Soluble eggshell membrane protein-loaded chitosan/fucoidan nanoparticles for treatment of defective intestinal epithelial cells

Ultra-stable pickering emulsion stabilized by anisotropic pea protein isolate-fucoidan conjugate particles through Maillard reaction

Bio-based emulsifiers hold significant importance in various industries, particularly in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and other related fields. In this study, pea protein isolate (PPI) and fucoidan (FUD) were conjugated via the Maillard reaction, which is considered safe and widely used in the preparation of food particle. The PPI-FUD conjugated particles exhibit an anisotropic non-spherical structure, thereby possessing a high detachment energy capable of preventing emulsion coalescence and Ostwald ripening. Compared to emulsions previously prepared in other studies (< 500 mM), the Pickering emulsion stabilized by PPI-FUD conjugate particles demonstrates outstanding ionic strength resistance (up to 5000 mM). Furthermore, when encapsulating curcumin, the Pickering emulsion protects the curcumin from oxidation. Additionally, the formulated emulsions demonstrated the capability to incorporate up to 60 % (v/v) oil phase, revealing remarkable performance in terms of storage stability, pH stability, and thermal stability.

Modulation the Synergistic Effect of Chitosan-Sodium Alginate Nanoparticles with Ca2+: Enhancing the Stability of Pickering Emulsion on D-Limonene

Pickering emulsions (PEs) have been regarded as an effective approach to sustaining and preserving the bioactivities of essential oils. The aim of this research is to prepare a PE stabilized by chitosan/alginate nanoparticles (CS-SA NPs) for the encapsulation and stabilization of D-limonene. In this work, the influence of calcium ions (Ca2+) on the morphology and interaction of nanoparticles was studied, and then the preparation technology of CS-SA/Ca2+ NPs was optimized. The results showed that the presence of Ca2+ reduced the size of the nanoparticles and made them assume a spherical structure. In addition, under the conditions of 0.2 mg/mL CaCl2, 0.6 mg/mL SA, and 0.4 mg/mL CS, the CS-SA/Ca2+ NPs had the smallest size (274 ± 2.51 nm) and high stability (-49 ± 0.69 mV). Secondly, the PE was prepared by emulsifying D-limonene with CS-SA/Ca2+ NPs, and the NP concentrations and homogenization speeds were optimized. The results showed that the small droplet size PE could be prepared with 2 mg/mL NP and a homogenization speed of 20,000 r/min, and it had excellent antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Most importantly, the emulsion showed higher activity, higher resistance to ultraviolet (UV) and a higher temperature than free D-limonene. This research provides a feasible solution for the encapsulation, protection and delivery of essential oils.

Combination of Nanodelivery Systems and Constituents Derived from Novel Foods: A Comprehensive Review

Novel Food is a new category of food, regulated by the European Union Directive No. 2015/2283. This latter norm defines a food as "Novel" if it was not used "for human consumption to a significant degree within the Union before the date of entry into force of that regulation, namely 15 May 1997". Recently, Novel Foods have received increased interest from researchers worldwide. In this sense, the key areas of interest are the discovery of new benefits for human health and the exploitation of these novel sources of materials in new fields of application. An emerging area in the pharmaceutical and medicinal fields is nanotechnology, which deals with the development of new delivery systems at a nanometric scale. In this context, this review aims to summarize the recent advances on the design and characterization of nanodelivery systems based on materials belonging to the Novel Food list, as well as on nanoceutical products formulated for delivering compounds derived from Novel Foods. Additionally, the safety hazard of using nanoparticles in food products, i.e., food supplements, has been discussed in view of the current European regulation, which considers nanomaterials as Novel Foods.

Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Pain Effect of Ginsenoside-Conjugated O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan Particles

Nanoparticle delivery of functional molecules or vaccines is an effective method for the treatment of many diseases. This study aims to design ginsenoside Rh2-conjugated O-carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMC/Rh2) as a drug delivery system and explore its anti-nociceptive effects. O-CMC/Rh2 was synthesized with an esterification reaction, and its chemical composition and morphology were evaluated using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), the attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the in vitro cumulative release of Rh2 from the O-CMC/Rh2 was also evaluated under different pH conditions. The results showed that the ginsenoside Rh2 was successfully conjugated to the O-CMC matrix and exhibited a highly porous structure after conjugation, facilitating the release of Rh2 from O-CMC. Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and burn injury-induced pain models were used to evaluate the anti-nociceptive effects of O-CMC/Rh2 on inflammatory pain. O-CMC/Rh2 reduced CFA-induced pain hypersensitivity in a dose-dependent manner and had a longer analgesic effect than Rh2. In addition, O-CMC/Rh2 also relieved the chronic pain induced by bury injury. These results indicated that O-CMC/Rh2 could be useful in reducing inflammatory pain, thus possessing a potential medicinal application in pain therapy.

