Non-encapsulated Form Research Articles

A Systematic Review of Nano-Encapsulation for Improving the Bioavailability of Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals

Nanoencapsulation is a growing technique in the field of nutraceuticals and dietary supplements, offering several advantages over non-encapsulated forms. This systematic review assesses the impact of nanoencapsulation on key factors such as bioavailability, stability, tolerance, and encapsulation efficiency. The selected studies demonstrate that nanoencapsulation enhances the protection and controlled release of bioactive compounds, leading to improved efficacy and therapeutic potential. Furthermore, it increases the bioavailability of nutrients and active ingredients while maintaining their stability under different conditions. The review also highlights the positive effects on product safety and consumer tolerance, making nanoencapsulation a promising strategy for optimizing the formulation of dietary supplements. These findings suggest that nanoencapsulation could play a critical role in advancing the effectiveness of nutraceutical products. Keywords: Nanoencapsulation, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, efficacy, bioavailability, stability

Formulation of novel functional extrudates containing natural bioactive compounds

Incorporating natural antimicrobial agents into food systems is a promising alternative to synthetic additives. This study developed corn-based functional extrudates enriched with essential oils from oregano, rosemary, chamomile, and hypericum (EOB) via twin screw extrusion processing. EOB was introduced in both encapsulated and non-encapsulated forms using electrohydrodynamic processing, spray drying, and freeze drying within a whey protein isolate and pullulan matrix. Extrudates containing spray-dried EOB (SP-EOB) achieved the highest extrusion efficiency (72.94% ± 1.16%). Morphological analysis revealed homogeneous structures for XE and XS extrudates, while XF extrudates were more porous. The gastrointestinal release kinetics of EOB from the extrudates were best described by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, indicating an anomalous diffusion mechanism with “n” values ranging from 0.480 to 0.650. These findings highlight the potential for naturally bioactive and sustainable food products via advanced processing methods, reducing dependence on synthetic additives.

Interfacial engineering of Pickering emulsions stabilized by pea protein-alginate microgels for encapsulation of hydrophobic bioactives

This study aims to investigate the effects of interfacial layer composition and structure on the formation, physicochemical properties and stability of Pickering emulsions. Interfacial layers were formed using pea protein isolate (PPI), PPI microgel particles (PPIMP), a mixture of PPIMP and sodium alginate (PPIMP-SA), or PPIMP-SA conjugate. The encapsulation and protective effects on different hydrophobic bioactives were then evaluated within these Pickering emulsions. The results demonstrated that the PPIMP-SA conjugate formed thick and robust interfacial layers around the oil droplet surfaces, which increased the resistance of the emulsion to coalescence, creaming, and environmental stresses, including heating, light exposure, and freezing-thawing cycle. Additionally, the emulsion stabilized by the PPIMP-SA conjugate significantly improved the photothermal stability of hydrophobic bioactives, retaining a higher percentage of their original content compared to those in non-encapsulated forms. Overall, the novel protein microgels and the conjugate developed in this study have great potential for improving the physicochemical stability of emulsified foods.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Macroencapsulated Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage.

Among the different types of phase change materials, paraffin is known to be the most widely used type due to its advantages. However, paraffin's low thermal conductivity, its limited operating temperature range, and leakage and stabilization problems are the main barriers to its use in applications. In this research, a thermal energy storage unit (TESU) was designed using a cylindrical macroencapsulation technique to minimize these problems. Experimental and numerical analyses of the storage unit using a tubular heat exchanger were carried out. The Ansys 18.2-Fluent software was used for the numerical analysis. Two types of paraffins with different thermophysical properties were used in the TESU, including both encapsulated and non-encapsulated forms, and their thermal energy storage performances were compared. The influence of the heat transfer fluid (HTF) inlet conditions on the charging performance (melting) was investigated. The findings demonstrated that the heat transfer rate is highly influenced by the HTF intake temperature. When the effect of paraffin encapsulation on heat transfer was examined, a significant decrease in the total melting time was observed as the heat transfer surface and thermal conductivity increased. Therefore, the energy stored simultaneously increased by 60.5% with the encapsulation of paraffin-1 (melting temperature range of 52.9-60.4 °C) and by 50.7% with the encapsulation of paraffin-2 (melting temperature range of 32.2-46.1 °C), thus increasing the charging rate.

