Updated design strategies for oral delivery systems: maximized bioefficacy of dietary bioactive compounds achieved by inducing proper digestive fate and sensory attributes

Advancements in lipid-based delivery systems for functional foods: a comprehensive review of literature and patent trends

Lipid-based delivery systems (LDS) have emerged as cornerstone techniques for bolstering the bioavailability of lipophilic bioactive compounds, addressing challenges related to solubility, stability, and absorption. This critical review examined a substantial dataset of 6,907 scientific articles and 3,021 patents from 2001-2023, elucidating the multifaceted evolution of LDS, with a particular focus on its industrial and patent-driven perspective. Notably, there were pronounced surges in functional food patent applications in 2004, 2011, and 2019. The trajectory revealed a shift from foundational nanoemulsions to more complex structures, such as double/multiple emulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, Pickering emulsions, and bigels. The review further identified the top 10 leading institutions shaping this domain. Technologies like spray-drying, microfluidics, and phase gelation had revolutionized the landscape, resulting in refined sensory experiences, innovative reduced-fat formulations, enriched beverages, tailor-made infant nutrition, and nuanced release mechanisms for flavors. The review also spotlighted current research frontiers, notably Pickering emulsions, bigels, and multiple emulsions. These emerging technologies not only exemplified the ongoing innovation in the field but also underscored their potential in reshaping the future landscape of value-added functional foods.

The application of encapsulation technology in the food Industry: Classifications, recent Advances, and perspectives

Encapsulation technology has been extensively used to enhance the stability, specificity, and bioavailability of essential food ingredients. Additionally, it plays a vital role in improving product quality and reducing production costs. This study presents a comprehensive classification of encapsulation techniques based on the state of different cores (solid, liquid, and gaseous) and offers a detailed description and analysis of these encapsulation methods. Specifically, it introduces the diverse applications of encapsulation technology in food, encompassing areas such as antioxidant, protein activity, physical stability, controlled release, delivery, antibacterial, and probiotics. The potential impact of encapsulation technology is expected to make encapsulation technology a major process and research hotspot in the food industry. Future research directions include applications of encapsulation for enzymes, microencapsulation of biosensors, and novel technologies such as self-assembly. This study provides a valuable theoretical reference for the in-depth research and wide application of encapsulation technology in the food industry.

Development of nano-delivery systems for loaded bioactive compounds: using molecular dynamics simulations

Over the past decade, a remarkable surge in the development of functional nano-delivery systems loaded with bioactive compounds for healthcare has been witnessed. Notably, the demanding requirements of high solubility, prolonged circulation, high tissue penetration capability, and strong targeting ability of nanocarriers have posed interdisciplinary research challenges to the community. While extensive experimental studies have been conducted to understand the construction of nano-delivery systems and their metabolic behavior in vivo, less is known about these molecular mechanisms and kinetic pathways during their metabolic process in vivo, and lacking effective means for high-throughput screening. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation techniques provide a reliable tool for investigating the design of nano-delivery carriers encapsulating these functional ingredients, elucidating the synthesis, translocation, and delivery of nanocarriers. This review introduces the basic MD principles, discusses how to apply MD simulation to design nanocarriers, evaluates the ability of nanocarriers to adhere to or cross gastrointestinal mucosa, and regulates plasma proteins in vivo. Moreover, we presented the critical role of MD simulation in developing delivery systems for precise nutrition and prospects for the future. This review aims to provide insights into the implications of MD simulation techniques for designing and optimizing nano-delivery systems in the healthcare 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.

Research advances of in vivo biological fate of food bioactives delivered by colloidal systems

Food bioactives exhibit various health-promoting effects and are widely used in functional foods to maintain human health. After oral intake, bioactives undergo complex biological processes before reaching the target organs to exert their biological effects. However, several factors may reduce their bioavailability. Colloidal systems have attracted special attention due to their great potential to improve bioavailability and bioefficiency. Herein, we focus on the importance of in vivo studies of the biological fates of bioactives delivered by colloidal systems. Increasing evidence demonstrates that the construction, composition, and physicochemical properties of the delivery systems significantly influence the in vivo biological fates of bioactives. These results demonstrate the great potential to control the in vivo behavior of food bioactives by designing specific delivery systems. We also compare in vivo and in vitro models used for biological studies of the fate of food bioactives delivered by colloidal systems. Meanwhile, the significance of the gut microbiota, targeted delivery, and personalized nutrition should be carefully considered. This review provides new insight for further studies of food bioactives delivered by colloidal systems, as well as scientific guidance for the reasonable design of personalized nutrition.