Effects of ingested nanocellulose and nanochitosan materials on carbohydrate digestion and absorption in an in vitro small intestinal epithelium model

Lignocellulosic biomass-derived functional nanocellulose for food-related applications: A review

In recent years, nanocellulose (NC) has gained significant attention due to its remarkable properties, such as adjustable surface chemistry, extraordinary biological properties, low toxicity and low density. This review summarizes the preparation of NC derived from lignocellulosic biomass (LCB), including cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNF). It focuses on examining the impact of non-cellulosic components such as lignin and hemicellulose on the functionality of NC. Additionally, various surface modification strategies of NC were discussed, including esterification, etherification and silylation. The review also emphasizes the progress of NC application in areas such as Pickering emulsions, food packaging materials, food additives, and hydrogels. Finally, the prospects for producing NC from LCB and its application in food-related fields are examined. This work aims to demonstrate the effective benefits of preparing NC from lignocellulosic biomass and its potential application in the food industry.

Design, characterization and digestibility of β-carotene-loaded emulsion system stabilized by whey protein with chitosan and potato starch addition

The physicochemical properties and gastrointestinal fate of β-carotene-loaded emulsions and emulsion gels were examined. The emulsion was emulsified by whey protein isolate and incorporated with chitosan, then the emulsion gels were produced by gelatinizing potato starch in the aqueous phase. The rheology properties, water distribution, and microstructure of emulsions and emulsion gels were modulated by chitosan combination. A standardized INFOGEST method was employed to track the gastrointestinal fate of emulsion systems. Significant changes in droplet size, zeta-potential, and aggregation state were detected during in vitro digestion, including simulated oral, stomach, and small intestine phases. The presence of chitosan led to a significantly reduced free fatty acids release in emulsion, whereas a slightly increasing released amount in the emulsion gel. β-carotene bioaccessibility was significantly improved by hydrogel formation and chitosan addition. These results could be used to formulate advanced emulsion systems to improve the gastrointestinal fate of hydrophobic nutraceuticals.

Engineering nano-cellulose bio-composites to improve protein delivery for oral vaccination

Oral vaccine is a non-invasive, ideal way to protect communities from infectious diseases. Effective vaccine delivery systems are required to enhance vaccine absorption in the small intestine and its cellular uptake by immune cells. Here, we constructed alginate/chitosan-coated cellulose nanocrystal (Alg-Chi-CNC) and nanofibril (Alg-Chi-CNF) nanocomposites to enhance ovalbumin (OVA) delivery in the intestine. In vitro mucosal permeation and diffusion and cellular uptake demonstrated that Chi-CNC exhibited better cellular uptake in epithelial and antigen-presenting cells (APCs). In vivo results revealed that alginate/chitosan-coated nanocellulose nanocomposites generated strong systemic and mucosal immune responses. Though the features of functional nano-cellulose composites affected mucus permeation and APC uptakes, in vivo specific-OVA immune responses have not shown significant differences due to the complexity of the small intestine.

Mechanism and Pharmacodynamic Substance Basis of Raw and Wine-Processed Evodia rutaecarpa on Smooth Muscle Cells of Dysmenorrhea Mice

Objectives

Evodia rutaecarpa (ER) is a well-known herbal Chinese medicine traditionally used for analgesia in dysmenorrhea, headaches, abdominal pain, etc. Notably, the analgesic effect of wine-processed Evodia rutaecarpa (PER) was more potent than that of raw ER. This research aimed to investigate the mechanism and pharmacodynamic substance basis of raw ER and PER on smooth muscle cells of dysmenorrhea mice.

Methods

Metabolomics methods based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS were utilized to analyse the differential components of ER before and after wine processing. Afterwards, the uterine smooth muscle cells were isolated from the uterine tissue of dysmenorrhea and normal mice. The isolated dysmenorrhea uterine smooth muscle cells were randomly divided into four groups: model group, 7-hydroxycoumarin group (1 mmol/L), chlorogenic acid (1 mmol/L), and limonin (50 μmol/L). The normal group consisted of the isolated normal mouse uterine smooth muscle cells, which were repeated 3 times in each group. The cell contraction and the expression of P2X3 and Ca²⁺ in vitro were determined using immunofluorescence staining and laser confocal; ELISA was used for detection of PGE2, ET-1, and NO content after 7-hydroxycoumarin, chlorogenic acid, and limonin administered for 24 h.