Fucoidan, a brown seaweed polysaccharide in nanodrug delivery

Fucoidan-a sulfated marine seaweed obtained from brown algae-has raised considerable interest in the scientific community over the last decade as it possesses a wide range of biological activities such as antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antithrombotic, anticarcinogenic, and immunoregulatory. This polysaccharide finds application as a drug delivery vehicle due to its non-cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Besides, nano biomedical systems have used this marine alga for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Fucoidan has been extensively studied for use in regenerative medicines, in wound healing, and for sustained drug delivery due to its large biodiversity, cost-effectiveness, and mild procedures for extraction and purification. However, the main concern that limits its application is the variance in its batch-to-batch extraction owing to species type, harvesting, and climatic factors. The current review encloses a compendious overview of the origin, chemical structure, and physicochemical and biological properties of fucoidan and its significant role in nanodrug delivery systems. Special emphasis is given to the recent advances in the use of native/modified fucoidan, its combination with chitosan and metal ions for nanodrug delivery applications, especially in cancer treatment. Additionally, use of fucoidan in human clinical trials as a complementary therapeutic agent is also reviewed.

Novel Fucoidan Pharmaceutical Formulations and Their Potential Application in Oncology-A Review

Fucoidan belongs to the family of marine sulfated, L-fucose-rich polysaccharides found in the cell wall matrix of various brown algae species. In the last few years, sulfated polysaccharides have attracted the attention of researchers due to their broad biological activities such as anticoagulant, antithrombotic, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, anticancer and antiproliferative effects. Recently the application of fucoidan in the field of pharmaceutical technology has been widely investigated. Due to its low toxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability, fucoidan plays an important role as a drug carrier for the formulation of various drug delivery systems, especially as a biopolymer with anticancer activity, used for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics in oncology. Furthermore, the presence of sulfate residues with negative charge in its structure enables fucoidan to form ionic complexes with oppositely charged molecules, providing relatively easy structure-forming properties in combination with other polymers. The aim of the present study was to overview essential fucoidan characteristics, related to its application in the development of pharmaceutical formulations as a single drug carrier or in combinations with other polymers. Special focus was placed on micro- and nanosized drug delivery systems with polysaccharides and their application in the field of oncology.

The Role of Seaweed Polysaccharides in Gastrointestinal Health: Protective Effect against Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a prominent global public health issue. Anti-inflammatory medications, immunosuppressants, and biological therapies are currently used as treatments. However, they are often unsuccessful and have negative consequences on human health. Thus, there is a tremendous demand for using natural substances, such as seaweed polysaccharides, to treat IBD's main pathologic treatment targets. The cell walls of marine algae are rich in sulfated polysaccharides, including carrageenan in red algae, ulvan in green algae, and fucoidan in brown algae. These are effective candidates for drug development and functional nutrition products. Algal polysaccharides treat IBD through therapeutic targets, including inflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules, intestinal epithelial cells, and intestinal microflora. This study aimed to systematically review the potential therapeutic effects of algal polysaccharides on IBD while providing the theoretical basis for a nutritional preventive mechanism for IBD and the restoration of intestinal health. The results suggest that algal polysaccharides have significant potential in complementary IBD therapy and further research is needed for fully understanding their mechanisms of action and potential clinical applications.

Advances in eggshell membrane separation and solubilization technologies

Eggshell membranes (ESM) contain 90% protein, 3% lipids, 2% sugars, and small amounts of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Of the 90% of proteins present, 472 proteins species have been identified. ESM provide the initial mineralization platform for eggshell formation, and can be used for to produce adsorbents, cosmetics, and medical products because of their special physical structure and chemical composition. The special physical structure of the eggshell membrane, with disulfide bonds between and within the protein molecules and the cross-linking of lysine-derived and heterochain chains between the eggshell membrane, makes the membrane very difficult to dissolve, with a maximum solubility rate of only 62%. Also, the insolubility of ESM limits its development and use also any related research. Based on the physical structure and chemical composition of the eggshell membrane, this paper reviews the latest research on eggshell membrane separation and membrane protein solubilization to provide a reference for promoting the separation, dissolution, and rational development and use of the avian eggshell membrane.

