Enhancement in Antibacterial Activities of Eugenol-Entrapped Ethosome Nanoparticles via Strengthening Its Permeability and Sustained Release

One-pot rapid preparation of long-term antioxidant and antibacterial biomedical gels based on lipoic acid and eugenol for accelerating cutaneous wound healing

The complex battlefield environment often puts great pressure on the treatment of open wounds caused by burns and trauma, which cannot heal for a long time due to the lack of medical resources. Once wounds are not sutured and severely infected, they can lead to infective endocarditis, sepsis, and even death. Therefore, it is urgent to develop advanced dressings to replace sutures and antibiotics, which can quickly seal wounds and maintain long-term stability of antibacterial and antioxidant properties. In this study, novel biobased antibacterial adhesive gels composed of natural small molecule lipoic acid and eugenol were prepared via a one-pot solvent-free reaction for wound management. The gels were crosslinked via the ring-opening polymerization of lipoic acid and hydrogen bond interaction. Due to its structure feature, the PLA-E1 gel displayed excellent flexibility, transparency, self-healing and adhesiveness. The gel system showed long-term high antioxidant activity (95%) after exposure to air at room temperature for one year. Meanwhile, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging efficacy was kept around 52%. Both trauma and burn in vivo experiments demonstrated that the PLA-E1 gel could accelerate wound healing through antibacterial, antioxidant, angiogenic and tissue regenerative effects, indicating the potential applications of cutaneous wound healing on the battlefield.

Preparation and characterization of Ag@MOF-eugenol/ poly (lactic acid) composite films for zucchini preservation

The rising demand for premium quality fruits and vegetables has resulted in an increased necessity for the advancement in active food packaging. This study aimed to develop eugenol-loaded Ag@MOF/poly(lactic acid) (Ag@MOF-EU/PLA) composite films to assess their efficacy in preserving zucchini. The results revealed that Ag@MOF-EU can be uniformly distributed within the PLA matrix, which significantly enhanced the tensile strength, hydrophobicity, and UV-blocking capacity of PLA films, and at the same time had no significant effect on the thermal properties and WVP of the PLA films. Moreover, the resulting Ag@MOF-EU/PLA films exhibited no cytotoxicity. In a food simulant (50 % ethanol), the release behavior of the EU demonstrated a sustained release over 20 days. Furthermore, Ag@MOF-EU/PLA had an enhanced antimicrobial activity and DPPH scavenging activity, compared to PLA films. The preservation experiment involving zucchini elucidated that the Ag@MOF-EU/PLA composite film could extend the shelf life of zucchini by maintaining color, reducing weight loss, delaying the decline in firmness, and inhibiting the growth of total viable colonies. These findings indicated that the Ag@MOF-EU/PLA films developed within the scope of this research possess the potential to serve as effective food-active packaging materials.

Transdermal delivery of iguratimod and colchicine ethosome by dissolving microneedle patch for the treatment of recurrent gout

This study introduces a novel approach of repetitive modeling to simulate the pathological process of recurrent gout attacks in humans. This methodology addresses the instability issues present in rat models of gout, providing a more accurate representation of the damage recurrent gout episodes inflict on human skeletal systems. A soluble nanoneedle system encapsulating colchicine and iguratimod ethosomal formulations was developed. This system aims to modulate inflammatory cytokines and inhibit osteoclast activity, thereby treating inflammatory pain and bone damage associated with recurrent gout. Additionally, a comprehensive evaluation of the microneedles' appearance, morphology, mechanical properties, and penetration capability confirmed their effectiveness in penetrating the stratum corneum. Dissolution tests and skin irritation assessments demonstrated that these microneedles dissolve rapidly without irritating the skin. In vitro permeation studies indicated that transdermal drug delivery via these microneedles is more efficient and incurs lower drug loss compared to traditional topical applications. In vivo pharmacodynamic assessments conducted in animal models revealed significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects when both types of microneedles were used together. Further analyses, including X-ray imaging, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Safranin-O/fast green staining, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining, and quantification of osteoclasts, confirmed the bone-protective effects of the microneedle combination. In conclusion, the findings of this research underscore the potential of this novel therapeutic approach for clinical application in the treatment of recurrent gout.

