Nanoemulsion structure and food matrix determine the gastrointestinal fate and in vivo bioavailability of coenzyme Q10

Improved physicochemical stability of fish oil nanoemulsion via a dense interfacial layer formed by hyaluronic acid-poly(glyceryl)10-stearate

This study aimed to synthesize a novel emulsifier, hyaluronic acid-poly(glyceryl)10-stearate (HA-PG10-C18), and employ it for the fabrication of nanoemulsions incorporating deep-sea fish oil to improve their apparent solubility and physicochemical stability. 1H NMR and FT-IR analyses indicated successful synthesis of HA-PG10-C18. Nanoemulsions of deep-sea fish oil loaded with HA-PG10-C18 (HA-PG10-C18@NE) were successfully fabricated by ultrasonic emulsification. The fixed aqueous layer thickness (FALT) of PG10-C18@NE and HA-PG10-C18@NE was determined and the FALT of both nanoemulsions was similar, while the surface density of HA-PG10-C18@NE (4.92 × 10-12 ng/nm2) is 60 % higher than that of PG10-C18@NE (3.07 × 10-12 ng/nm2). Notably, HA-PG10-C18@NE demonstrated an exceptional physicochemical stability when exposed to various stressed environmental conditions, especially its freeze-thaw stability. Moreover, after simulated in vitro digestion, the HA-PG10-C18@NE exhibited a comparatively greater liberation of free fatty acids (94.0 ± 1.7 %) when compared to the release observed in PG10-C18@NE (85.5 ± 2.2 %).

Delivery of encapsulated bioactive compounds within food matrices to the digestive tract: recent trends and future perspectives

Encapsulation technologies have achieved encouraging results improving the stability, bioaccessibility and absorption of bioactive compounds post-consumption. There is a bulk of published research on the gastrointestinal behavior of encapsulated bioactive food materials alone using in vitro and in vivo digestion models, but an aspect often overlooked is the impact of the food structure, which is much more complex to unravel and still not well understood. This review focuses on discussing the recent findings in the application of encapsulated bioactive components in fabricated food matrices. Studies have suggested that the integration of encapsulated bioactive compounds has been proven to have an impact on the physicochemical characteristics of the finished product in addition to the protective effect of encapsulation on the fortified bioactive compound. These products containing bioactive compounds undergo further structural reorganization during digestion, impacting the release and emptying rates of fortified bioactive compounds. Thus, by manipulation of various food structures and matrices, the release and delivery of these bioactive compounds can be altered. This knowledge provides new opportunities for designing specialized foods for specific populations.

Advances in Nanotechnology for Enhancing the Solubility and Bioavailability of Poorly Soluble Drugs

This manuscript offers a comprehensive overview of nanotechnology's impact on the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, with a focus on BCS Class II and IV drugs. We explore various nanoscale drug delivery systems (NDDSs), including lipid-based, polymer-based, nanoemulsions, nanogels, and inorganic carriers. These systems offer improved drug efficacy, targeting, and reduced side effects. Emphasizing the crucial role of nanoparticle size and surface modifications, the review discusses the advancements in NDDSs for enhanced therapeutic outcomes. Challenges such as production cost and safety are acknowledged, yet the potential of NDDSs in transforming drug delivery methods is highlighted. This contribution underscores the importance of nanotechnology in pharmaceutical engineering, suggesting it as a significant advancement for medical applications and patient care.

Innovative Encapsulation Strategies for Food, Industrial, and Pharmaceutical Applications

Bioactive metabolites obtained from fruits and vegetables as well as many drugs have various capacities to prevent or treat various ailments. Nevertheless, their efficiency, in vivo, encounter many challenges resulting in lower efficacy as well as different side effects when high doses are used resulting in many challenges for their application. Indeed, demand for effective treatments with no or less unfavorable side effects is rising. Delivering active molecules to a particular site of action within the human body is an example of targeted therapy which remains a challenging field. Developments of nanotechnology and polymer science have great promise for meeting the growing demands of efficient options. Encapsulation of active ingredients in nano-delivery systems has become as a vitally tool for protecting the integrity of critical biochemicals, improving their delivery, enabling their controlled release and maintaining their biological features. Here, we examine a wide range of nano-delivery techniques, such as niosomes, polymeric/solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, and nano-emulsions. The advantages of encapsulation in targeted, synergistic, and supportive therapies are emphasized, along with current progress in its application. Additionally, a revised collection of studies was given, focusing on improving the effectiveness of anticancer medications and addressing the problem of antimicrobial resistance. To sum up, this paper conducted a thorough analysis to determine the efficacy of encapsulation technology in the field of drug discovery and development.