Fucoidan in Pharmaceutical Formulations: A Comprehensive Review for Smart Drug Delivery Systems

Fucoidan is a heterogeneous group of polysaccharides isolated from marine organisms, including brown algae and marine invertebrates. The physicochemical characteristics and potential bioactivities of fucoidan have attracted substantial interest in pharmaceutical industries in the past few decades. These polysaccharides are characterized by possessing sulfate ester groups that impart negatively charged surfaces, low/high molecular weight, and water solubility. In addition, various promising bioactivities have been reported, such as antitumor, immunomodulatory, and antiviral effects. Hence, the formulation of fucoidan has been investigated in the past few years in diverse pharmaceutical dosage forms to be able to reach their site of action effectively. Moreover, they can act as carriers for various drugs in value-added drug delivery systems. The current work highlights the attractive biopharmaceutical properties of fucoidan being formulated in oral, inhalable, topical, injectable, and other advanced formulations treating life-quality-affecting diseases. Therefore, the present work points out the current status of fucoidan pharmaceutical formulations for future research transferring their application from in vitro and in vivo studies to clinical application and market availability.

Nano-Sized Fucoidan Interpolyelectrolyte Complexes: Recent Advances in Design and Prospects for Biomedical Applications

The marine polysaccharide fucoidan (FUC) is a promising polymer for pharmaceutical research and development of novel drug delivery systems with modified release and targeted delivery. The presence of a sulfate group in the polysaccharide makes FUC an excellent candidate for the formation of interpolyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with various polycations. However, due to the structural diversity of FUC, the design of FUC-based nanoformulations is challenging. This review describes the main strategies for the use of FUC-based PECs to develop drug delivery systems with improved biopharmaceutical properties, including nanocarriers in the form of FUC-chitosan PECs for pH-sensitive oral delivery, targeted delivery systems, and polymeric nanoparticles for improved hydrophobic drug delivery (e.g., FUC-zein PECs, core-shell structures obtained by the layer-by-layer self-assembly method, and self-assembled hydrophobically modified FUC particles). The importance of a complex study of the FUC structure, and the formation process of PECs based on it for obtaining reproducible polymeric nanoformulations with the desired properties, is also discussed.

Oral Cell-Targeted Delivery Systems Constructed of Edible Materials: Advantages and Challenges

Cell-targeted delivery is an advanced strategy which can effectively solve health problems. However, the presence of synthetic materials in delivery systems may trigger side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to develop cell-targeted delivery systems with excellent biosafety. Edible materials not only exhibit biosafety, but also can be used to construct cell-targeted delivery systems such as ligands, carriers, and nutraceuticals. Moreover, oral administration is the appropriate route for cell-targeted delivery systems constructed of edible materials (CDSEMs), which is the same as the pattern of food intake, resulting in good patient compliance. In this review, relevant studies of oral CDSEMs are collected to summarize the construction method, action mechanism, and health impact. The gastrointestinal stability of delivery systems can be improved by anti-digestible materials. The design of the surface structure, shape, and size of carrier is beneficial to overcoming the mucosal barrier. Additionally, some edible materials show dual functions of a ligand and carrier, which is conductive to simplifying the design of CDSEMs. This review can provide a better understanding and prospect for oral CDSEMs and promote their application in the health field.

Mucoadhesive carriers for oral drug delivery

Among the various dosage forms, oral medicine has extensive benefits including ease of administration and patients' compliance, over injectable, suppositories, ocular and nasal. Despite of extensive demand and emerging advantages, over 50% of therapeutic molecules are not available in oral form due to their physicochemical properties. More importantly, most of the biologics, proteins, peptide, and large molecular drugs are mostly available in injectable form. Conventional oral drug delivery system has limitation such as degradation and lack of stability within stomach due to presence of highly acidic gastric fluid, hinders their therapeutic efficacy and demand more frequent and higher dosing. Hence, formulation for controlled, sustained, and targeted drug delivery, need to be designed with feasibility to target the specific region of gastrointestinal (GI) tract such as stomach, small intestine, intestine lymphatic, and colon is challenging. Among various oral delivery approaches, mucoadhesive vehicles are promising and has potential for improving oral drug retention and controlled absorption to treat local diseases within the GI tract, as well systemic diseases. This review provides the overview about the challenges and opportunities to design mucoadhesive formulation for oral delivery of therapeutics in a way to target the specific region of the GI tract. Finally, we have concluded with future perspective and potential of mucoadhesive formulations for oral local and systemic delivery.