Preparation, Optimization, and Anti-Pulmonary Infection Activity of Casein-Based Chrysin Nanoparticles

Introduction

Chrysin has a wide range of biological activities, but its poor bioavailability greatly limits its use. Here, we attempted to prepare casein (cas)-based nanoparticles to promote the biotransfer of chrysin, which demonstrated better bioavailability and anti-infection activity compared to free chrysin.

Methods

Cas-based chrysin nanoparticles were prepared and characterized, and most of the preparation process was optimized. Then, the in vitro and in vivo release characteristics were studied, and anti-pulmonary infection activity was evaluated.

Results

The constructed chrysin-cas nanoparticles exhibited nearly spherical morphology with particle size and ζ potential of 225.3 nm and -33 mV, respectively. These nanoparticles showed high encapsulation efficiency and drug-loading capacity of 79.84% ± 1.81% and 11.56% ± 0.28%, respectively. In vitro release studies highlighted a significant improvement in the release profile of the chrysin-cas nanoparticles (CCPs). In vivo experiments revealed that the relative oral bioavailability of CCPs was approximately 2.01 times higher than that of the free chrysin suspension. Further investigations indicated that CCPs effectively attenuated pulmonary infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii by mitigating oxidative stress and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines levels, and the efficacy was better than that of the free chrysin suspension.

Conclusion

The findings underscore the advantageous bioavailability of CCPs and their protective effects against pulmonary infections. Such advancements position CCPs as a promising pharmaceutical agent and candidate for future therapeutic drug innovations.

A Promising Plant-Based Eugenol-Loaded Nano Delivery System (EUG@CMC-PGMA-CS) for Enhanced Antibacterial and Insect Repellent Behavior

Pathogens and pests pose significant threats to global crop productivity and plant immunity, necessitating urgent measures from researchers to prevent pathogen contamination and pest damage to crops. A natural plant-based antibacterial agent, eugenol (EUG), has demonstrated excellent antimicrobial and insect repellent capabilities, but the characteristics of volatilization and poor dissolution limit the practical application. The nanoization of pesticide formulations holds promise in the development of highly effective pesticides for antibacterial and insecticidal purposes. Herein, a eugenol-loaded nano delivery system (EUG@CMC-PGMA-CS) was synthesized using glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as a functional monomer to connect carrier core structure carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with shell structure chitosan (CS), and EUG was encapsulated within the carrier. EUG@CMC-PGMA-CS demonstrated excellent leaf affinity, with minimum contact angles (CAs) of 37.83 and 70.52° on hydrophilic and hydrophobic vegetable leaf surfaces, respectively. Moreover, the maximum liquid holding capacity (LHC) of EUG@CMC-PGMA-CS on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic vegetable leaf surfaces demonstrates a noteworthy 55.24% enhancement compared to the LHC of pure EUG. The in vitro release curve of EUG@CMC-PGMA-CS exhibited an initial burst followed by stable sustained release. It is with satisfaction that the nano delivery system demonstrated exceptional antibacterial properties against S. aureus and satisfactory insecticidal efficacy against Spodoptera litura. The development of this eugenol-loaded nano delivery system holds significant potential for enhanced antibacterial and insect repellents in agriculture, paving the way for the application of volatile bioactive substances.

Self-assembly of sophorolipid and eugenol into stable nanoemulsions for synergetic antibacterial properties through alerting membrane integrity

Exploring the natural, safe, and effective antimicrobial is one of the preferable ways to control foodborne bacteria. In this work, novel oil-in-water nanoemulsions were formulated with sophorolipids and eugenol without any co-surfactant using a self-assembling strategy. These nanoemulsions showed high stability with sizes less than 200 nm when exposure to low concentrations of salt ions, various pH values (5.0, 7.0, 10.0), storage temperature and time. The synergistic antibacterial effects against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Bacillus cereus were determined with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.5 mg/mL and 0.125 mg/mL, respectively. Further microscopy (SEM, TEM, LCSM) examination and ATP/Na+-K+-ATPase assay results showed that the morphological changes, intensive cell membrane permeability, leakage of ATP, and decreased Na+-K+-ATPase contributed to the antibacterial effects. Moreover, the bonding mechanism between nanoemulsions and cell membranes were further evaluated by FTIR and ITC using a DPPC vesicle model, which demonstrated that the nanoemulsions adsorbed on the surface of bilayer, interacted with the hydrophobic chains of DPPC membrane mainly through the hydrophobic interaction, and altered the structural integrity of the lipid bilayer. These results not only provide a facile green strategy for fabricating stable nanoemulsions, but also highlight a new perspective for stabilizing essential oils for their widely application in food industry.