Results

The metabolomics results suggested that seven differential compounds were identified in the extracts of raw ER and PER, including chlorogenic acid, 7-hydroxycoumarin, hydroxy evodiamine, laudanosine, evollionines A, limonin, and 1-methyl-2-[(z)-4-nonenyl]-4 (1H)-quinolone. The in vitro results showed that 7-hydroxycoumarin, chlorogenic acid, and limonin were able to inhibit cell contraction and PGE2, ET-1, P2X3, and Ca²⁺ in dysmenorrhea mouse uterine smooth muscle cells and increase the content of NO.

Conclusion

Our finding suggested that the compounds of the PER were different from those of the raw ER, and 7-hydroxycoumarin, chlorogenic acid, and limonin could improve dysmenorrhea in mice whose uterine smooth muscle cell contraction was closed with endocrine factors and P2X3-Ca²⁺ pathway.

Incineration-Generated Polyethylene Micro-Nanoplastics Increase Triglyceride Lipolysis and Absorption in an In Vitro Small Intestinal Epithelium Model

Despite mounting evidence of micro-nanoplastics (MNPs) in food and drinking water, little is known of the potential health risks of ingested MNPs, and nothing is known of their potential impact on nutrient digestion and absorption. We assessed the effects of environmentally relevant secondary MNPs generated by incineration of polyethylene (PE-I), on digestion and absorption of fat in a high fat food model using a 3-phase in vitro simulated digestion coupled with a tri-culture small intestinal epithelium model. The presence of 400 μg/mL PE-I increased fat digestion by 33% and increased fat absorption by 147 and 145% 1 and 2 h after exposure. Analysis of the PE-I lipid corona during digestion revealed predominantly triacylglycerols with enrichment of fatty acids in the small intestinal phase. Protein corona analysis showed enrichment of triacylglycerol lipase and depletion of β-casein in the small intestinal phase. These findings suggest digestion of triacylglycerol by lipase on the surface of lipid-coated MNPs as a potential mechanism. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the greater observed increase in fat absorption, to verify these results in an animal model, and to determine the MNP properties governing their effects on lipid digestion and absorption.

Overview of potential adverse health effects of oral exposure to nanocellulose

Nanocellulose is an emerging material for which several food-related applications are foreseen, for example, novel food, functional food, food additive or in food contact materials. Nanocellulose materials can display a range of possible shapes (fibers, crystals), sizes and surface modifications. For food-related applications in the EU, information on the safety of substances must be assessed. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on (possible) adverse health effects of nanocellulose upon oral exposure, keeping EU regulatory aspects in mind. The overview indicates that toxicity data, especially from in vivo studies, are limited and outcomes are not unambiguous. The hazard assessment is further complicated by: the diversity in morphologies and surface modifications, lack of standard reference materials, limited knowledge about intestinal fate and absorption, analytical difficulties in biological matrices, dispersion issues, the possible presence of impurities and interferences within biological assays. Two subchronic in vivo toxicity studies show no indications of toxicity for two specific nanocellulose materials, even at high doses. However, these studies may have missed certain early or nano-specific toxic effects, such as inflammation potential, for which other, subacute studies provide some indications. Most in vitro studies show no cytotoxicity; however, several indicate that effects on oxidative stress and inflammatory responses depend on differences in size or surface treatments. Further, too few studies assessed genotoxicity of nanocelluloses. Therefore, immunotoxicity, oxidative stress and genotoxicity require further attention, as do absorption and effects on nutrient uptake. Recommendations for future research facilitating the safety assessment and safe-by-design of nanocellulose in food-related applications are provided.