Encapsulation Systems Research Articles

Ultrasound-Assisted Maillard Conjugation of Yeast Protein Hydrolysate with Polysaccharides for Encapsulating the Anthocyanins from Aronia.

Valorisation of food by-products, like spent brewer's yeast and fruit pomaces, represents an important strategy for contributing to sustainable food production. The aims of this study were to obtain Maillard conjugates based on spent yeast protein hydrolysate (SYH) with dextran (D) or maltodextrin (MD) by means of ultrasound treatment and to use them for developing encapsulation systems for the anthocyanins from aronia pomace. The ultrasound-assisted Maillard conjugation promoted the increase of antioxidant activity by about 50% compared to conventional heating and SYH, and was not dependent on the polysaccharide type. The ability of the conjugates to act as wall material for encapsulating various biologically active compounds was tested via a freeze-drying method. The retention efficiency ranged between 58.25 ± 0.38%-65.25 ± 2.21%, while encapsulation efficiency varied from 67.09 ± 2.26% to 88.72 ± 0.33%, indicating the strong effect of the carrier material used for encapsulation. The addition of the hydrolysed yeast cell wall played a positive effect on the encapsulation efficiency of anthocyanins when used in combination with the SYH:MD conjugates. On the other hand, the stability of anthocyanins during storage, as well as their bioavailability during gastrointestinal digestion, were higher when using the SYH:D conjugate. The study showed that hydrolysis combined with the ultrasound-assisted Maillard reaction has a great potential for the valorisation of spent brewer's yeast as delivery material for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds.

Role of processing and encapsulation in the protection and bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds from Chilean Tórtola common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The aim of this study was to extract, protect and increase the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds extracted from the Chilean Tórtola common bean. For obtaining phenolic compounds, two methods were analyzed, focusing on their extraction and their drying. In the method where ultrasound-assisted extraction and spray drying were used, we obtained a yield five times greater than the conventional method. Thereafter, we evaluated an encapsulation system with two material shells, alginate and Eudragit L-100. The protective capacity of the capsules was verified by determining antioxidant capacity, total phenolic compounds content, as well as biomedical capacities of powder-encapsulated extract. Antithrombotic activity was evaluated as biomedical capacity, observing a 30% reduction in platelet aggregation. Additionally, quality characteristics were assessed using FITR, microscopic confocal, TGA, and hygrometry techniques. TGA analyses demonstrated the thermal protection of the capsule, reducing the degradation of encapsulated phenolic compounds by threefold compared to the non-encapsulated extract. Finally, two in vitro digestion models were used to simulate the physiological digestion. In both models, we observed an increase in TPC bioaccessibility even over 100%. These results would benefit biomedical applications and industrial processing of phenolic compounds extracted from common beans.

The Role of a Silane Coupling Agent in Common Photovoltaic Encapsulation Systems

Grafts of silane coupling agent EVA and POE were prepared by twin-screw melt extrusion method to obtain grafts EVA-g-KH171 and POE-g-KH171. The effect of silane coupling agent KH171 on the properties of two commonly used encapsulants in the photovoltaic field was investigated. The changes in the melt index of the grafts were tested by different dosages of silane coupling agents to explore further the effect of the changes in the melt index of the two grafting products, namely, EVA and POE, on the peeling strength. With the addition of the silane coupling agent, the melt index of the grafting product of EVA and POE increased. The peel strength test showed that the silane coupling agent KH171 had a more significant improvement in the adhesion of EVA and POE, proving the feasibility of its application in practical conditions.

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.

Gelatin-based nanocomposite films activated by double emulsion loaded with “Pitanga” leaf extract: Bioaccessibility and cytotoxicity of emulsions and films after in vitro digestion