Development, systematic optimisation and biofilm disruption activity of eugenol-based nanosized emulsions stabilised with Tween 80

The aims of this study were to systematically optimise a formula for eugenol emulsions via face-centered central composite design and to assess the activity against two-different bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes) present at planktonic and biofilm forms. The molecular interaction of excipients, mean particle size (MPS) including zeta potential (ZP), drug entrapment efficiency (DEE) and in vitro drug release of optimised emulsions was done using FT-IR, Malvern Zetasizer, ultracentrifugation technique and membrane-free dissolution model, respectively. The emulsions consisted of 151.3 ± 1.45 nm MPS, -21.3 ± 1.25 mV ZP and 93.98 ± 1.41% DEE values. On storage of emulsions at 25 °C for 3 months, the value of DEE was found to be 72.12 ± 2.82%. The Tween 80 emulsifier film coverage onto the dispersed eugenol droplets of emulsions delayed significantly the drug release (12%-19%) compared to the drug release occurred from pure eugenol. The treatment of planktonic S. aureus and P. acnes with diluted eugenol emulsions showed the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values at 1.25-2.5 mg/ml whereas it occurred at 10 mg/ml for pure eugenol. Treating the biofilms with eugenol emulsions (1-2 mg/ml) yielded 59-70% minimum biofilm eradication concentration but 10 mg/ml pure eugenol showed 60%. Hence, the eugenol emulsions displayed antibacterial activity and could be projected as an antibiofilm or biofilm disruption agent.

Formulation and Characterization of Hesperidin-Loaded Transethosomal Gel for Dermal Delivery to Enhance Antibacterial Activity: Comprehension of In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and Dermatokinetic Analysis

In this study, hesperidin was loaded into a transethosome and was developed employing the rotary evaporator method. The formulation was optimized using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimized HSD-TE formulation has a spherical shape, vesicle size, polydispersity index, entrapment efficiency, and zeta potential within the range of 178.98 nm; the PDI was 0.259 with a zeta potential of -31.14 mV and % EE of 89.51%, respectively. The in vitro drug release shows that HSD-TE exhibited the release of 81.124 ± 3.45% in comparison to HSD suspension. The ex vivo skin permeation showed a 2-fold increase in HSD-TE gel permeation. The antioxidant activity of HSD-TE was found to be 79.20 ± 1.77% higher than that of the HSD solution. The formulation showed 2-fold deeper HSD-TE penetration across excised rat skin membranes in confocal laser microscopy scanning, indicating promising in vivo prospects. In a dermatokinetic study, HSD-TE gel was compared to HSD conventional gel where TE significantly boosted HSD transport in the epidermis and dermal layers. The formulation showed greater efficacy than free HSD in the inhibition of microbial growth, as evidenced by antibacterial activity on the Gram-negative and positive bacteria. These investigations found that the HSD-TE formulation could enhance the topical application in the management of cutaneous bacterial infections.

Chiral nanocrystals grown from MoS2 nanosheets enable photothermally modulated enantioselective release of antimicrobial drugs

The transfer of the concept of chirality from molecules to synthesized nanomaterials has attracted attention amongst multidisciplinary teams. Here we demonstrate heterogeneous nucleation and anisotropic accumulation of Au nanoparticles on multilayer MoS₂ planes to form chiroptically functional nanomaterials. Thiol amino acids with chiral conformations modulate asymmetric growth of gold nanoarchitectures on seeds of highly faceted Au/MoS₂ heterostructures. Consequently, dendritic plasmonic nanocrystals with partial chiral morphologies are synthesized. The chirality of dendritic nanocrystals inherited from cysteine molecules refers to the structural characteristics and includes specific recognition of enantiomeric molecules. With integration of the intrinsic photothermal properties and inherited enantioselective characteristics, dendritic Au/MoS₂ heterostructures exhibit chirality-dependent release of antimicrobial drugs from hydrogel substrates when activated by exogenous infrared irradiation. A three-in-one strategy involving synthesis of chiral dendritic heterostructures, enantioselective recognition, and controlled drug release system is presented, which improves nanomaterial synthetic technology and enhances our understanding of crucial chirality information.

