Effect of high pressure homogenization on physicochemical properties of curcumin nanoparticles prepared by antisolvent crystallization using HPMC or PVP

Recent progress on Pickering emulsion stabilized essential oil added biopolymer-based film for food packaging applications: A review

Nowadays food safety and protection are a growing concern for food producers and food industry. The stability of food-grade materials is key in food processing and shelf life. Pickering emulsions (PEs) have gained significant attention in food regimes owing to their stability enhancement of food specimens. PE can be developed by high and low-energy methods. The use of PE in the food sector is completely safe as it uses solid biodegradable particles to stabilize the oil in water and it also acts as an excellent carrier of essential oils (EOs). EOs are useful functional ingredients, the inclusion of EOs in the packaging film or coating formulation significantly helps in the improvement of the shelf life of the packed food item. The highly volatile nature, limited solubility and ease of oxidation in light of EOs restricts their direct use in packaging. In this context, the use of PEs of EOs is suitable to overcome most of the challenges, Therefore, recently there have been many papers published on PEs of EOs including active packaging film and coatings and the obtained results are promising. The current review amalgamates these studies to inform about the chemistry of PEs followed by types of stabilizers, factors affecting the stability and different high and low-energy manufacturing methods. Finally, the review summarizes the recent advancement in PEs-added packaging film and their application in the enhancement of shelf life of food.

Antisolvent fabrication of monodisperse liposomes using novel ultrasonic microreactors: Process optimization, performance comparison and intensification effect

Liposomes as drug carriers for the delivery of therapeutic agents have triggered extensive research but it remains a grand challenge to develop a novel technology for enabling rapid and mass fabrication of monodisperse liposomes. In this work, we constructed a novel ultrasonic microfluidic technology, namely ultrasonic microreactor (USMR) with two different conjunction structure (co-flow and impinge flow, corresponding to USMR-CF and USMR-IF, respectively), to prepare uniform liposomes by antisolvent precipitation method. In this process, the monodisperse liposomes with tunable droplet sizes (DS) in 60-100 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) less than 0.1 can easily be achieved by tuning the total flow rate, flow rate ratio, ultrasonic power, and lipid concentration within the two USMRs. Impressively, the USMR-IF is superior for reducing the PDI and tuning DS of the liposomes over the USMR-CF. More importantly, the ultrasonic can effectively reduce DS and PDI at the low TFR and support the IF-micromixer in reducing the PDI even at a high TFR. These remarkable performances are mainly due to the rapid active mixing, fouling-free property and high operation stability for USMR-IF. In addition, diverse lipid formulations can also be uniformly assembled into small liposomes with narrow distribution, such as the prepared HSPC-based liposome with DS of 59.6 nm and PDI of 0.08. The liposomes show a high stability and the yield can reach a high throughput with 108 g/h by using the USMR-IF at an initial lipid concentration of 60 mM. The results in the present work highlight a novel ultrasonic microfluidic technology in the preparation of liposomes and may pave an avenue for the rapid, fouling-free, and high throughput fabrication of different and monodisperse nanomedicines with controllable sizes and narrow distribution.

Development of Large Hollow Particles for Pulmonary Delivery of Cyclosporine A

The purpose of this study was to prepare large hollow particles (LHPs) by spray drying for pulmonary delivery of cyclosporine A (CsA), using L-Leucine (LEU) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as excipients and ammonium bicarbonate (AB) as a porogen. The prepared LHPs were spherical particles composed of both CsA and LEU on the surface and HPMC on the inner layer. The formulation of CsA-LEU-0.8HPMC-AB as typical LHPs showed excellent in vitro aerodynamic performance with a minimum mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 1.15 μm. The solubility of CsA-LEU-0.8HPMC-AB was about 5.5-fold higher than that of raw CsA, and the dissolution of CsA-LEU-0.8HPMC-AB suggested that the drug was released within 1 h. The cell viability of the A549 cell line showed that CsA-LEU-0.8HPMC-AB was safe for delivering CsA to the lungs. In addition, inhalation administration of CsA-LEU-0.8HPMC-AB with the Cmax and AUC0-∞ increasing by about 2-fold and 2.8-fold compared with the oral administration of Neoral® could achieve therapeutic drug concentrations with lower systemic exposure and significantly improve the in vivo bioavailability of CsA. From these findings, the LHPs, with the advantage of avoiding alveolar macrophage clearance, could be a viable choice for delivering CsA by inhalation administration relative to oral administration.