Self-assembled polyelectrolyte complexes of chitosan and fucoidan for sustained growth factor release from PRP enhance proliferation and collagen deposition in diabetic mice

Diabetic wound management is a serious health care challenge due to higher rates of relapse, expensive treatment approaches, and poor healing outcomes. Among cell-based therapies, use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been shown to be effective for diabetic wounds, but its poor shelf-life limits its clinical use. Here, we demonstrate a simple but effective polymer system to increase the shelf-life of PRP by developing a polyelectrolyte complex with dropwise addition of chitosan solution containing PRP by simple mixing at room temperature. Thus, prepared chitosan-fucoidan (CF) carrier complex encapsulated more than 95% of the loaded PRP. The resulting CF/PRP colloids were spherical in shape and ensured extended PRP release up to 72 h at 37 °C. Routine characterization (FT-IR, XRD, SEM) showed the material properties. The biological assays showed that CF complexes were biocompatible while CF/PRP enhanced the proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes via higher Ki67 expression and fibroblast migration. Further investigations using a diabetic mouse model demonstrated significantly higher wound contraction and histopathological observations showed increased fibroblast migration, and collagen and cytokeratin deposition in treatment groups. The results are suggestive of the efficacy of CF/PRP as a cost-effective topical formulation for the sustained delivery of growth factors in treating chronic diabetic wounds.

Fucoidan-based nanomaterial and its multifunctional role for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications

Fucoidans are promising sulfated polysaccharides isolated from marine sources that have piqued the interest of scientists in recent years due to their widespread use as a bioactive substance. Bioactive coatings and films, unsurprisingly, have seized these substances to create novel, culinary, therapeutic, and diagnostic bioactive nanomaterials. The applications of fucoidan and its composite nanomaterials have a wide variety of food as well as pharmacological properties, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-thrombic, anti-coagulant, immunoregulatory, and anti-viral properties. Blends of fucoidan with other biopolymers such as chitosan, alginate, curdlan, starch, etc., have shown promising coating and film-forming capabilities. A blending of biopolymers is a recommended approach to improve their anticipated properties. This review focuses on the fundamental knowledge and current development of fucoidan, fucoidan-based composite material for bioactive coatings and films, and their biological properties. In this article, fucoidan-based edible bioactive coatings and films expressed excellent mechanical strength that can prolong the shelf-life of food products and maintain their biodegradability. Additionally, these coatings and films showed numerous applications in the biomedical field and contribute to the economy. We hope this review can deliver the theoretical basis for the development of fucoidan-based bioactive material and films.

Fucoidan-based nanoparticles: Preparations and applications

Nanoparticle-based therapy has gained much attention in the pharmaceutical industry. Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide naturally derived from marine brown algae and is widely used for medical applications. We explore preparation of fucoidan-based nanoparticles and their biomedical applications in the current review. The fucoidan-based nanoparticles have been synthesized using microwave, emulsion, solvent evaporation, green synthesis, polyelectrolyte self-assembly, precipitation, and ultrasonication methods. The synthesized nanoparticles have particle sizes ranging from 100 to 400 nm. Therefore, fucoidan-based nanoparticles have a variety of potential therapeutic applications, including drug delivery, cancer therapies, tissue engineering, antimicrobial applications, magnetic resonance imaging contrast, and atherothrombosis imaging. For example, fucoidan nanoparticles have been used to deliver curcumin, dextran, gentamicin, epigallocatechin gallate, and cisplatin for cancer therapies. Furthermore, fucoidan nanoparticles coupled with metal nanoparticles have been used to target and recognize clinical conditions for diagnostic purposes. Hence, fucoidan-based nanoparticles have been helpful for biomedical applications.

Eggshell membrane-mimicking multifunctional nanofiber for in-situ skin wound healing

Eggshell membrane is a naturally-occurring protective barrier layer for chickens' incubation and shows the close similarity with extracellular matrix. To fully explore and utilize its' structure and active components via a mimicking way will be of great interest for wounds healing. Herein, the well-dispersed CuS nanoparticles were prepared by using eggshell membranes as templates with strong near-infrared absorption and photothermal properties. Furthermore, the as-prepared solution was combined with polyvinyl pyrrolidone and chitosan-derived fluorescent carbon dots for the mimetic synthesis of multifunctional nanofibrous membrane by a hand-held electrospinning device, which has the merits of in-situ operation, the extracellular matrix (ECM)-like architecture, hemostatic, radical scavenging, antibacterial, as well as accelerated healing of skin injury, etc. The electrospun-nanofiber membrane with optimal addition of 100 mg/L CuS nanoparticles was confirmed to be noncytotoxic on human fibroblasts and showed strong antibacterial activities against S. aureus and E. coli under NIR irradiation (980 nm). In addition, the radical scavenging ability was also proved by DPPH experiments. The animal experiments revealed that the nanofiber membrane could accelerate the wound healing process. The work lays down a simple and environmentally-friendly approach for the fabrication and development of promising wound healing materials in skin tissue engineering applications.