Succinylated starch emulsified Eugenol and Carvacrol nanoemulsions improved digestive stability, bio-accessibility and Salmonella typhimurium inhibition

The ultrasonically processed Eugenol (EU) and Carvacrol (CAR) nanoemulsions (NE) were successfully optimized via response surface methodology (RSM) to achieve broad spectrum antimicrobial efficacy. These NE were prepared using 2 % (w/w) purity gum ultra (i.e., succinylated starch), 10 % (v/v) oil phase, 80 % (800 W) sonication power, and 10 min of processing time as determined via RSM. The second order Polynomial method was suitable to RSM with a co-efficient of determination >0.90 and a narrow polydispersity index (PDI) ranging 0.12-0.19. NE had small droplet sizes (135.5-160 nm) and low volatility at high temperatures. The EU & CAR entrapment and heat stability (300 °C) confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Further, the volatility of EU & CAR NE was 18.18 ± 0.13 % and 12.29 ± 0.11 % respectively, being lower than that of bulk/unencapsulated EU & CAR (i.e., 23.48 ± 0.38 % and 19.11 ± 0.08 %) after 2 h at 90 °C. Interestingly, both EU & CAR NE showed sustained release behaviour till 48 h. Their digest could inhibit Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) via membrane disruption and access to cellular machinery as evident from SEM images. Furthermore, in-vivo bio-accessibility of EU & CAR in mice serum was up to 80 %. These cost-effective and short-processed EU/CAR NE have the potential as green preservatives for food industry.

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.

Influence of Poloxamer 188 on Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of Diclofenac-Loaded Nanoemulsion: Formulation, Optimization and in Vitro/in Vivo Evaluation

In this study, a polymer-stabilized nanoemulsion (PNE) was developed to improve the inflammatory and analgesic activities of diclofenac (DA). DA-PNEs were prepared from sesame oil and poloxamer 188 (P188), polysorbate 80, and span 80 as emulsifiers and optimized by a systematic multi-objective optimization method. The developed DA-PNEs exhibited thermodynamical stability with low viscosity. The mean diameter, PDI, surface charge, and entrapment efficiency of DA-PNEs were 122.49±3.42 nm, 0.226±0.08, -47.3 ± 3.6 mV, and 93.57±3.4 %, respectively. The cumulative in vitro release profile of DA-PNEs was significantly higher than the neat drug in simulated gastrointestinal fluids. The anti-inflammatory activities of DA-PNEs were evaluated in the λ-carrageenan-induced paw edema model. To investigate the effect of P188 on analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, a formulation without P188 was also prepared and named DA-NEs. Following oral administration, DA-PNEs showed a significantly higher (p<0.05) effect in reducing pain and inflammation symptoms as compared to free diclofenac and DA-NEs. Moreover, histopathological examination confirmed that DA-PNEs meaningfully reduced the extent of paw edema, comparable to that of DA. Taken together, the findings of the in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that diclofenac-loaded P188-stabilized nanoemulsion can be considered a potential drug delivery system for treating and controlling inflammatory disorders and alleviating pains.

The impact of differently structured starch gels on the gastrointestinal fate of a curcumin-containing nanoemulsion

In this study, we focused on the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of curcumin-nanoemulsion-loaded corn starch gels formed using starches with different amylose contents, i.e. waxy (WCS), normal (NCS) and high amylose (HACS) corn starches and their impact on the release and bioaccessibility of curcumin. Curcumin nanoemulsion (CNE) loading significantly increased the storage modulus of the WCS and NCS gels by interspersing in the gelatinized continuous phase, whereas it decreased in the HACS gel due to the formation of a weak network structure as a result of the incomplete gelatinized amylose granules. During the gastric digestion, the disintegration and emptying of the WCS + CNE gel from the stomach was the slowest compared to the other two gels. The changes in the stomach, influenced the emptying of total solids (HACS + CNE > NCS + CNE > WCS + CNE) into the gastric digesta, which further affected the rate of starch and lipid digestion during the intestinal phase. The HACS + CNE and NCS + CNE gels showed a higher and faster release of curcumin compared to the WCS + CNE gel that showed a slower and sustained release during the intestinal digestion. This study demonstrated that the oral-gastric digestion of these starch gels was more dependent on the gel structures rather than on the molecular properties of the starches. The dynamic gastric environment resulted in the formation of distinct gel structures, which significantly influenced the composition and microstructure of the emptied digesta, further affecting starch hydrolysis and curcumin bioaccessibility in the small intestine.