The main aim of this study was to carry out an in vitro digestion of gelatin-based films and nanocomposite films activated with “Pitanga” (Eugenia uniflora L.) leaf extract (PLE) encapsulated in a W/O/W double emulsion. Also, the effects of encapsulation and addition of crystalline nanocellulose on PLE bioaccessibility, and on Caco-2 cells viability, after in vitro digestion, were evaluated. The free PLE, W/O (SE) emulsions and W/O/W (DE) emulsions were also submitted to in vitro digestion. The encapsulation of PLE within DE considerably increased the stability and bioaccessibility of PLE after in vitro digestion, which was also higher compared to SE. The PLE encapsulation within DE was positive compared to encapsulation only in SE, as DE also showed higher digestibility and lower cytotoxicity than SE. The active films and nanocomposite films showed lower PLE bioaccessibility when compared to SE and DE, but they were not cytotoxic to Caco-2 at all PLE concentrations studied. The PLE stability and bioaccessibility were higher using N-DE (nanocomposite film activated with DE). The effect of previously encapsulating PLE in DE, and the addition of crystalline nanocellulose in the film matrix, contributed to the protection of PLE's biological activity. Gelatin-based films and active nanocomposite films may have additional properties and applications in the food industry, as they have been shown to be active after in vitro digestion. Furthermore, DE was an effective encapsulation system for aqueous active compounds and can be potentially applied to several other areas of the food industry.

Omega 3 Fatty Acid as a Health Supplement: An Overview of its Manufacture and Regulatory Aspects

Dietary supplements are used for potential health benefits and are mainly intended to provide those nutrients that may be insufficiently consumed through regular dietary intake. They are mostly made from natural sources and are readily available in the form of capsules, tablets, or liquid form. Nowadays, omega-3 fatty acids (n−3 FAs) supplements are in high demand and have gained noteworthy popularity as the human body cannot produce them, and need to be administrated externally. They are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) characterized by at least one cis double bond at the third and fourth omega-end carbons, with primary examples being ɑ- linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and are classified as functional foods. The natural sources of these supplements include aquatic organisms like freshwater and marine fish, microalgae, seaweeds; nuts and seeds plant oils, and fortified foods. n-3 FAs, being biologically active molecules, are highly susceptible to oxidation due to double bonds in their long chains, leading to degradation over time, during storage. Various encapsulation systems, such as gels, emulsions, and powders, have been developed to effectively encapsulate PUFAs to enhance their chemical stability, dispersibility, and bioavailability. These quality control measures are essential to guarantee the effectiveness and safety of products containing n-3 FAs. This paper explores various sources of omega-3 fatty acid supplements and summarizes the multiple manufacturing techniques used for the production of these products. Additionally, the article tried to correlate quality aspects with the regulations for such products in an attempt to prevent exposure of consumers to harmful ingredients contained within these products. Lastly, potential recommendations for harmonizing the regulation and control of omega-3 supplements are proposed.

Comparison of Non-Covalent and Covalent Interactions between Lactoferrin and Chlorogenic Acid.

Adding polyphenols to improve the absorption of functional proteins has become a hot topic. Chlorogenic acid is a natural plant polyphenol with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Bovine lactoferrin is known for its immunomodulatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and iron-chelating properties. Therefore, the non-covalent binding of chlorogenic acid (CA) and bovine lactoferrin (BLF) with different concentrations under neutral conditions was studied. CA was grafted onto lactoferrin molecules by laccase catalysis, free radical grafting, and alkali treatment. The formation mechanism of non-covalent and covalent complexes of CA-BLF was analyzed by experimental test and theoretical prediction. Compared with the control BLF, the secondary structure of BLF in the non-covalent complex was rearranged and unfolded to provide more active sites, the tertiary structure of the covalent conjugate was changed, and the amino group of the protein participated in the covalent reaction. After adding CA, the covalent conjugates have better functional activity. These lactoferrin-polyphenol couplings can carry various bioactive compounds to create milk-based delivery systems for encapsulation.