A Comparative Analysis of Secreted miRNAs Reveals Candidate Biomarkers for Pleural Mesothelioma Detection

Abstract Background MicroRNAs secreted by tumour cells through exosomes or in non-encapsulated form, were shown to promote tumour growth and treatment resistance, underscoring their potential as cancer biomarkers. Aims Here, we compare miRNAs secreted by pleural mesothelioma (PM) primary cells with miRNAs secreted by non-PM cells, in order to identify diagnostic biomarkers of this devastating disease. Methods We established primary cell cultures from pleural effusion of 12 PM and 7 non-PM patients. Secreted miRNAs were profiled as: (1) total secreted miRNA in cell culture supernatant (Sup), and (2) exosomal (Exo) miRNAs. Exosomes were extracted using iZON qEV columns. RNA was extracted with mirVana PARIS kit. Sequencing libraries were prepared using the QIAseq miRNA Library Kit (Qiagen). Reads were mapped on the mature miRNA sequences (MirBaseDB), followed by DESeq2 differential expression analysis. MiRNA target genes were selected using MirDB and functionally annotated using DAVID. Results We identified 309 and 84 deregulated miRNAs in PM-Exo and PM-Sup samples, respectively (p-value <0.05, Fig. 1A). Among the up-regulated miRNAs, we found let-7c-3p and miR-16-5p, which are known tumour suppressors, and miR-23a-3p and miR-30a-5p (Fig. 1B). Interestingly, miR-30a-5p belongs to the same family as miR-30e-5p, which together with miR-23a-3p was previously identified as part of the long survival signature in PM. Additionally, we identified 11 miRNAs that showed up-regulation in both PM-Exo and PM-Sup. Further analysis of these candidate miRNAs revealed that exosomal expression of miR-30a-5p was a significant predictor of patient survival (Fig. 1C). Finally, we identified potential target genes of the 11 up-regulated miRNAs - the target genes were significantly associated with transcriptional regulation and cell division (p-value <0.05). Conclusion Our comparative analysis of secreted miRNAs identified 11 candidate biomarkers for PM. Our findings emphasise the importance of the PM secretome in advancing our understanding of mesothelioma biology and discovering novel cell-free biomarkers. Further in-depth analyses are currently underway.

Evaluation of Stability and In vitro Anti-Cancer Activity of Dihydroquercetin Nanoemulsion

Background: Dihydroquercetin (DHQ), also known as taxifolin, is a flavonoid commonly found in many plants. Dihydroquercetin has been documented to have powerful antioxidant activity and many beneficial properties for human health, especially its ability to inhibit certain types of cancer cells. However, its low solubility and bioavailability are major obstacles to biomedical applications. Moreover, DHQ is chemically unstable and quickly degrades when exposed to alkaline conditions. background: Dihydroquercetin (DHQ), also known as taxifolin, is a flavonoid and commonly found in many plants. Dihydroquercetin has been documented to have powerful antioxidant activity and many beneficial properties for human health, especially its ability to inhibit certain types of cancer cells. However, its low solubility and bioavailability are major obstacles to biomedical applications. Moreover, DHQ is chemically unstable and quickly degrades when exposed to alkaline conditions. Objective: In the present study, a DHQ nanoemulsion formulation was prepared by Self Nano- Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SNEDDS) technique to overcome the above disadvantages. Methods: The obtained nanoemulsion system was evaluated for its micro-properties, stability, and in vitro cytotoxic activity against some cancer cells using tetrazolium dyes (MTS assay). Results: Measurement results showed that the DHQ nanoemulsion was successfully synthesized with typical mean droplet sizes from 9 to 11 nm, and revealed excellent stability over time. Dihydroquercetin in nanoemulsion form is more stable than the non-encapsulated form, as evidenced by the maintenance of droplet size in the nanometer range when dispersed in aqueous solution for up to 48 hours. This stability is particularly pronounced in both acidic and neutral environments. In vitro experiments on cytotoxic activities against A549, Hela, and HepG2 cancer cell lines indicated that the prepared DHQ nanoemulsion effectively inhibited the growth of all these cell lines with IC50 values (μg/mL) of 8.0, 20.4, and 29.5 respectively. Conclusion: From the detailed results above, it is evident that the solubility and bioavailability of DHQ can be improved by creating its nanostructure in the form of nanoemulsions. Furthermore, the nano form of DHQ carried within stable nanoemulsions exhibited better performance in inhibiting cancer cells compared to free DHQ. Therefore, further research is required to explore the development of cancer therapeutics utilizing nano DHQ emulsions.