Factors affecting the fate of nanoencapsulates post administration

Nanoencapsulation has found numerous applications in the food and nutraceutical industries. Micro and nanoencapsulated forms of bioactives have proven benefits in terms of stability, release, and performance in the body. However, the encapsulated ingredient is often subjected to a wide range of processing conditions and this is followed by storage, consumption, and transit along the gastrointestinal tract. A strong understanding of the fate of nanoencapsulates in the biological system is mandatory as it provides valuable insights for ingredient selection, formulation, and application. In addition to their efficacy, there is also the need to assess the safety of ingested nanoencapsulates. Given the rising research and commercial focus of this subject, this review provides a strong focus on their interaction factors and mechanisms, highlighting their prospective biological fate. This review also covers various approaches to studying the fate of nanoencapsulates in the body. Also, with emphasis on the overall scope, the need for a new advanced integrated common methodology to evaluate the fate of nanoencapsulates post-administration is discussed.

Enhancement of the chemical stability of nanoemulsions loaded with curcumin by unsaturated mannuronate oligosaccharide

Unsaturated mannuronate oligosaccharide (MOS) is an acidic oligosaccharide prepared from alginate-derived polymannuronate by enzymatic depolymerization, followed by double bond formation between C-4 and C-5 at the nonreducing end. In this study, MOS was used as a stabilizer to fabricate O/W nanoemulsions loaded with curcumin (MOS-CUR) for the first time. The results revealed that the MOS-CUR showed small droplet sizes and narrow size distributions and was slightly more stable than normal oil-in-water (O/W) curcumin nanoemulsions (water-CUR). Additionally, MOS can improve the superoxide anion scavenging ability and iron ion reducing ability of the curcumin nanoemulsion system. Although the digestion behaviour of MOS-CUR and water-CUR was similar, the bioavailability of curcumin in MOS-CUR was significantly higher than that in water-CUR. All these results indicated that MOS could be used as a stabilizer for preparing nanoemulsions to easily encapsulate labile nutrients and to enhance the bioavailability and antioxidant capacity of these nutrients.

Hyaluronic Acid Poly(glyceryl)10-Stearate Derivatives: Novel Emulsifiers for Improving the Gastrointestinal Stability and Bioaccessibility of Coenzyme Q10 Nanoemulsions

Fish oils are a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, which are reported to exhibit therapeutic effects in a variety of human diseases. However, these oils are highly susceptible to degradation due to oxidation, leading to rancidity and the formation of potentially toxic reaction products. The aim of this study was to synthesize a novel emulsifier (HA-PG10-C18) by esterifying hyaluronic acid with poly(glyceryl)₁₀-stearate (PG10-C18). This emulsifier was then used to formulate nanoemulsion-based delivery systems to co-deliver fish oil and coenzyme Q10 (Q10). Q10-loaded fish oil-in-water nanoemulsions were fabricated, and then their physicochemical properties, digestibility, and bioaccessibility were measured. The results indicated that the environmental stability and antioxidant activity of oil droplets coated with HA-PG10-C18 surpassed those coated with PG10-C18 due to the formation of a denser interfacial layer that blocked metal ions, oxygen, and lipase. Meanwhile, the lipid digestibility and Q10 bioaccessibility of nanoemulsions formulated with HA-PG10-C18 (94.9 and 69.2%) were higher than those formulated with PG10-C18 (86.2 and 57.8%), respectively. These results demonstrated that the novel emulsifier synthesized in this study could be used to protect chemically labile fat-soluble substances from oxidative damage, while still retaining their nutritional value.