Synthesis of Novel Plant-Derived Encapsulated Radiolabeled Compounds for the Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and the Evaluation of Biological Effects with In Vitro/In Vivo Methods.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of individuals globally. It is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SNc) and striatum. Neuroimaging techniques such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) help diagnosing PD. In this study, the focus was on developing technetium-99m ([99mTc]Tc) radiolabeled drug delivery systems using plant-derived compounds for the diagnosis of PD. Madecassoside (MA), a plant-derived compound, was conjugated with Levodopa (L-DOPA) to form MA-L-DOPA, which was then encapsulated using Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) to create MA-PLGA and MA-L-DOPA-PLGA nanocapsules. Extensive structural analysis was performed using various methods such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to characterize the synthesized products. Radiochemical yields of radiolabeled compounds were determined using thin layer radio chromatography (TLRC) and high performance liquid radio chromatography (HPLRC) methods. In vitro cell culture studies were conducted on human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cell lines to assess the incorporation of [99mTc]Tc radiolabeled compounds ([99mTc]Tc-MA, [99mTc]Tc-MA-L-DOPA, [99mTc]Tc-MA-PLGA and [99mTc]Tc-MA-L-DOPA-PLGA) and the cytotoxicity of inactive compounds (MA and MA-L-DOPA compounds and encapsulated compounds (MA-PLGA and MA-L-DOPA-PLGA). Additionally, the biodistribution studies were carried out on healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats and a Parkinson's disease experimental model to evaluate the compounds' bioactivity using the radiolabeled compounds. The radiochemical yields of all radiolabeled compounds except [99mTc]Tc-L-DOPA-PLGA were above 95% and had stability over 6h. The cytotoxic effects of all substances on SH-SY5Y and PC-12 cells increase with increasing concentration values. The uptake values of PLGA-encapsulated compounds are statistically significant in SH-SY5Y and PC-12 cells. The biodistribution studies showed that [99mTc]Tc-MA is predominantly retained in specific organs and brain regions, with notable uptake in the prostate, muscle, and midbrain. PLGA-encapsulation led to higher uptake in certain organs, suggesting its biodegradable nature may enhance tissue retention, and surface modifications might further optimize brain penetration. Overall, the results indicate that radiolabeled plant-derived encapsulated drug delivery systems with [99mTc]Tc hold potential as diagnostic agents for PD symptoms. This study contributes to the advancement of drug delivery agents in the field of brain research.

Fragrance Encapsulates: Effect of Polymeric Shell Purification Method on the Accuracy of Biodegradability Testing.

Fragrance encapsulates are widely used in consumer care applications such as fabric softeners or other liquid laundry products; they provide multiple benefits, from fragrance protection in the commercial product to a controlled release and improved sensorial experience for the consumers. Polymeric fragrance encapsulates are in the scope of the EU regulation restricting the use of intentionally added microplastic particles, and industry is actively working on innovation programs to find biodegradable alternatives. However, particular attention needs to be paid to claims that a fragrance encapsulation system is biodegradable, because biodegradation test results can vary considerably depending on how a test material is prepared, which can even lead to false-positive biodegradation test results, as shown in our study. We demonstrate the importance of the sample preparation phase of the process. We show how the biodegradation level can fluctuate from 0% to 91%, depending on how the test material is isolated from a given microcapsule slurry system, and we present a method that can be used to obtain trustworthy biodegradation results. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1242-1249. © 2024 Givaudan France SAS. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

PREPARATION AND EVALUATION OF COLON-SPECIFIC PROBIOTIC DELIVERY SYSTEM: SACCHAROMYCES BOULARDII

Probiotics are beneficial microbes that have a beneficial effect on humans as well as animals. Despite their advantages, probiotics face viability challenges during storage and while passing through the upper gastrointestinal tract. This study was designed to develop an encapsulated system of Saccharomyces boulardii (SB) probiotics to overcome challenges with oral administration and develop a colon-targeted delivery system. Pectin and sodium carboxy methyl cellulose encapsulated microbeads of probiotics: polymer ratio (1:1, 1:2, and 1:3) were prepared using the ionotropic gelation technique and then coated with Eudragit® S 100 and cellulose acetate phthalate. They were then evaluated for efficacy and compared for bead size, flow properties, entrapment efficiency, percent yield, swelling index, mucoadhesive ness, in vitro release and viability of probiotics. The microencapsulated probiotics showed higher viability in the colon as compared to gastric and intestinal environments. Hence, microencapsulation is a potential delivery system for the administration of viable probiotics

Organosilicon-Based Ligand Design for High-Performance Perovskite Nanocrystal Films for Color Conversion and X-ray Imaging.

Perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) bear a huge potential for widespread applications, such as color conversion, X-ray scintillators, and active laser media. However, the poor intrinsic stability and high susceptibility to environmental stimuli including moisture and oxygen have become bottlenecks of PNC materials for commercialization. Appropriate barrier material design can efficiently improve the stability of the PNCs. Particularly, the strategy for packaging PNCs in organosilicon matrixes can integrate the advantages of inorganic-oxide-based and polymer-based encapsulation routes. However, the inert long-carbon-chain ligands (e.g., oleic acid, oleylamine) used in the current ligand systems for silicon-based encapsulation are detrimental to the cross-linking of the organosilicon matrix, resulting in performance deficiencies in the nanocrystal films, such as low transparency and large surface roughness. Herein, we propose a dual-organosilicon ligand system consisting of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane with pentanedioic anhydride (APTES-PA), to replace the inert long-carbon-chain ligands for improving the performance of organosilicon-coated PNC films. As a result, strongly fluorescent PNC films prepared by a facile solution-casting method demonstrate high transparency and reduced surface roughness while maintaining high stability in various harsh environments. The optimized PNC films were eventually applied in an X-ray imaging system as scintillators, showing a high spatial resolution above 20 lp/mm. By designing this promising dual organosilicon ligand system for PNC films, our work highlights the crucial influence of the molecular structure of the capping ligands on the optical performance of the PNC film.

Methodological Approach to the Bioactive Emulsion Food Systems Development

The macro- and micronutrients deficiency in the diet of the population contributes to the alimentary disorder occurrence requiring correction. The development of new foods enriched with BAS, enabled a targeted impact on the functional activity of individual organs, systems and the body as a whole, solves the issue. Fortification (amplification, enrichment) of food systems ensures the nutrient delivery to all population groups without radical changes in the food consumption structure. To induce the BAS permeability, increase its stability, mask undesirable flavors, control the rate of release and targeted delivery, a man uses various effective BAS encapsulation systems including emulsions. Based on the “food systems” and “emulsion food systems” concepts, the author defines the concept of “bioactive emulsion food systems”. The study aimed at methodology formation for the development of bioactive emulsion food systems of optimized composition. On the basis of a system of basic principles and research methods, a set of applied methods united by a common goal and study direction, a man formulated the development methodology for bioactive emulsion food systems of optimized composition; determined its content and structure.

Engineering of Solid-State Nanoporous Laser through Dendrimer-Encapsulated Fluorophores.

Dendrimers─nanosized macromolecules that can function as hosts for encapsulation of guest molecules─provide new avenues to engineer gain media for lasing systems. In this context, this study investigates the interplay between the geometric features of a model porous scattering medium, nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA), and the chemical features of a model fluorophore-dendrimer encapsulation system to maximize random lasing. The inner surface of the NAA platforms is functionalized with fluorophore molecules encapsulated within dendrimers via an electrostatic interaction. The resulting solid-state composite structures emit well-resolved, intense random lasing when subjected to optical pumping. By engineering fluorophore-dendrimer and geometric features of scattering medium, we can precisely tune the characteristics of random lasing emissions. It is found that lasing structures with low porosity and thickness functionalized with fluorophore molecules encapsulated in second-generation dendrimers provide the best platforms for lasing generation, resulting in a strongly polarized laser at ∼594 nm that has a high quality-gain product of ∼1588 au, a polarization quality of ∼0.86, and a lasing threshold of ∼0.05 mJ pulse-1. Comparative analysis indicates that dendrimers achieve 2.5 times better random lasing than conventional surfactants due to improved encapsulation and minimization of photobleaching. Our results reveal the importance of the fluorophore encapsulation method and design of scattering media in the engineering of random lasing platforms for applications in optical and optoelectrical systems.

The Application of Bilayer Heterogeneous MOFs in pH and Heat-Triggered Systems for Controllable Fragrance Release.

To facilitate the integration of a fragrance encapsulation system into different products to achieve effective releases, a dual-responsive release system with pH and thermal trigger control is designed in this work. A series of ZIF-8 (M) and bilayer ZIF-8-on-ZIF-8 (MM) materials are synthesized by a solvent method at room temperature. The fragrance is encapsulated into the ZIFs by dynamic adsorption or in situ encapsulation combined dynamic adsorption. The fragrance loading contributed by dynamic adsorption was as high as 80%. The fragrance loaded in the double-layer MM host was almost twice that of the monolayer host M due to the stronger electrostatic interaction between MM and vanillin. In the pH and thermal trigger response release experiments, the second MOF layer in the MM host, as a controlled entity, greatly improved the load and kinetic equilibrium time of vanillin, and realized the controlled release of guest molecules. The developed dual-responsive release system in this work exhibits great potential in daily chemical products.