Fabrication of γ-cyclodextrin-Based metal-organic frameworks as a carrier of cinnamaldehyde and its application in fresh-cut cantaloupes

Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a promising antimicrobial agent for the preservation of fruits and vegetables due to its excellent antibacterial activity. The application is however, limited by its unstable and volatile properties. A biocompatible carbon dots hybrid γ-cyclodextrin-based metal organic framework (CD/MOF) was developed by the seed-mediated method to improve the encapsulation and sustained continuous release of CA. CD/MOF-0.5 exhibited a CA loading efficiency of 28.42% and a sustained release duration time of more than 15 days at 8 oC. The release kinetics results showed that the release behavior of CD/MOF-0.5 fitted well with the Korsmeyer-Peppas release kinetics model, indicating that its sustained release is mainly controlled by diffusion. Both the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses revealed that CD/MOF-0.5 and CA molecules were linked by hydrogen bonds. Due to the high sustained release performance, CA-loaded CD/MOF-0.5 considerably inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, hence preventing the spoilage of fresh-cut cantaloupes. CD/MOF-0.5/CA treatment also maintained the qualities of the fresh-cut cantaloupes, prolonging their edibility to five days. This work provides a promising strategy for the prevention of spoilage in food industry.

Hyaluronan Oligosaccharides-Coated Paclitaxel-Casein Nanoparticles with Enhanced Stability and Antitumor Activity

This study aims to develop specific-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid oligosaccharides-coated paclitaxel-loaded casein nanoparticles (HA-PT-Cas NPs) via chemical conjugation to increase the stability and antitumor effects. Optimized HA-PT-Cas NPs (HA/casein of 3:1) were obtained with a mean size of 235.3 nm and entrapment efficiency of 93.1%. HA-PT-Cas exhibited satisfactory stability at 4 °C for 12 days and 37 °C for 3 h; paclitaxel was retained at rates of 81.4% and 64.7%, respectively, significantly higher than those of PT-Cas (only 27.8% at 4 °C after 16 h and 20.3% at 37 °C after 3 h). HA-PT-Cas exhibited high efficiency (61.3%) in inhibiting A375 tumor owing to the enhanced stability of HA oligosaccharides barrier, which was comparable with that of 10 μg/mL cis-platinum (64.9%). Mice experiments showed the 74.6% tumor inhibition of HA-PT-Cas by intravenously administration, significantly higher than that of PT-casein (39.8%). Therefore, this work provides an effective carrier for drug delivery via HA oligomers-coated modification.

Development of Geraniol-Loaded Liposomal Nanoformulations against Salmonella Colonization in the Pig Gut

Salmonella is a global health threat, with pig production being one of the main sources of human salmonellosis. The current study investigated the antivirulence properties of geraniol for inhibiting the in vitro colonization of Salmonella. The minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of geraniol against Salmonella typhimurium followed by the sub-MIC of geraniol were determined. Results provided clear evidence that geraniol at 1/8 MIC can be used as an effective, non-toxic antivirulence compound to inhibit virulence factors (motility, adhesion, and invasiveness) affecting the colonization of S. typhimurium on IPEC-J2 cells. Additionally, the findings signified that microfluidics is an emerging technology suitable for the preparation of stable liposomes with a small size (<200 nm) and high encapsulation efficiency (EE) of up to 92.53%, which can act as effective carriers of geraniol into the pig gastrointestinal tract (GIT), targeting Salmonella, preventing colonization, and thus increasing the safety of the food supply chain.