Advances in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: Focus on polysaccharide nanoparticulate drug delivery systems

The complex pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) explains the several hurdles for finding an efficient approach to cure it. Nowadays, therapeutic protocols aim to reduce inflammation during the hot phase or maintain remission during the cold phase. Nonetheless, these drugs suffer from severe side effects or poor efficacy due to low bioavailability in the inflamed region of the intestinal tract. New protocols based on antibodies that target proinflammatory cytokines are clinically relevant. However, besides being expensive, their use is associated with a primary nonresponse or a loss of response following a long administration period. Accordingly, many researchers exploited the physiological changes of the mucosal barrier for designing nanoparticulate drug delivery systems to target inflamed tissues. Others exploited biocompatibility and relative affordability of polysaccharides to test their intrinsic anti-inflammatory and healing properties in IBD models. This critical review updates state of the art on advances in IBD treatment. Data on using polysaccharide nanoparticulate drug delivery systems for IBD treatment are reviewed and discussed.

Physicochemical properties of fucoidan and its applications as building blocks of nutraceutical delivery systems

Many bioactive ingredients with health effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective possess low bioavailability due to poor solubility and sensitivity. Fucoidan is an ideal material for encapsulating bioactive ingredients because of its unique physicochemical and biological properties, which can improve the function and application of bioactive ingredients. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of review about the physicochemical properties as well as functionalities of fucoidan and the application of fucoidan-based delivery systems in functional food. Hence, in this review, recent advances on the structure, chemical modification, physicochemical properties and biological activity of fucoidan are summarized. This review systematacially describes the recent update on the fucoidan as a wall material for delivering nutraceuticals with a broad discussion on various types of delivery systems ranging from nanoparticles, nanoparticle/bead complexes, emulsions, edible films, nanocapsules and hydrogels. Futhermore, the technical scientific issues of the application of fucoidan in the field of food are emphasized. On the basis of more comprehensive and deeper understandings, the review ends with a concluding remark on future directions of fucoidan-based delivery systems for purposes. Novel fucoidan-based delivery systems such as aerogels, Pickering emulsions, emulsion-filled-hydrogels, liposomes-in-fucoidan, co-delivery systems of bioactive igredients can be designed.

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Nanotherapeutic Approaches for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Oxidative stress, caused by the accumulation of reactive species, is associated with the initiation and progress of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The investigation of antioxidants to target overexpressed reactive species and modulate oxidant stress pathways becomes an important therapeutic option. Nowadays, antioxidative nanotechnology has emerged as a novel strategy. The nanocarriers have shown many advantages in comparison with conventional antioxidants, owing to their on-site accumulation, stability of antioxidants, and most importantly, intrinsic multiple reactive species scavenging or catalyzing properties. This review concludes an up-to-date summary of IBD nanomedicines according to the classification of the delivered antioxidants. Moreover, the concerns and future perspectives in this study field are also discussed.

Colon-targeted drug delivery of polysaccharide-based nanocarriers for synergistic treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: A review

Drugs such as immunosuppressants and glucocorticoids used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have certain troubling side effects. Polysaccharide-based nanocarriers with high safety and bioavailability are often used in the construction of colon-targeted drug nanodelivery systems (DNSs). It can help the drug resist the harsh environment of gastrointestinal tract, improve stability and concentrate on the intestinal inflammation regions as much as possible, which effectively reduces drug side effects and enhances its bioavailability. Certain polysaccharides, as prebiotics, can not only endow DNSs with the ability to target the colon based on enzyme responsive properties, but also cooperate with drugs to alleviate IBD due to its good anti-inflammatory activity and intestinal microecological regulation. The changes in the gastrointestinal environment of patients with IBD, the colon-targeted drug delivery process of polysaccharide-based nanocarriers and its synergistic treatment mechanism for IBD were reviewed. Polysaccharides used in polysaccharide-based nanocarriers for IBD were summarized.

Beneficial effect on rapid skin wound healing through carboxylic acid-treated chicken eggshell membrane

At the initial stage of wound healing, growth factors stimulate tissue regeneration by interacting with the extracellular matrix (ECM), leading to rapid wound repair and structural support. Chicken eggshell membrane (ESM) is a low-cost and highly functional ECM biomaterial for tissue regeneration. However, natural ESM has limitations for tissue engineering purposes because it is difficult to control the size, shape, and biocompatibility of the surfaces. To overcome this, blends of synthetic materials and natural ESMs, such as soluble eggshell membrane protein, are combined for biomaterial applications. Unfortunately, it is difficult to pattern fibrous structure. Here, we modified the natural chicken ESM through weak acid treatment to promote wound healing and skin regeneration without loss of fibrous structure. Treatment of citric acid and acetic acid reacted the amine or amide group with carboxyl groups (R-COOH) and achieved hydrophilicity for adherence of proliferating regenerative cells. Our in vitro study revealed that the modified ESM scaffolds significantly promoted human dermal fibroblasts adhesion, viability, proliferation, and cytokine secretion, compared with natural ESM. In addition, the modified ESM accelerated skin regeneration and enhanced the wound healing process even at early stages in an in vivo rat wound model. Collectively, the modified ESM performed best for promoting skin regeneration, cytokine secretion, epidermal cell proliferation, and controlling the inflammatory response both in vitro and in vivo.

