of lipid vehicles. These carriers consist of saturated lipids with small drops of liquid oil dispersed into the inner lipid matrix and are stabilized by a surfactant. Conventionally, NLC-based drug delivery systems have been widely studied, and many researchers are looking into the composition of NLC properties to improve the performance of NLCs. The membrane fluidity and polarity of self-assembling lipids are also essential properties that must be affected by membrane compositions; however, such fundamental characteristics have not been studied yet. In this study, NLCs were prepared from cetyl palmitate (CP), caprylic triglyceride (CaTG), and Tween 80 (T80). Structural properties, such as particle size and ζ-potential of the CP/CaTG/T80 ternary mixtures, were investigated. Then, the systematic characterization of self-assembly properties using fluorescence-based analysis was applied for the first time to the NLC system. As a final step, the ternary diagram was developed based on the self-assembly properties to summarize the possible structures formed at different compositions. The results showed four states: micelle-like, oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion-like, solid lipid nanoparticle-like, and intermediate (solid-liquid coexistence). For the purpose of making the lipid matrix more liquified, the heterogeneous state and the disordered state of the O/W emulsion-like structure might fulfill the criteria of NLCs. Finally, the ternary diagram provides new information about the assembly state of NLC constituents that could become an important reference for developing high-performance NLCs.

Fabrication and characterization of alginate-based films functionalized with nanostructured lipid carriers

This study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of alginate-based films functionalized by incorporating nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). The effect of different NLC/alginate mass ratios (R = 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.35) on the physical, morphological, mechanical, and barrier properties of the calcium-alginate films was evaluated. The addition of the NLCs significantly improved the UV-absorbing properties, without greatly altering their transparent appearance. As the NLC concentration increased, the tensile strength, elastic modulus, and swelling ratio of the films decreased, while their thermal stability, water vapor permeability, and contact angle increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the films revealed that NLC incorporation led to a more porous internal structure and a rougher surface. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis indicated that there were no new interactions between the calcium-alginate and NLC constituents within the films. Overall, this study shows that NLCs can be successfully incorporated into calcium-alginate films and used to modulate their physicochemical properties. In future, it will be useful to examine the potential of these films to incorporate hydrophobic bioactives such as drugs, nutraceuticals, antimicrobials, antioxidants, and pigments for specific pharmaceutical or food applications.

Plant Extracts Containing Saponins Affects the Stability and Biological Activity of Hempseed Oil Emulsion System

In this study, two saponins-rich plant extracts, viz. Saponaria officinalis and Quillaja saponaria, were used as surfactants in an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion based on hempseed oil (HSO). This study focused on a low oil phase content of 2% v/v HSO to investigate stable emulsion systems under minimum oil phase conditions. Emulsion stability was characterized by the emulsification index (EI), centrifugation tests, droplet size distribution as well as microscopic imaging. The smallest droplets recorded by dynamic light scattering (droplets size v. number), one day after the preparation of the emulsion, were around 50-120 nm depending the on use of Saponaria and Quillaja as a surfactant and corresponding to critical micelle concentration (CMC) in the range 0-2 g/L. The surface and interfacial tension of the emulsion components were studied as well. The effect of emulsions on environmental bacteria strains was also investigated. It was observed that emulsions with Saponaria officinalis extract exhibited slight toxic activity (the cell metabolic activity reduced to 80%), in contrast to Quillaja emulsion, which induced Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 17400 growth. The highest-stability samples were those with doubled CMC concentration. The presented results demonstrate a possible use of oil emulsions based on plant extract rich in saponins for the food industry, biomedical and cosmetics applications, and nanoemulsion preparations.

Tea saponins as natural stabilizers for the production of hesperidin nanosuspensions

Tea saponins (TS), a novel multifunctional stabilizer, were explored to stabilize the nanosuspensions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of TS on the stability and redispersibility of nanosuspensions. In present work, hesperidin (HDN), a poorly soluble drug, was used as a model drug. HDN nanosuspensions (HDN-NS) with particle size of 250-270 nm were prepared by high-speed shearing and high-pressure homogenization. The zeta potential of HDN-NS was -23.16 ± 1.12 mV. Compared with traditional stabilizers, TS were superior in stabilization efficiency at low concentrations. Nanosuspensions freeze-dried powder using TS and lactose as cryoprotectants had good redispersibility, and the average particle size was 266.5 ± 9.0 nm after reconstitution. TS and lactose can effectively prevent the irreversible agglomeration of HDN-NS during freeze-drying. The dissolution was enhanced owing to particle size reduction. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that HDN nanocrystals were irregularly lumpy. The chemical structure and crystal state of HDN had not significantly changed during production. In conclusion, TS have the potential to stabilize and disperse nanosuspensions and provide a promising strategy for the development of poorly soluble drugs.

Impact of fat crystallization on the resistance of W/O/W emulsions to osmotic stress: Potential for temperature-triggered release

Water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsions can be designed to encapsulate, protect, and release both hydrophilic and hydrophobic functional compounds. In this study, we examined the impact of crystallizing the fat phase on the resistance of W/O/W emulsions to osmotic stress, with the aim of developing osmotic-responsive systems. Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) was used as a hydrophobic surfactant to stabilize the inner water droplets, while Quillaja saponin and whey protein isolate (WPI) were used as hydrophilic surfactants to coat the oil droplets. The impact of fat crystallization was examined by using either a liquid (soybean oil, SO) or semi-solid (hydrogenated soybean oil, HSO) fat as the oil phase. An osmotic stress was generated by establishing a sucrose concentration gradient between the internal and external water phases. Alterations in the droplet size, morphology, and stability of the W/O/W emulsions was measured when the sucrose concentration gradient was changed. The W/O droplets in the SO-emulsions swelled/shrank when the external sucrose concentration was below/above the internal sucrose concentration, which is indicative of water diffusing into/out of the droplets. Conversely, there was no change in the size of the W/O droplets in the HSO-emulsions under the same conditions, which was attributed to the mechanical strength of the fat crystal network resisting swelling or shrinking. HSO-emulsions did exhibit swelling when they were heated above a critical temperature, due to melting of the fat crystals and disruption of the crystal network. Our results demonstrate that crystallization of the oil phase of W/O/W emulsions can prevent water transport due to osmotic stress, which may be useful for developing temperature-triggered delivery systems for application in foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, or personal care products.