Ethosomes as dermal/transdermal drug delivery systems: applications, preparation and characterization

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDSs) have gained substantial attention during the last decade. TDDS are versatile delivery systems in which active components are delivered to skin for local effects or systemic delivery of active pharmaceutical through the skin. Overcoming stratum corneum is the most challenging step of delivering drugs through the skin. Lipid-based vesicular delivery systems due to the capability of the delivery of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs are becoming more popular during the recent years. Ethosomes are innovative, biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic form of lipid-based vesicles that efficiently enable to entrap drugs of various physicochemical properties. These are other forms of liposome which contain high amounts of ethanol in their structure that enabling ethosomes to efficiently penetrate through deeper layers of skin. Ethosomes have various compositions based on their type but are mainly composed of phospholipids, ethanol, water and the active components. Ethosomes are easily manufactured and they are superior compared to liposomes in terms of different aspects due to the presence of ethanol. The purpose of this review is to thoroughly focus on various aspects of ethosomes, including mechanism of penetration, advantages and disadvantages, characterisation and applications.

Nano-Antibacterials Using Medicinal Plant Components: An Overview

Gradual emergence of new bacterial strains, resistant to one or more antibiotics, necessitates development of new antibacterials to prevent us from newly evolved disease-causing, drug-resistant, pathogenic bacteria. Different inorganic and organic compounds have been synthesized as antibacterials, but with the problem of toxicity. Other alternatives of using green products, i.e., the medicinal plant extracts with biocompatible and potent antibacterial characteristics, also had limitation because of their low aqueous solubility and therefore less bioavailability. Use of nanotechnological strategy appears to be a savior, where phytochemicals are nanonized through encapsulation or entrapment within inorganic or organic hydrophilic capping agents. Nanonization of such products not only makes them water soluble but also helps to attain high surface to volume ratio and therefore high reaction area of the nanonized products with better therapeutic potential, over that of the equivalent amount of raw bulk products. Medicinal plant extracts, whose prime components are flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenolic compounds, and essential oils, are in one hand nanonized (capped and stabilized) by polymers, lipids, or clay materials for developing nanodrugs; on the other hand, high antioxidant activity of those plant extracts is also used to reduce various metal salts to produce metallic nanoparticles. In this review, five medicinal plants, viz., tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), turmeric (Curcuma longa), aloe vera (Aloe vera), oregano (Oregano vulgare), and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), with promising antibacterial potential and the nanoformulations associated with the plants' crude extracts and their respective major components (eugenol, curcumin, anthraquinone, carvacrol, eucalyptus oil) have been discussed with respect to their antibacterial potency.

Nanoparticles—Attractive Carriers of Antimicrobial Essential Oils

Microbial pathogens are the most prevalent cause of chronic infections and fatalities around the world. Antimicrobial agents including antibiotics have been frequently utilized in the treatment of infections due to their exceptional outcomes. However, their widespread use has resulted in the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Furthermore, due to inherent resistance to antimicrobial drugs and the host defence system, the advent of new infectious diseases, chronic infections, and the occurrence of biofilms pose a tougher challenge to the current treatment line. Essential oils (EOs) and their biologically and structurally diverse constituents provide a distinctive, inexhaustible, and novel source of antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic agents. However, due to their volatile nature, chemical susceptibility, and poor solubility, their development as antimicrobials is limited. Nanoparticles composed of biodegradable polymeric and inorganic materials have been studied extensively to overcome these limitations. Nanoparticles are being investigated as nanocarriers for antimicrobial delivery, antimicrobial coatings for food products, implantable devices, and medicinal materials in dressings and packaging materials due to their intrinsic capacity to overcome microbial resistance. Essential oil-loaded nanoparticles may offer the potential benefits of synergism in antimicrobial activity, high loading capacity, increased solubility, decreased volatility, chemical stability, and enhancement of the bioavailability and shelf life of EOs and their constituents. This review focuses on the potentiation of the antimicrobial activity of essential oils and their constituents in nanoparticulate delivery systems for a wide range of applications, such as food preservation, packaging, and alternative treatments for infectious diseases.