Fucoidans and Bowel Health

Fucoidans are cell wall polysaccharides found in various species of brown seaweeds. They are fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs) and comprise 5-20% of the algal dry weight. Fucoidans possess multiple bioactivities, including antioxidant, anticoagulant, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-lipidemic, anti-metastatic, anti-diabetic and anti-cancer effects. Dietary fucoidans provide small but constant amounts of FCSPs to the intestinal tract, which can reorganize the composition of commensal microbiota altered by FCSPs, and consequently control inflammation symptoms in the intestine. Although the bioactivities of fucoidans have been well described, there is limited evidence to implicate their effect on gut microbiota and bowel health. In this review, we summarize the recent studies that introduce the fundamental characteristics of various kinds of fucoidans and discuss their potential in altering commensal microorganisms and influencing intestinal diseases.

Particle engineering principles and technologies for pharmaceutical biologics

The global market of pharmaceutical biologics has expanded significantly during the last few decades. Currently, pharmaceutical biologic products constitute an indispensable part of the modern medicines. Most pharmaceutical biologic products are injections either in the forms of solutions or lyophilized powders because of their low oral bioavailability. There are certain pharmaceutical biologic entities formulated into particulate delivery systems for the administration via non-invasive routes or to achieve prolonged pharmaceutical actions to reduce the frequency of injections. It has been well documented that the design of nano- and microparticles via various particle engineering technologies could render pharmaceutical biologics with certain benefits including improved stability, enhanced intracellular uptake, prolonged pharmacological effect, enhanced bioavailability, reduced side effects, and improved patient compliance. Herein, we review the principles of the particle engineering technologies based on bottom-up approach and present the important formulation and process parameters that influence the critical quality attributes with some mathematical models. Subsequently, various nano- and microparticle engineering technologies used to formulate or process pharmaceutical biologic entities are reviewed. Lastly, an array of commercialized products of pharmaceutical biologics accomplished based on various particle engineering technologies are presented and the challenges in the development of particulate delivery systems for pharmaceutical biologics are discussed.

Curcumin-laden dual-targeting fucoidan/chitosan nanocarriers for inhibiting brain inflammation via intranasal delivery

Curcumin can reduce the production of brain inflammatory mediators and symptoms of brain diseases. However, a large amount of free curcumin needs to be administered to achieve an effective level in the brain because of its poor water-solubility. Fucoidan and chitosan were reported to respectively target P-selectin and acidic microenvironment expressed by pathologically inflammatory cells/tissues. Herein, the self-assembly of chitosan and fucoidan which could encapsulate curcumin was developed to form the multi-stimuli-responsive nanocarriers, and their pathological pH- and P-selectin-responsive aspects were characterized. Through intranasal delivery to the brain, these curcumin-containing chitosan/fucoidan nanocarriers with dual pH-/P-selectin-targeting properties to the brain lesions improved drug delivery, distribution, and accumulation in the inflammatory brain lesions as evidenced by an augmented inhibitory effect against brain inflammation. This promising multifunctional nanocarrier with a novel drug-delivery route should allow potential clinical biomedical uses by neurosurgeon in the future.

Oil-in-water Pickering emulsion stabilization with oppositely charged polysaccharide particles: chitin nanocrystals/fucoidan complexes

BACKGROUND

Chitin nanocrystals (ChN) are insoluble particles that can be used as stabilizers for Pickering emulsions. Their unique cationic properties and antibacterial activity have generated considerable interest among researchers. However, ChN have remained largely underexplored. Furthermore, the droplets of the emulsions stabilized by ChN are as large as 10-100 μm, and their physical stability requires further improvement. Some studies have shown that the spontaneous reaction of oppositely charged particles can effectively stabilize the emulsions. Positively charged ChN and negatively charged fucoidan (F) were therefore compounded to stabilize Pickering emulsions, and the stability of these emulsions was analyzed qualitatively.