Silica Microparticles from Sugarcane By-Products as an Encapsulation System for Retinoids Aimed at Topical Sustained Release.

The encapsulation of retinol within silica microparticles has emerged as a promising opportunity in the realm of cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations, driven by the need to reinforce the photoprotection and oxidation stability of retinol. This work examines the process of encapsulating retinol into silica microparticles. The association efficiency, microparticle size, molecular structure, morphology, oxidation, and release profile, as well as biocompatibility and skin sensitization, were evaluated. Results showed that 0.03% of retinol and 9% of emulsifier leads to an association efficiency higher than 99% and a particle size with an average of 5.2 µm. FTIR results indicate that there is an association of retinol with the silica microparticles, and some may be on the surface. Microscopy indicates that when association happens, there is less aggregation of the particles. Oxidation occurs in two different phases, the first related to the retinol on the surface and the second to the associated retinol. In addition, a burst release of up to 3 h (30% free retinol, 17% associated retinol) was observed, as well as a sustained release of 44% of retinol up to 24 h. Encapsulation allowed an increase in the minimal skin cytotoxic concentrations of retinol from 0.04 μg/mL to 1.25 mg/mL without skin sensitization. Overall, retinol is protected when associated with silica microparticles, being safe to use in cosmetics and dermatology.

R-phycoerythrin alginate/shellac beads by external gelation: Process optimization and the effects of gastrointestinal digestion for nutraceutical applications

This study aimed to evaluate an alginate/shellac mixture as wall material to develop an aqueous phycoerythrin (R-PE) encapsulation system by external gelation and to determine the effect of encapsulation on the biological properties of R-PE released during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The Taguchi method was implemented to formulate beads with a high R-PE encapsulation efficiency (EE). The effect of the variables: feeding flow (90 and 20 mL h−1), distance (5 and 10 cms), and CaCl2 (5 and 15 g L−1) were optimized, and the bead size, sphericity factor (SF), and total R-PE content were characterized. Finally, the optimal alginate/shellac beads were subjected to in vitro dynamic gastrointestinal digestion. The results show that the beads formed under optimal conditions reached an EE value of 97.5 %. The CaCl2 concentration and feeding flow most affected the R-PE EE. The release of R-PE from alginate/shellac was affected at acid pH 1; however, the concentration was under 10 % of the total R-PE content showing promising targeting properties in terms of time and pH. The R-PE extracts and capsules were partially degraded in gastric and intestinal conditions; the mouth did not detect signals from the protein profile. The encapsulation of alginate/shellac led to higher R-PE contents at the end of digestion than non-encapsulated R-PE, suggesting a protective role. Significantly, from permeate streams, equivalent to the absorption of encapsulated R-PE, the bioavailability was 2.5 times higher than non-encapsulated R-PE. NMR results indicate the presence of R-PE and its methyl amino acids and oligosaccharides between 0.5 and 2.5 and 3.8–6.8 ppm, respectively. Cytotoxicity activity was observed for the R-PE extract on the HCT-116 human colon cancer cell line. The alginate/shellac as a wall material and ionic gelation technology used may determine the release of the R-PE pigment at an intestinal site and its antiproliferative effect on health.

Novel use of agro-industrial waste and residues for bioencapsulation and its application in petroleum hydrocarbons bioremediation

The use of agro-industrial waste from Haden mango (Mangifera indica L.) and red bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) residues was explored for bioencapsulation with bioremediation purposes. Pectin and protein were extracted from mango and red bean, respectively, and used in addition to sodium alginate as materials for the formulation, through an augmented mixture design experiment with a variable process (pH), of a soluble ternary biopolymer system for encapsulation of microorganisms. The capsules were physically and thermally characterized and evaluated with a bacteria consortium for hydrocarbon bioremediation. The bioremediation assays, one with hexadecane and the other with diesel resulted in a hydrocarbon uptake increase (5% for hexadecane, 10% for diesel) and shorter consumption times (4 days less for hexadecane and 3 days less for diesel) compared to their respective control without encapsulation. The novelty of this work lies in the interdisciplinary approach to the utilization of materials from cheap sources for bioencapsulation with applications in different areas. Insights into the mass transfer of the capsules were also obtained as the first step into further studies.