Melanin Nanoparticles Obtained from Preformed Recombinant Melanin by Bottom-Up and Top-Down Approaches

Melanin is an insoluble, amorphous polymer that forms planar sheets that aggregate naturally to create colloidal particles with several biological functions. Based on this, here, a preformed recombinant melanin (PRM) was utilized as the polymeric raw material to generate recombinant melanin nanoparticles (RMNPs). These nanoparticles were prepared using bottom-up (nanocrystallization-NC, and double emulsion-solvent evaporation-DE) and top-down (high-pressure homogenization-HP) manufacturing approaches. The particle size, Z-potential, identity, stability, morphology, and solid-state properties were evaluated. RMNP biocompatibility was determined in human embryogenic kidney (HEK293) and human epidermal keratinocyte (HEKn) cell lines. RMNPs prepared by NC reached a particle size of 245.9 ± 31.5 nm and a Z-potential of -20.2 ± 1.56 mV; 253.1 ± 30.6 nm and -39.2 ± 0.56 mV compared to that obtained by DE, as well as RMNPs of 302.2 ± 69.9 nm and -38.6 ± 2.25 mV using HP. Spherical and solid nanostructures in the bottom-up approaches were observed; however, they were an irregular shape with a wide size distribution when the HP method was applied. Infrared (IR) spectra showed no changes in the chemical structure of the melanin after the manufacturing process but did exhibit an amorphous crystal rearrangement according to calorimetric and PXRD analysis. All RMNPs presented long stability in an aqueous suspension and resistance to being sterilized by wet steam and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Finally, cytotoxicity assays showed that RMNPs are safe up to 100 μg/mL. These findings open new possibilities for obtaining melanin nanoparticles with potential applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, diagnosis, and sun protection, among others.

Updates on applications of low-viscosity grade Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose in coprocessing for improvement of physical properties of pharmaceutical powders

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is an important polymeric excipient. Its versatility in terms of molecular weights and viscosity grades is the basis for its wide and successful application in the pharmaceutical industry. Low viscosity grades of HPMC (like E3 and E5) have been used as physical modifiers for pharmaceutical powders in recent years due to their unique physicochemical and biological properties (e.g., low surface tension, high T_g, strong hydrogen bonding ability, etc.). Such modification is the co-processing of HPMC with a drug/excipient to create composite particles (CPs) for the purpose of providing synergistic effects of functional improvement as well as of masking undesirable properties of the powder (e.g., flowability, compressibility, compactibility, solubility, stability, etc.). Therefore, given its irreplaceability and tremendous opportunities for future developments, this review summarized and updated studies on improving the functional properties of drugs and/or excipients by forming CPs with low-viscosity HPMC, analyzed and exploited the improvement mechanisms (e.g., improved surface properties, increased polarity, hydrogen bonding, etc.) for the further development of novel co-processed pharmaceutical powders containing HPMC. It also provides an outlook on the future applications of HPMC, aiming to provide a reference on the crucial role of HPMC in various areas for interested readers.

Fortification by design: A rational approach to designing vitamin D delivery systems for foods and beverages

Over the past few decades, vitamin D deficiency has been recognized as a serious global public health challenge. The World Health Organization has recommended fortification of foods with vitamin D, but this is often challenging because of its low water solubility, poor chemical stability, and low bioavailability. Studies have shown that these challenges can be overcome by encapsulating vitamin D within well-designed delivery systems containing nanoscale or microscale particles. The characteristics of these particles, such as their composition, size, structure, interfacial properties, and charge, can be controlled to attain desired functionality for specific applications. Recently, there has been great interest in the design, production, and application of vitamin-D loaded delivery systems. Many of the delivery systems reported in the literature are unsuitable for widespread application due to the complexity and high costs of the processing operations required to fabricate them, or because they are incompatible with food matrices. In this article, the concept of "fortification by design" is introduced, which involves a systematic approach to the design, production, and testing of colloidal delivery systems for the encapsulation and fortification of oil-soluble vitamins, using vitamin D as a model. Initially, the challenges associated with the incorporation of vitamin D into foods and beverages are reviewed. The fortification by design concept is then described, which involves several steps: (i) selection of appropriate vitamin D form; (ii) selection of appropriate food matrix; (iii) identification of appropriate delivery system; (iv) identification of appropriate production method; (vii) establishment of appropriate testing procedures; and (viii) system optimization.

Supercritical CO2 versus water as an antisolvent in the crystallization process to enhance dissolution rate of curcumin

Antisolvent crystallization approach using either water (in conventional crystallization process (WAS)), or supercritical CO₂ (in supercritical anti-solvent crystallization (SCAS)), was employed in presence of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) to enhance the dissolution of curcumin. The impact of pressure, temperature and depressurization time on the SCAS process was studied using the Box-Behnken design to achieve the highest saturation solubility. A physical mixture of curcumin-HPMC was prepared for comparison purposes. Saturation solubility, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were conducted to characterize the solid-state characteristics of the crystallized samples. Dissolution studies helped in ascertaining the effects of the crystallization techniques on the performance of the formulation. Curcumin crystalized by different antisolvent displayed varied shapes, sizes, saturation solubility's and dissolution properties. In SCAS process, the maximum saturation solubility (2.83 µg/mL) was obtained when the pressure, temperature and depressurization time were 275 bars, 55 °C, and 22 min respectively. The SCAS samples showed the highest dissolution (70%) in 30 min compared to WAS (27%), physical mixture (18%) and unprocessed curcumin (16%). The improved dissolution rate of SCAS sample originates from the development of sponge-like particles with augmented porosity, decreased crystallinity as well as increased solubility of curcumin.