Green Routes for Bio-Fabrication in Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications

In the last decade, significant advances in nanotechnologies, rising from increasing knowledge and refining of technical practices in green chemistry and bioengineering, enabled the design of innovative devices suitable for different biomedical applications. In particular, novel bio-sustainable methodologies are developing to fabricate drug delivery systems able to sagely mix properties of materials (i.e., biocompatibility, biodegradability) and bioactive molecules (i.e., bioavailability, selectivity, chemical stability), as a function of the current demands for the health market. The present work aims to provide an overview of recent developments in the bio-fabrication methods for designing innovative green platforms, emphasizing the relevant impact on current and future biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

Development, application and future trends of starch-based delivery systems for nutraceuticals: A review

As a natural biopolymer, starch is ideally adapted as an encapsulant material for nutraceutical delivery systems due to its unique nature of extensive sources, versatility and high biocompatibility. This review offers an outline of recent advances in the development of starch-based delivery systems. The structure and functional properties of starch in encapsulating and delivering bioactive ingredients are first introduced. Structural modification of starch improves the functionalities and extends the applications of starch in novel delivery systems. Then, various nutraceutical delivery systems are systematically summarized, which include porous starch, starch particle, amylose inclusion complex, cyclodextrin, gel, edible film and emulsion. Next, the delivery process of nutraceuticals is discussed in two parts: digestion and release. Intestinal digestion plays an important role during the whole digestion process of starch-based delivery systems. Moreover, controlled release of bioactives can be achieved by porous starch, starch-bioactive complexation and core-shell structure. Finally, the challenges of the existing starch-based delivery systems are deliberated, and the directions for future research are pointed out. Composite delivery carriers, co-delivery, intelligent delivery, delivery in real food systems, and reuse of agricultural wastes may be the research trends for starch-based delivery systems in the future.

Inducing the structural interplay of binary pulse protein complex to stimulate the solubilization of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) protein isolate

Chickpea protein (CP) is an exceptional nutrient-dense pulse protein prevailing in the development of plant-based foods. However, its relatively low solubility, compared to other legume proteins, hinders the practical uses of CP in food matrix. To resolve this problem, pea protein (PP), another popular pulse protein, was co-assembled with CP to form a binary complex during the alkaline pH-shifting process. Results indicated that the complexed CP exhibited significantly increased solubility to that of the pristine protein (more than 50%), whose aqueous stability was also enhanced against different environmental stresses (pH, salt, heat/frozen treatment, and centrifugation). Structural and morphology analysis confirmed the interplay between unfolded CP and PP during pH shifting, which enabled their resistance to acid-induced structural over-folding. Our experiments that induce the co-assembling of two pulse proteins provide a novel routine and scientific basis for tailoring CP functionalities, as well as the formulation of pulse protein-based products.

Emulsion-Based Delivery Systems to Enhance the Functionality of Bioactive Compounds: Towards the Use of Ingredients from Natural, Sustainable Sources

In recent years, the trend in the population towards consuming more natural and sustainable foods has increased significantly. This claim has led to the search for new sources of bioactive compounds and extraction methods that have less impact on the environment. Moreover, the formulation of systems to protect these compounds is also focusing on the use of ingredients of natural origin. This article reviews novel, natural alternative sources of bioactive compounds with a positive impact on sustainability. In addition, it also contains information on the most recent studies based on the use of natural (especially from plants) emulsifiers in the design of emulsion-based delivery systems to protect bioactive compounds. The properties of these natural-based emulsion-delivery systems, as well as their functionality, including in vitro and in vivo studies, are also discussed. This review provides relevant information on the latest advances in the development of emulsion delivery systems based on ingredients from sustainable natural sources.

Assessment of lipid composition and eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid bioavailability in fish oil obtained through different enrichment methods

In this study, we analyzed the eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid (EPA/DHA) lipid composition of fish oil obtained through enzymatic treatment, fractional distillation and silica gel column purification, and further assessed EPA/DHA bioavailability. Lipid subclass composition information was obtained through ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS), and bioavailability tests were performed using the Caco-2 cell monolayer model. Results showed that enzymatic treatment improved the incorporation of EPA/DHA as diacylglycerol (DG) while silica gel column chromatography enriched the content of EPA/DHA as phosphatidylglycerol (PG) (12.58%) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) (4.99%). Furthermore, increasing the purity of EPA/DHA could improve its bioavailability and after 24 incubation, binding forms of triglyceride (TG) was superior to ethyl ester (EE) (p &lt; 0.05) at the same purity level. Those findings are helpful to provide research basis for exploring the bioactivity of fish oil.