Alginate-Based Encapsulation Fabrication Technique for Drug Delivery: An Updated Review of Particle Type, Formulation Technique, Pharmaceutical Ingredient, and Targeted Delivery System.

Alginate is a natural biopolymer widely studied for pharmaceutical applications due to its biocompatibility, low toxicity, and mild gelation abilities. This review summarizes recent advances in alginate-based encapsulation systems for targeted drug delivery. Alginate formulations like microparticles, nanoparticles, microgels, and composites fabricated by methods including ionic gelation, emulsification, spray drying, and freeze drying enable tailored drug loading, enhanced stability, and sustained release kinetics. Alginate microspheres prepared by spray drying or ionic gelation provide gastric protection and colon-targeted release of orally delivered drugs. Alginate nanoparticles exhibit enhanced cellular uptake and tumor-targeting capabilities through the enhanced permeation and retention effect. Crosslinked alginate microgels allow high drug loading and controlled release profiles. Composite alginate gels with cellulose, chitosan, or inorganic nanomaterials display improved mechanical properties, mucoadhesion, and tunable release kinetics. Alginate-based wound dressings containing antimicrobial nanoparticles promote healing of burns and chronic wounds through sustained topical delivery. Although alginate is well-established as a pharmaceutical excipient, more extensive in vivo testing is needed to assess clinical safety and efficacy of emerging formulations prior to human trials. Future opportunities include engineered systems combining stimuli-responsiveness, active targeting, and diagnostic capabilities. In summary, this review discusses recent advances in alginate encapsulation techniques for oral, transdermal, and intravenous delivery, with an emphasis on approaches enabling targeted and sustained drug release for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.

Protein-fatty acid complexes as delivery agent for fat-soluble vitamin: a review

Fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K have an essential role in maintaining health. Deficiencies of vitamins A, D, E, and K are commonly known to cause night blindness, osteomalacia, increased oxidative cell stress, and hemorrhage. Vitamins are chemically reactive compounds that are fragile due to their sensitive and unstable nature. Aside from being prone to degradation due to environmental factors, the vitamins encounter various digestion factors that potentially affect their bioaccessibility and bioavailability when ingested. During digestion, the low pH environment of gastric juice may affect the bioavailability of vitamins. Decreasing vitamin bioavailability may lead to vitamin deficiency. Many methods are used for maintenance and improving vitamin bioavailability in the body. Using an encapsulation system can be helpful because it can maintain the vitamin's properties in the digestion system to optimize their benefits/uses and their bioavailability. The encapsulated substance is referred to as the core material, active agent, internal phase, or payload phase. The substance encapsulates is a coating, membrane, shell, carrier material, wall material, external phase, or matrix. It is important to use the transport medium as food and to create a barrier between the active agent and its environment. Proteins and fats are biomacromolecules that are good candidates for vitamin encapsulation. This article reviewed the protein-fatty acid complex (liprotides) potencies as a protecting and delivery agent for fat-soluble vitamins.

Cricket Protein as an Innovative Emulsifier for Avocado Oil: Formulation and Characterization of Sustainable Emulsions

The use of cricket protein in emulsions is in line with the growing interest in sustainable food sources, as crickets require minimal resources and produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional livestock. Research in this area suggests that incorporating cricket protein into emulsions not only improves their nutritional value but also contributes to the development of environmentally friendly and functional food products. This study proposes the use of cricket protein for the stabilization of emulsions formulated with avocado oil as a dispersed phase. This oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, particularly oleic acid, and a variety of bioactive compounds. In the first part of this study, we assessed the influence of the emulsifier concentration and found that 2 wt.% is the optimum because a depletion flocculation effect was produced. Subsequently, processing was optimized using ultrasonication so that the higher energy input produced emulsions with a droplet diameter of less than 700 nm. Finally, rhamsan gum was added to the formulation, producing emulgels with improved pseudoplastic behavior and physical stability. This study demonstrates that cricket protein in combination with rhamsan gum is capable of forming stable, low-droplet-size emulgels with potential applications in encapsulation systems.