RESULTS

The results showed that the composite particles comprising two polysaccharides in a mass ratio of 1:1 and at a pH of 2 (ChN₁ -F₁ -pH 2) possessed the lowest sulfate content (20.1%) and almost zero potential (-3 mV), indicating a high degree of neutralization of the positively charged amino group in ChN and the negatively charged sulfate group in F. Meanwhile, ChN₁ -F₁ -pH 2 displayed a dense network structure that improved the dispersibility and wettability (contact angle = 9.3°). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results confirmed that ChN and F were effectively combined through electrostatic interaction or neutralization to produce a polyelectrolyte complex. Furthermore, the particle size of the Pickering emulsion stabilized by ChN-F was significantly reduced, and the maximum size did not exceed 10 μm; the physical and storage stability also improved. The ChN₁ -F₁ -pH 2 emulsion presented excellent storage stability; in particular, the emulsions stabilized by ChN₁ -F₁ -pH 5 and ChN₁ -F₁ -pH 6 exhibited excellent flocculation stabilities.

CONCLUSION

The size of the emulsion droplets stabilized by the oppositely charged polysaccharide particles (ChN-F complexes) reduced significantly. Furthermore, by changing the mass ratio and pH, the microstructure and binding degree of the complexes can be adjusted, thereby promoting their adsorption on the oil-water interface and improving the stability of the Pickering emulsion. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Oral delivery of micro/nanoparticulate systems based on natural polysaccharides for intestinal diseases therapy: Challenges, advances and future perspectives

Colon-targeted oral delivery of drugs remains as an appealing and promising approach for the treatment of prevalent intestinal diseases (ID), such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Notwithstanding, there are numerous challenges to effective drug delivery to the colon, which requires the design of advanced strategies. Micro- and nanoparticles have received great attention as colon-targeted delivery platforms due to their reduced size and structural composition that favors the accumulation and/or residence time of drugs at the site of action and/or absorption, contributing to localized therapy. The choice by natural polysaccharides imparts key properties and advantages to the nano-in-microparticulate systems to effective colon-specific oral delivery. This review proposes to discuss the physiological barriers imposed by the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) against oral administration of drugs, as well as pathological factors and challenges of the ID for oral delivery of colon-targeted systems. We then provide an updated progress about polysaccharides-based colon-targeted drug delivery systems, including microparticulate, nanoparticulate and nano-in-microparticulate systems, highlighting their key properties, advantages and limitations to achieving targeted delivery and efficacious therapy within the colon. Lastly, we provide future perspectives, towards advances in the field and clinical translation of colon-targeted oral delivery systems for ID therapy.

Current developments in the oral drug delivery of fucoidan

Fucoidan is well known to have various biological functions and is often investigated for pharmaceutical applications. Several studies have been conducted on clinical applications of fucoidan in recent years, especially regarding its oral drug delivery. Although fucoidan has shown promising results in various dosage forms, its potential applications as a dietary supplement have been demonstrated, and recent studies show that oral administration of fucoidan is preferred. However, the focus on the oral delivery of fucoidan in recent studies has caused its potency in therapy to be understudied. This review aims to provide results on the promising fucoidan activity by oral administration with in vivo studies. In addition to using it as an active ingredient, the utilization of fucoidan as an excipient in oral drug delivery systems will be discussed. An overview of fucoidan administration by oral delivery in recent promising studies will provide a direction for further investigations in clinical applications, particularly for fucoidan, which has a broad spectrum of bioactive properties.

Development and characterization of soybean protein isolate and fucoidan nanoparticles for curcumin encapsulation

Curcumin (Cur) is a natural polyphenol with beneficial biological and pharmacological activities; however, it has limited applications owing to its low solubility and light sensitivity. The protein-polysaccharide complex can effectively embed lipid-soluble drugs to increase their stability and dispensability in aqueous solutions. Soybean protein isolate (Spi) and fucoidan (Fuc) were used as a polymer matrix, and core-shell nanoparticles were prepared to encapsulate Cur via electrostatic interaction under acidic and neutral conditions. The structure of the Spi-Fuc nanoparticles was studied via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Concurrently, we evaluated the efficacy of the nanoparticles based on stability, drug loading rate, and simulated release. Our results showed that the Spi-Fuc nanoparticles (size, approximately 236.56 nm) had a spherical, core-shell structure and that they could effectively load Cur with an embedding efficiency of >95%; moreover, the system had long-term dispersion stability. Thus, we provide a simple method for Cur delivery, which can also be potentially used for delivering lipid-soluble active ingredients.