Comprehensive review on use of phospholipid based vesicles for phytoactive delivery

Plant-derived phytoconstituents are well known for their therapeutic potential. It has been experimentally demonstrated that whole-plant extract or isolated phytoconstituents reveal various therapeutic potentials like hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, antitumor, antioxidant, skin protectives, etc. Although these phytoconstituents have potential therapeutic benefits, their use is limited due to their poor bioavailability, stability in biological fluids, and authentication issues. These continue to be an open problem that affects the application of these valuable ancient herbal herbs in the effective treatment and management of various disease conditions. A potential solution to these difficult problems could be the loading of phytoactives in phospholipid-based vesicular systems. Phospholipid-based vesicles like liposomes, phytosomes, ethosomes as well as transfersomes were effectively utilized recently to solve drawbacks and for effective delivery of phytoactives. Several landmark studies observed better therapeutic efficacy of phytoactive loaded vesicles compared to conventional drug delivery. Thus phospholipid-based vesicles mediated phytoactive delivery is a recently developed promising and attractive strategy for better therapeutic control on disease conditions. The present short review highlights recent advances in herbal bioactive loaded phospholipid-based vesicles.

Enhanced antibacterial activity of eugenol-entrapped casein nanoparticles amended with lysozyme against gram-positive pathogens

This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial efficiency and synergistic mechanisms of novel formulated eugenol-casein-lysozyme nanoparticles (ECL-NPs) against gram-positive bacteria. We obtained optimized ECL-NPs 151.9 nm in size and with an entrapment efficiency of 92.2%. ECL-NPs exhibited a satisfactory slow-release pattern, excellent storage stability (for 180 days at 4 °C), and freeze-drying stability. The synergy of low-dose lysozyme significantly enhanced the inhibitory efficiency of eugenol-casein nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus sp. by 5.83-fold and 5.53-fold, respectively; this resulted in a much lower minimum inhibitory concentration (3.75-fold and 4.16-fold) and minimum bacterial concentration (2.92-fold and 1.70-fold) values. Scanning electron microscopy clearly demonstrated that the entire cell morphological structure was broken into pieces after exposure to ECL-NPs. Furthermore, 100% microbial inhibition was observed in fresh fruits treated with ECL-NPs for 15 days. These findings suggest that ECL-NPs have an excellent potential for use in food industry against gram-positive bacteria.

Superior anti-infective potential of eugenol-casein nanoparticles combined with polyethylene glycol against Colletotrichum musae infections

The aim of this study was to improve the stability of eugenol-casein nanoparticles (EL-CS-NPs) through polyethylene glycol (PEG) modification. The results show that modifying the EL-CS-NPs with PEG after loading with eugenol (EL) gives PEG-EL-CS-NPs, with increased stability. The NPs modified with higher-molecular-weight PEG showed better stability. A CS/PEG ratio of 200 : 1 (w/w) yielded the NPs with the best stability. A PEG20 K-EL-CS-NP dispersion remained stable in cold storage for over one year, and also exhibited stronger inhibitory effects against Colletotrichum musae inoculated on bananas than an EL-CS-NP dispersion, since it showed more prolonged sustained release of EL than the EL-CS-NP dispersion. Lyophilized PEG20 K-EL-CS-NP powder showed better effectiveness against mold on bread than lyophilized EL-CS-NPs powder. Using PEG to modify CS-NPs shows potential for improving the stability of CS-NPs loaded with hydrophobic substances for delivery in the fields of food and agriculture.

Evaluation of Dry and Wet Formulations of Oxalic Acid, Thymol, and Oregano Oil for Varroa Mite (Acari: Varroidae) Control in Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies

The efficacy and safety of dry and wet formulations of three nonsynthetic compounds, oxalic acid (OA), thymol (T), and oregano oil (OO), for the control of Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman infestations in honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) colonies were determined. The treatments were OA in dust, OA diluted in glycerin solvent embedded in a towel, T in dust, T in glycerin solvent and towel, OO in dry microcapsules, OO in glycerin solvent and towel, and the control. The treatments were applied weekly for 4 wk during the fall season. The rates of acaricide efficacy, weekly mite fall, bee mortality, colony survivorship, and strength, were determined for each of the treatments. All formulations, with the exemption of OO microcapsules, were effective at controlling infestations of V. destructor. The most effective formulations were T dust (96.6%), T glycerin (92.4%), and OA glycerin (79%). More than 85% of the mites were killed during the first 2 wk of treatment with T formulations, compared to less than 30% for the OA glycerin formulation. The lowest efficacy rate was for OO microcapsules (21.3%), and the only treatment that significantly increased bee mortality was OA glycerin. The rates of winter colony survival and honey bee populations were related to the varroacidal efficacy of the formulations. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Self-assembled lipids for food applications: A review

