In vivo application of chitosan to improve bioavailability of cyanocobalamin, a form of vitamin B12, following intraintestinal administration in rats

Biomimetic zwitterionic copolymerized chitosan as an articular lubricant

Restoration of the lubrication functions of articular cartilage is an effective treatment to alleviate the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Herein, we fabricated chitosan-block-poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (CS-b-pSBMA) copolymer via a free radical polymerization of sulfobetaine methacrylate onto activated chitosan segment, structurally mimicking the lubricating biomolecules on cartilage. The successful copolymerization of CS-b-pSBMA was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. Friction test confirmed that the CS-b-pSBMA copolymer could achieve an excellent lubrication effect on artificial joint materials such as Ti6Al4V alloy with a coefficient of friction as low as 0.008, and on OA-simulated cartilage, better than the conventional lubricant hyaluronic acid, and the adsorption effect of lubricant on cartilage surface was proved by a fluorescence labeling experiment. In addition, CS-b-pSBMA lubricant possessed an outstanding stability, which can withstand enzymatic degradation and even a long-term storage up to 4 weeks. In vitro studies showed that CS-b-pSBMA lubricant had a favorable antibacterial activity and good biocompatibility. In vivo studies confirmed that the CS-b-pSBMA lubricant was stable and could alleviate the degradation process of cartilage in OA mice. This biomimetic lubricant is a promising articular joint lubricant for the treatment of OA and cartilage restoration.

Investigation of the potential of Glycyrrhiza glabra as a bioavailability enhancer of Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent among individuals globally. Inadequate consumption of B12 rich diet and low bioavailability (due to diet based/physiological factors) are linked to the deficiency of Vitamin B12 inside the body. Bioavailability enhancers augment the bioavailability of an ingested substance (drug/nutrient) thus increasing their concentration inside the body and maximizing their therapeutic benefits. In traditional medicine, Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) finds utility in the treatment of various health conditions. Thus, the present study aimed to examine the potential of ethanolic extract obtained from G. glabra roots to enhance the bioavailability of Vitamin B12. The effect of ethanolic extract of G. glabra (GgEtOH) on intestinal absorption enhancement of B12 was assessed in vitro on Caco-2 and ex-vivo everted gut sac models. The influence of extract on the pharmacokinetics of Vitamin B12 was determined in vivo in Swiss albino mice. GgEtOH significantly enhanced the permeation (Papp) of B12 by 2-5 fold in vitro (25, 50, and 100 μg/ml concentrations) and ex-vivo (250 and 500 μg/ml concentrations). The pharmacokinetic parameters of B12 such as Cmax, AUC, Tmax, etc. were also significantly elevated in vivo upon oral administration of B12 (1 mg/kg dose) in combination with GgEtOH (100 and 1,000 mg/kg dose). These preliminary findings indicate that the ethanolic extract of G. glabra is capable of enhancing the bioavailability of Vitamin B12. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate herbal extract-mediated enhancement of Vitamin B12 bioavailability through in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo assays.

Electrohydrodynamic Processing of Potato Protein into Particles and Fibers

Potato protein particles and fibers were produced using electrohydrodynamic processing (electrospray and electrospinning). The effect of different solvents and protein concentration on the morphology of the potato protein particles and fibers was investigated. Electrosprayed particles with average diameters ranging from 0.3 to 1.4 µm could be obtained using water and mixtures of water: ethanol (9:1) and water:glycerol (9:1). Electrosprayed particles were also obtained using the solvent hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) at a protein concentration of 5% wt/v. For protein concentrations above 10% wt/v, using HFIP, electrospun fibers were produced. The release of vitamin B12, as a model bioactive compound, from potato protein electrospun fibers, was also investigated, demonstrating their potential to be utilized as encapsulation and delivery systems.

Encapsulation in food industry with emerging electrohydrodynamic techniques: Electrospinning and electrospraying - A review

Nowadays the world population has been more conscious about healthy food products based on bioactive ingredients in order to protect against diseases and to develop healthy diets. Emerging electrohydrodynamic techniques have been object of interest in the scientific community as well as in the industry. In fact, electrospinning and electrospraying methods are promising techniques to fabricate delivery vehicles. These vehicles present structural and functional benefits for encapsulation of bioactive ingredients. They can be used in several food and nutraceutical matrices, protecting the ingredients from environmental conditions. They can also enhance biomolecules bioavailability and controlled release, at the same time that improve the product's shelf life. This review provides the recent state of art for electrospinning/electrospraying techniques. It highlights the crucial parameters that influence these techniques. Further, the recent studies of vitamins encapsulation for applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals fields are summarized. Electrosprayed particles/electrospun fibres are easily produced and present suitable physico-chemical characteristics to encapsulate bioactives to improve the functional foods.