Enhancing in vivo retinol bioavailability by incorporating β-carotene from alga Dunaliella salina into nanoemulsions containing natural-based emulsifiers

The use of microalgae as a source of bioactive compounds has gained interest since they present advantages vs higher plants. Among them, Dunaliella salina is one of the best sources of natural β-carotene, which is the precursor of vitamin A. However, β-carotene shows reduced oral bioavailability due to its chemical degradation and poor absorption. The work aimed to evaluate the influence of the emulsifier and oil concentration on the digestive stability of Dunaliella Salina-based nanoemulsions and study their influence on the digestibility and the β-carotene bioaccessibility. In addition, the effect of the emulsifier nature on the absorption of β-carotene and its conversion to retinol in vivo was also investigated. Results showed that the coalescence observed in soybean lecithin nanoemulsion during the gastrointestinal digestion reduced the digestibility and β-carotene bioaccessibility. In contrast, whey protein nanoemulsion that showed aggregation in the gastric phase could be redispersed in the intestinal phase facilitating the digestibility and bioaccessibility of the compound. In vivo results confirmed that whey protein nanoemulsion increased the bioavailability of retinol to a higher extent (C_max 685 ng/mL) than soybean lecithin nanoemulsion (C_max 394 ng/mL), because of an enhanced β-carotene absorption.

Impact of Recombined Milk Systems on Gastrointestinal Fate of Curcumin Nanoemulsion

Milk powder is an important ingredient in various foods and pediatric formulations. The textural and digestion properties of the formulations depend on the preheat treatment of the milk powder during manufacture. Thus, it is interesting to know how these modifications can influence on the release of fortified bioactive compounds during digestion with a milk matrix. In this study, a curcumin nanoemulsion was incorporated into milks reconstituted from low-heat, medium-heat and high-heat skim milk powders (SMPs) and the milks were subjected to semi dynamic in vitro digestion. All the recombined milk systems formed a curd under gastric conditions, which reduced the gastric emptying of protein and curcumin-loaded oil droplets. Because of the formation of heat-induced casein/whey protein complexes, the open fragmented curd formed by the high-heat-treated reconstituted powder resulted in higher protein and oil droplets emptying to the intestine and higher curcumin bioaccessibility. This study provides useful information for how protein ingredients can govern the fate of added health-promoting compounds during digestion.

Starch as a Matrix for Incorporation and Release of Bioactive Compounds: Fundamentals and Applications

Due to its abundance in nature and low cost, starch is one of the most relevant raw materials for replacing synthetic polymers in a number of applications. It is generally regarded as non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable and, therefore, a safe option for biomedical, food, and packaging applications. In this review, we focused on studies that report the use of starch as a matrix for stabilization, incorporation, or release of bioactive compounds, and explore a wide range of applications of starch-based materials. One of the key application areas for bioactive compounds incorporated in starch matrices is the pharmaceutical industry, especially in orally disintegrating films. The packaging industry has also shown great interest in using starch films, especially those with antioxidant activity. Regarding food technology, starch can be used as a stabilizer in nanoemulsions, thus allowing the incorporation of bioactive compounds in a variety of food types. Starch also presents potential in the cosmetic industry as a delivery system. However, there are still several types of industry that could benefit from the incorporation of starch matrices with bioactive compounds, which are described in this review. In addition, the use of microbial bioactive compounds in starch matrices represents an almost unexplored field still to be investigated.

Recent developments in industrial applications of nanoemulsions

Nanotechnology is being utilized in various industries to increase the quality, safety, shelf-life, and functional performance of commercial products. Nanoemulsions are thermodynamically unstable colloidal dispersions that consist of at least two immiscible liquids (typically oil and water), as well as various stabilizers (including emulsifiers, texture modifiers, ripening inhibitors, and weighting agents). They have unique properties that make them particularly suitable for some applications, including their small droplet size, high surface area, good physical stability, rapid digestibility, and high bioavailability. This article reviews recent developments in the formulation, fabrication, functional performance, and gastrointestinal fate of nanoemulsions suitable for use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and food industries, as well as providing an overview of regulatory and health concerns. Nanoemulsion-based delivery systems can enhance the water-dispersibility, stability, and bioavailability of hydrophobic bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, they must be carefully formulated to obtain the required functional attributes. In particular, the concentration, size, charge, and physical properties of the nano-droplets must be taken into consideration for each specific application. Before launching a nanoscale product onto the market, determination of physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles and their potential health and environmental risks should be evaluated. In addition, legal, consumer, and economic factors must also be considered when creating these systems.