Lipids play an important role in human nutrition. Several foodstuffs can be manufactured from the simple, compound and derived lipids. In particular, the use of self-assembled lipids (SLs, e.g. self-assembled L-α-lecithin) has brought great attention for the development of tailored, tuned and targeted colloidal structures loading degradation-sensitive substances with valuable antimicrobial, antioxidant and nutraceutical properties for food applications. For example, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and essential oils can be protected from degradation, thus improving their bioavailability in general terms in consumers. From a nanotechnological point of view, SLs allow the development of advanced and multifaceted architectures, in which each molecule of them are used as building blocks to obtain designed and ordered structures. It is important to note before beginning this review, that simple and compound lipids are the main SLs, while essential fatty acids and derived lipids in general have been considered by many research groups as the bulk loaded substances within several structures from self-assembled carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. However, this review paper is addressed on the analysis of the lipid-lipid self-assembly. Lipids can be self-assembled into various structures (micelles, vesicular systems, lyotropic liquid crystals, oleogels and films) to be used in different food applications: coatings, controlled and sustained release materials, emulsions, functional foods, etc. SLs can be obtained via non-covalent chemical interactions, primarily by hydrogen, hydrophilic and ionic bonding, which are influenced by the conditions of ionic strength, pH, temperature, among others. This manuscript aims to give an analysis of the specific state-of-the-art of SLs for food applications, based primarily on the literature reported in the past five years.

Enhanced Antifungal Activities of Eugenol-Entrapped Casein Nanoparticles against Anthracnose in Postharvest Fruits

This study aims to improve the antifungal effects of eugenol through low-energy self-assembly fabrication and optimization of eugenol-casein nanoparticles (EC-NPs). Optimized EC-NPs (eugenol/casein ratio of 1:5) were obtained with a mean size of 307.4 ± 2.5 nm and entrapment efficiency of 86.3% ± 0.2%, and showed high stability under incubated at 20 and 37 °C for 48 h. EC-NPs exhibited satisfactory sustained-release effect at 20 °C or 37 °C, with remaining eugenols amounts of 79.51% and 53.41% after 72 h incubation, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of native eugenol (only 26.40% and 19.82% after the first 12 h). EC-NPs exhibited a greater antifungal activity (>95.7%) against spore germination of fungus that was greater than that of native eugenol, showed 100% inhibition of the anthracnose incidence in postharvest pear after 7 d. EC-NPs is potential as an environmental-friendly preservatives in the food industry.

Enhanced Antiarthritic Efficacy by Nanoparticles of (-)-Epigallocatechin Gallate-Glucosamine-Casein

This work aims to improve the antiarthritic activity of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and glucosamine (GA) through fabrication and optimization of casein protein nanoparticles (EGC-NPs). Optimized EGC-NPs were obtained with a EGCG/GA/casein ratio of 1:2:8 (w/w/w). The EGC-NPs gave a mean size of 186 ± 3.5 nm and an entrapment efficiency of 86.8 ± 2.7%, and they exhibited a greater inhibitory activity against human fibroblast-like synoviocytes-osteoarthritis cells and human fibroblast-like synoviocytes-rheumatoid arthritis cells compared with that of the EGCG-GA mixture by 33.5% and 20.8%, respectively. Freeze-dried EGC-NPs stored at 25 °C during 12 months showed high dispersion stability. Moreover, the redispersion of the freeze-dried EGC-NPs produced almost no significant changes in their physicochemical properties and bioactivity. Rat experiments demonstrated that the antiarthritis effect of the EGC-NPs was significantly higher than that of EGCG-GA mixture, as assessed through an analysis of anti-inflammatory efficacy, radiographic images and histopathological assessments of paw joints, and immunohistochemical changes in serum cytokines. The enchanced antiarthritic activity in vivo was consistent with that in vitro. The EGC-NPs demonstrate potential as a food supplement for the treatment of arthritis.