Characterization, Stability, and Antibrowning Effects of Oxyresveratrol Cyclodextrin Complexes Combined Use of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Oxyresveratrol (Oxy) has attracted much attention by employing it as an antibrowning agent in fruits and vegetables. In this study, the formation of cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion exhibited a certain protective effect on Oxy oxidative degradation, while hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP–β-CD) inclusion complex showed stronger stabilizing effects than those of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The combined use of CD and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) greatly improved the stability of Oxy–CD inclusion complexes, with approximately 70% of the trans-Oxy retained after 30 days of storage under light conditions at 25 °C. The results of the interaction between CD and Oxy determined by phase solubility studies and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis showed that the binding strength of CD and Oxy increased in the presence of HPMC. Moreover, Oxy combined with ascorbic acid and HPMC showed an excellent antibrowning effect on fresh-cut apple slices during the 48 h test period, indicating that adding HPMC as the third component will not influence the antibrowning activity of Oxy.

Activity of Povidone in Recent Biomedical Applications with Emphasis on Micro- and Nano Drug Delivery Systems

Due to the unwanted toxic properties of some drugs, new efficient methods of protection of the organisms against that toxicity are required. New materials are synthesized to effectively disseminate the active substance without affecting the healthy cells. Thus far, a number of polymers have been applied to build novel drug delivery systems. One of interesting polymers for this purpose is povidone, pVP. Contrary to other polymeric materials, the synthesis of povidone nanoparticles can take place under various condition, due to good solubility of this polymer in several organic and inorganic solvents. Moreover, povidone is known as nontoxic, non-carcinogenic, and temperature-insensitive substance. Its flexible design and the presence of various functional groups allow connection with the hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. It is worth noting, that pVP is regarded as an ecofriendly substance. Despite wide application of pVP in medicine, it was not often selected for the production of drug carriers. This review article is focused on recent reports on the role povidone can play in micro- and nano drug delivery systems. Advantages and possible threats resulting from the use of povidone are indicated. Moreover, popular biomedical aspects are discussed.

Effect of temperature of preheated soy protein isolate on the structure and properties of soy protein isolate heated-vitamin D3 complex

In this paper, soy protein isolate (SPI) was preheated and combined with vitamin D₃ (VD₃ ) to study the protective effect of modified SPI on VD₃ . The structure and properties of the SPI with heat treatment-VD₃ (SPI(H)-VD₃ ) complex were determined. The secondary and tertiary structure of SPI(H)-VD₃ results showed that the content of α-helix decreased and the content of random coil increased, indicating that the rigid structure of the protein decreased, the flexibility increased, and the maximum fluorescence intensity wavelength was red shifted. When the heat treatment temperature was 85°C, the embedding rate of SPI(H)-VD₃ composite was the highest. As the heat treatment temperature increased, the internal hydrophobic groups of SPI were exposed, and the average particle size decreased significantly. The light stability results showed that the content of VD₃ in the SPI(H)-VD₃ composite at a heat treatment temperature of 85°C was significantly increased compared with the unheated SPI. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This article mainly discusses the structure and properties of modified soy protein isolates bound to VD₃ by preheating soy protein isolates at different temperatures. It provides more possibilities for the application of VD₃ in food.

Formation of Fine Particles from Curcumin/PVP by the Supercritical Antisolvent Process with a Coaxial Nozzle

The production of fine particles via the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) antisolvent process was carried out. The experiments were conducted at temperatures of 40-60 °C and pressures of 8-12 MPa with a 15 mL min-1 carbon dioxide (CO2) and 0.5 mL min-1 feed solution flow rate. As a feed solution, the curcumin and the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) powder were dissolved in acetone and ethanol at concentrations of 1.0 mg mL-1 and 2.0-4.0% in weight, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images described that most of the precipitated particle products have spherical morphologies with a size of less than 1 μm. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra exhibited that the curcumin structural properties did not shift after the SC-CO2 antisolvent process. Moreover, the PVP addition in the curcumin particle products can enhance the curcumin dissolution in distilled water significantly.

Preparation of Spray-Dried Nanoparticles for Efficient Drug Delivery to the Lungs

The use of nanoparticulate systems for pulmonary drug delivery offers a number of advantages including significantly improved delivery efficiency to deep lung and the improved bioavailability. The traditional nanoparticle manufacturing process such as ball/jet milling often yields large aggregates, which could detrimentally inhibit the effective delivery of drug particles to the lower respiratory tract. Here we report an alternative technique of spray-drying the microemulsions to produce nanoparticles (<100 nm) that can be dispersed homogenously in the propellant to form an extremely stable pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) formulations. Such nanoparticulate formulations provide an ideal tool for pulmonary drug delivery.