A Revolutionary Blueprint for Mitigation of Hypertension via Nanoemulsion

Hypertension is one of the most important causes of mortality, affecting the health status of the patient. At the same time, hypertension causes a huge health and economic burden on the whole world. The incidence and prevalence of hypertension are rising even among young people in both urban as well as rural communities. Although various conventional therapeutic moieties are available for the management of hypertension, they have serious flaws such as hepatic metabolism, reduced dose frequency, poor aqueous solubility, reduced bioavailability, and increased adverse effects, making the drug therapy ineffective. Therefore, it is required to design a novel drug delivery system having the capability to solve the constraints associated with conventional treatment of hypertension. Nanotechnology is a new way of using and manipulating the matter at the molecular level, whose functional organization is measured in nanometers. The applications of nanotechnology in the field of medicine provide an alternative and novel direction for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and show excellent performance in the field of targeted drug therapy. Various nanotechnologies based drug delivery systems, such as solid lipid nanoparticles, nanosuspension, nanoemulsion, liposome, self-emulsifying systems, and polymeric nanoparticles, are available. Among them, nanoemulsion has provided a niche to supplement currently available therapeutic choices due to numerous benefits like stability, ease of preparation, enhanced drug absorption, reduced hepatic metabolism, increased dose frequency, enhanced bioavailability, and encapsulation of hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic drugs. This present review provides an in-depth idea about progression in treatment of hypertension, constraints for antihypertensive drug therapy, need of nanoemulsions to overcome these constraints, comparative analysis of nanoemulsions over other nanostructure drug delivery systems, pharmacodynamics studies of nanoemulsions for treatment of hypertension, recent patents for drug-loaded nanoemulsions meant for hypertension, and marketed formulations of nanoemulsions for hypertension.

Improved water dispersion and bioavailability of coenzyme Q10 by bacterial cellulose nanofibers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of bacterial cellulose nanofiber suspension (BCNs) as stabilizer in anti-solvent precipitation and its effect on improving bioavailability of coenzyme Q10. Bacterial cellulose (BC) was hydrolyzed by sulfuric acid followed by the oxidation with hydrogen peroxide to prepare BCNs. The suspension of BCNs-loaded CoQ10 (CoQ10-BCNs) were prepared by antisolvent precipitation. The zeta potential of CoQ10-BCNs was about -36.01 mV. The properties of CoQ10, BCNs and CoQ10-BCNs were studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and thermo gravimetric analysis. The crystallinity of CoQ10 decreased in CoQ10-BCNs compared with the raw CoQ10, and CoQ10-BCNs have good physicochemical stability. In oral bioavailability studies, the area under curve (AUC) of CoQ10-BCNs was about 3.62 times higher than the raw CoQ10 in rats.

Compositional, Structural, and Kinetic Aspects of Lipid Digestion and Bioavailability: In Vitro, In Vivo, and Modeling Approaches

Lipid digestion and bioavailability are usually investigated separately, using different approaches (in vitro, modeling, in vivo). However, a few inclusive studies show that their kinetics are closely linked. Lipid bioavailability kinetics is likely involved in the development and evolution of several diseases, so lipid digestion kinetics could be involved as well and can be modulated by food design or combination. To illustrate this possibility, the compositional and structural aspects of lipid digestion kinetics, as investigated using in vitro and modeling approaches, are presented first. Then, in vivo and mixed approaches enabling the study of both kinetics are reviewed and discussed. Finally, disparate modeling approaches are introduced, and a unifying modeling scheme is proposed, opening new perspectives for understanding the role and interactions of various factors (chemical, physical, and biological) involved in lipid metabolism.

Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, Volume 13 is March 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

In situ real time monitoring of emulsification and homogenization processes for vaccine adjuvants

Adjuvants are commonly employed to enhance the efficacy of a vaccine and thereby increase the resulting immune response in a patient. The activity and effectiveness of emulsion-based adjuvants has been heavily studied throughout pharmaceuticals; however, there exists a lack in research which monitors the formation of a stable emulsion in real time. Process analytical technology (PAT) provides a solution to meet this need. PAT involves the collection of in situ data, thereby providing real time information about the monitored process as well as increasing understanding of that process. Here, three separate PAT tools - optical particle imaging, in situ particle analysis, and Raman spectroscopy - were used to monitor two key steps involved in the formation of a stable emulsion product, emulsification and homogenization, as well as perform a stability assessment. The obtained results provided new insights-particle size decreases during emulsification and homogenization, and molecular changes do not occur during either the emulsification or homogenization steps. Further, the stability assessment indicated that the coarse emulsion product obtained from the emulsification step is stable over the course of 24 hours when mixed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an analytical methodology for in situ, real time analysis of emulsification and homogenization processes for vaccine adjuvants. Using our proposed analytical methodology, an improved understanding of emulsion-based vaccine adjuvants can now be achieved, ultimately impacting the ability to develop and deliver successful pharmaceuticals.