Methods to assess vitamin B12 bioavailability and technologies to enhance its absorption

Vitamin B12 (B-12) deficiency is still relatively common in low-, medium-, and high-income countries, mainly because of dietary inadequacy and, to a lesser extent, malabsorption. This narrative review is based on a systematic search of evidence on methods to assess B-12 bioavailability and technologies to enhance its absorption. A total of 2523 scientific articles identified in PubMed and 1572 patents identified in Orbit Intelligence were prescreened. Among the reviewed methods, Schilling's test and/or its food-based version (using cobalamin-labeled egg yolk) were used for decades but have been discontinued, largely because they required radioactive cobalt. The qualitative CobaSorb test, based on changes in circulating holo-transcobalamin before and after B-12 administration, and the 14C-labeled B-12 test for quantitative measurement of absorption of a low-dose radioactive tracer are currently the best available methods. Various forms of B-12 co-formulated with chemical enhancers (ie, salcaprozate sodium, 8-amino caprylate) or supplied via biotechnological methods (ie, microbiological techniques, plant cells expressing cobalamin binding proteins), encapsulation techniques (ie, emulsions, use of chitosan particles), and alternative routes of administration (ie, intranasal, transdermal administration) were identified as potential technologies to enhance B-12 absorption in humans. However, in most cases the evidence of absorption enhancement is limited.

Encapsulation of Bioactive Compound in Electrospun Fibers and Its Potential Application

Electrospinning is a simple and versatile encapsulation technology. Since electrospinning does not involve severe conditions of temperature or pressure or the use of harsh chemicals, it has great potential for effectively entrapping and delivering bioactive compounds. Recently, electrospinning has been used in the food industry to encapsulate bioactive compounds into different biopolymers (carbohydrates and proteins), protecting them from adverse environmental conditions, maintaining the health-promoting properties, and achieving their controlled release. Electrospinning opens a new horizon in food technology with possible commercialization in the near future. This review summarizes the principles and the types of electrospinning processes. The electrospinning of biopolymers and their application in encapsulating of bioactive compounds are highlighted. The existing scope, limitations, and future prospects of electrospinning bioactive compounds are also presented.

Nanoparticles based on phenylalanine ethyl ester-alginate conjugate as vitamin B2 delivery system

Phenylalanine ethyl ester (PAE)-alginate (Alg) conjugate (PAE-Alg, PEA) was synthesized and formation of an amide bond between PAE and Alg was confirmed by Fourier transformed-infrared and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The degree of PAE substitution was 3.5-4.7 (PAE group per hundred sugar residues of Alg) which was determined by elemental analysis. The critical aggregation concentration values determined for PEA conjugates PEA1, PEA2, and PEA3 were 0.20, 0.12, and 0.10 mg/ml, respectively. The particle size of PEA nanoparticles (PEA-NPs) decreased from 425 nm to 226 nm with the increasing degree of PAE substitution. Vitamin B2 (VB2), as a model nutrient, was encapsulated into the nanoparticles. The drug-loading content increased with increasing degree of PAE substitution. The maximum VB2 loading capacity and loading efficiency of PEA3 nanoparticles were 3.53 ± 0.03% and 91.48 ± 0.80%, respectively. The in vitro release behavior of VB2 from the PEA-NPs showed a biphasic release profile with an initial burst release of about 40-50% of VB2 in the first 10 h followed by a steady and continuous release phase for the following 50 h in PBS, pH 7.4. The human colorectal carcinoma cell line was used to investigate the cytotoxicity of PEA-NPs. Our results showed that various concentrations of nanoparticles did not cause significant cytotoxicity against cell lines at normal concentrations.

Neuregulin 1 Promotes Glutathione-Dependent Neuronal Cobalamin Metabolism by Stimulating Cysteine Uptake

Neuregulin 1 (NRG-1) is a key neurotrophic factor involved in energy homeostasis and CNS development, and impaired NRG-1 signaling is associated with neurological disorders. Cobalamin (Cbl), also known as vitamin B12, is an essential micronutrient which mammals must acquire through diet, and neurologic dysfunction is a primary clinical manifestation of Cbl deficiency. Here we show that NRG-1 stimulates synthesis of the two bioactive Cbl species adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl) and methylcobalamin (MeCbl) in human neuroblastoma cells by both promoting conversion of inactive to active Cbl species and increasing neuronal Cbl uptake. Formation of active Cbls is glutathione- (GSH-) dependent and the NRG-1-initiated increase is dependent upon its stimulation of cysteine uptake by excitatory amino acid transporter 3 (EAAT3), leading to increased GSH. The stimulatory effect of NRG-1 on cellular Cbl uptake is associated with increased expression of megalin, which is known to facilitate Cbl transport in ileum and kidney. MeCbl is a required cofactor for methionine synthase (MS) and we demonstrate the ability of NRG-1 to increase MS activity, and affect levels of methionine methylation cycle metabolites. Our results identify novel neuroprotective roles of NRG-1 including stimulating antioxidant synthesis and promoting active Cbl formation.