Intra-articular injection of anti-inflammatory peptide-loaded glycol chitosan/fucoidan nanogels to inhibit inflammation and attenuate osteoarthritis progression

Glycol chitosan/fucoidan nanogels loaded with anti-inflammatory peptide KAFAK (GC/Fu@KAFAK NGs) were fabricated based on the electrostatic interaction and genipin cross-linking methods. The prepared NGs had an average size of 286.3 ± 5.0 nm and positive surface charge of 14.0 ± 0.2 mV. The anti-inflammatory and chondro-protective effects of GC/Fu@KAFAK NGs were evaluated on interlecukin-1β (IL-1β)-stimulated rat chondrocytes. We found that GC/Fu@KAFAK NGs not only inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), but also enhanced the expression of chondrogenic markers type II collagen, aggrecan, and Sox9. More importantly, in rat osteoarthritis (OA) model, the intra-articular (IA) injection of GC/Fu@KAFAK NGs reduced glycosaminoglycan loss and diminished inflammatory cytokine release. In addition, GC/Fu@KAFAK NGs showed good biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, IA inject-able GC/Fu@KAFAK NGs might have great potential in OA treatment.

Extracts and Marine Algae Polysaccharides in Therapy and Prevention of Inflammatory Diseases of the Intestine

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a serious public health problem worldwide. Current therapeutic strategies that use anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, and biological treatments are often ineffective and have adverse health effects. In this regard, the use of natural compounds aimed at key pathogenic therapeutic targets in IBD attracts universal attention. Seaweed is a valuable source of structurally diverse biologically active compounds. The materials presented in the review indicate that seaweed extracts and polysaccharides are effective candidates for the development of drugs, biological food additives, and functional nutrition products for the treatment and prevention of IBD. The structural features of algal polysaccharides provide the possibility of exposure to therapeutic targets of IBD, including proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, nuclear factor NF-kB, intestinal epithelial cells, reactive oxygen and nitrogen. Further study of the relationship between the effect of polysaccharides from different types of algae, with different structure and molecular weights on immune and epithelial cells, intestinal microorganisms will contribute to a deeper understanding of their mechanisms and will help in the development of drugs, dietary supplements, functional foods for the treatment of patients with IBD.

Current Designs and Developments of Fucoidan-based Formulations for Cancer Therapy

BACKGROUND

Natural nanostructure materials have been involved in antitumor drug delivery systems due to their biocompatibility, biodegradation, and bioactive properties.

METHODS

These materials have contributed to advanced drug delivery systems in the roles of both bioactive compounds and delivery nanocarriers. Fucoidan, a valuable ocean material used in drug delivery systems, has been exploited in research on cancer and a variety of other diseases.

RESULTS

Although the uniqueness, structure, properties, and health benefits of fucoidan have been mentioned in various prominent reviews, current developments and designs of fucoidan-based formulations still need to be assessed to further develop an effective anticancer therapy. In this review, current important formulations using fucoidan as a functional material and as an anticancer agent will be discussed. This article will also provide a brief principle of the methods that incorporate functional nanostructure materials in formulations exploiting fucoidan.

CONCLUSION

Current research and future perspectives on the use of fucoidan in anticancer therapy will advance innovative and important products for clinical uses.

Marine Polysaccharides in Pharmaceutical Applications: Fucoidan and Chitosan as Key Players in the Drug Delivery Match Field

The use of marine-origin polysaccharides has increased in recent research because they are abundant, cheap, biocompatible, and biodegradable. These features motivate their application in nanotechnology as drug delivery systems; in tissue engineering, cancer therapy, or wound dressing; in biosensors; and even water treatment. Given the physicochemical and bioactive properties of fucoidan and chitosan, a wide range of nanostructures has been developed with these polysaccharides per se and in combination. This review provides an outline of these marine polysaccharides, including their sources, chemical structure, biological properties, and nanomedicine applications; their combination as nanoparticles with descriptions of the most commonly used production methods; and their physicochemical and biological properties applied to the design of nanoparticles to deliver several classes of compounds. A final section gives a brief overview of some biomedical applications of fucoidan and chitosan for tissue engineering and wound healing.

Therapies from Fucoidan: New Developments

Since our last review in 2015, the study and use of fucoidan has extended in several research areas. Clinical use of fucoidan for the treatment of renal disease has become available and human safety studies have been undertaken on radiolabeled fucoidan for the purpose of imaging thrombi. Fucoidan has been incorporated into an increasing number of commercially available supplements and topical treatments. In addition, new measuring techniques are now available to assess the biologically relevant uptake of fucoidans and to assist in production. Microbiome modulation and anti-pathogenic effects are increasingly promising applications for fucoidans, due to the need for alternative approaches to antibiotic use in the food chain. This review outlines promising new developments in fucoidan research, including potential future therapeutic use.