Water Behavior of Aerogels Obtained from Chemically Modified Potato Starches during Hydration

Aerogels are highly porous materials that are prepared by removing water held within a hydrogel in a manner that maintains the three-dimensional structure of the gel. Recently, there has been much interest in the preparation of aerogels from biopolymers, including starch. The applicability of native starches in the food industry is partially limited; therefore, the functional properties of starch are often improved by means of physical and/or chemical modification. The aim of the work was the analysis of molecular dynamics and the transport of water in aerogels obtained from native and chemically modified potato starches of the normal and waxy variety. Chemical modification with OSA (E 1450) as well as cross-linking with adipic anhydrite and acetylation (E 1422) had no significant impact on the hydration of potato starch aerogels as well as equilibrium water activity. The introduction of chemical moieties into starch macromolecules led to the improved binding of water by the biopolymer matrix; this was especially evident in the case of waxy starch derivatives. A increase in the amylopectin-to-amylose ratio of starch used for production of aerogels resulted in a decrease of equilibrium water activity along with spin-lattice relaxation time.

Recent Innovations in Emulsion Science and Technology for Food Applications

Emulsion technology has been used for decades in the food industry to create a diverse range of products, including homogenized milk, creams, dips, dressings, sauces, desserts, and toppings. Recently, however, there have been important advances in emulsion science that are leading to new approaches to improving food quality and functionality. This article provides an overview of a number of these advanced emulsion technologies, including Pickering emulsions, high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs), nanoemulsions, and multiple emulsions. Pickering emulsions are stabilized by particle-based emulsifiers, which may be synthetic or natural, rather than conventional molecular emulsifiers. HIPEs are emulsions where the concentration of the disperse phase exceeds the close packing limit (usually >74%), which leads to novel textural properties and high resistance to gravitational separation. Nanoemulsions contain very small droplets (typically d < 200 nm), which leads to useful functional attributes, such as high optical clarity, resistance to gravitational separation and aggregation, rapid digestion, and high bioavailability. Multiple emulsions contain droplets that have smaller immiscible droplets inside them, which can be used for reduced-calorie, encapsulation, and delivery purposes. This new generation of advanced emulsions may lead to food and beverage products with improved quality, health, and sustainability.

Application of Advanced Emulsion Technology in the Food Industry: A Review and Critical Evaluation

The food industry is one of the major users of emulsion technology, as many food products exist in an emulsified form, including many dressings, sauces, spreads, dips, creams, and beverages. Recently, there has been an interest in improving the healthiness, sustainability, and safety of foods in an attempt to address some of the negative effects associated with the modern food supply, such as rising chronic diseases, environmental damage, and food safety concerns. Advanced emulsion technologies can be used to address many of these concerns. In this review article, recent studies on the development and utilization of these advanced technologies are critically assessed, including nanoemulsions, high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs), Pickering emulsions, multilayer emulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), multiple emulsions, and emulgels. A brief description of each type of emulsion is given, then their formation and properties are described, and finally their potential applications in the food industry are presented. Special emphasis is given to the utilization of these advanced technologies for the delivery of bioactive compounds.

Improving solubility and stability of β-carotene by microencapsulation in soluble complexes formed with whey protein and OSA-modified starch

In this study, a soluble complex formed between 0.5% (w/v) heated whey protein isolate (HWPI) and 5% (w/v) octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified starch at pH 4.5 was used to encapsulate β-carotene for improving its solubility and stability. The apparent aqueous solubility of β-carotene was increased markedly (264.05 ± 72.53 μg/mL) after encapsulation in the soluble complex. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the effect of the encapsulation of β-carotene on the structure of the soluble complex. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the characteristic peaks of β-carotene disappeared in the soluble complex, suggesting that β-carotene may have been encapsulated into the soluble complex via hydrophobic interactions. X-ray diffraction indicated that the β-carotene was in an amorphous form within the soluble complex. An accelerated stability test showed that the soluble complex could effectively improve the chemical stability of β-carotene during long-term storage under low pH conditions.