Interaction between Bovine Serum Albumin in Fresh Milk Cream and Encapsulated and Non-Encapsulated Polyphenols of Tamarillo.

The fortification of dairy products with polyphenols is known to deliver additional health benefits. However, interactions between polyphenols may form complexes and cause a loss of functionality overall. This study aimed to investigate potential interactions between polyphenols, in encapsulated and non-encapsulated forms, extracted from tamarillo fruit and bovine serum albumin (BSA) from fresh milk cream. Fortification with tamarillo extract was made at 1, 2 and 3% (w/w), and the resultant changes in physicochemical, rheological and functional properties were studied. With an increase in fortification, the absorbance of protein-ligand in the protein-polyphenol complex was decreased by up to 55% and 67% in UV and fluorescent intensities, respectively. Chlorogenic acid and kaempferol-3-rutinoside were more affected than delphinidin-3-rutinoside and pelargonidin-3-rutinoside. Static quenching was the main mechanism in the fluorescence spectra. Tryptophan and tyrosine residues were the two major aromatic amino acids responsible for the interactions with BSA. There were at least three binding sites near the tryptophan residue on BSA. The rheological property remained unaffected after the addition of non-encapsulated tamarillo extracts. Antioxidant capacity was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after the addition of encapsulated extracts. This may be explained by using a low concentration of maltodextrin (10% w/w) as an encapsulating agent and its high binding affinity to milk proteins.

Microencapsulation protected Lactobacillus viability and its activity in modulating the intestinal microbiota in newly weaned piglets.

Lactobacilli are sensitive to heat, which limits their application as probiotics in livestock production. Lactobacillus rhamnosus LB1 was previously shown to reduce enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and Salmonella infections in pigs. To investigate its potential in the application, the bacterium was microencapsulated and examined for its survival from feed pelleting and long-term storage as well as its function in modulating pig intestinal microbiota. The in vitro studies showed that freshly microencapsulated L. rhamnosus LB1 had viable counts of 9.03 ± 0.049 log10 colony forming units (CFU) /g, of which only 0.06 and 0.87 Log of viable counts were reduced after storage at 4 and 22°C for 427 days. The viable counts of encapsulated L. rhamnosus LB1 were 1.06 and 1.54 Log higher in the pelleted and mash feed, respectively, than the non-encapsulated form stored at 22℃ for 30 days. In the in vivo studies, 80 piglets (weaned at 21 days of age) were allocated to five dietary treatments for a 10-day growth trial. The dietary treatments were the basal diet (CTL) and basal diet combined with either non-encapsulated LB1 (NEP), encapsulated LB1 (EP), bovine colostrum (BC), or a combination of encapsulated LB1 and bovine colostrum (EP-BC). The results demonstrated that weaning depressed feed intake and reduced growth rates in pigs of all the treatments during 21-25 days of age; however, the body weight gain was improved during 25-31 days of age in all groups with the numerically highest increase in the EP-BC-fed pigs during 21-31 days of age. Dietary treatments with EP, particularly in combination with BC, modulated pig intestinal microbiota, including an increase in Lactobacillus relative abundance. These results suggest that microencapsulation can protect L. rhamnosus LB1 against cell damage from a high temperature during processing and storage and there are possible complementary effects between EP and BC.

Aktivitas Antikanker Nanokapsul Ekstrak Mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia L.) dengan Pengujian in Vivo pada Fibrosarkoma Mencit Jantan Balb/c

Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) is one of the many herbs which known as an anticancer agent. Nanoencapsulated form of noni extracts could help the body absorption and able to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro. This study was conducted to examine the anticancer activity of nanoencapsulated noni extracts in vivo as the anti-proliferation agent of cancer cells. Noni extract was obtained by maceration method using water as a solvent. The nanocapsule of noni extracts was made using the ionic gelation method by magnetic stirrer with the speed of 1500 rpm. In vivo anticancer activity test was conducted in Balb/c male mice by comparing the treatment of nanoencapsulation noni extracts and non-encapsulated extracts. The result showed that the nanoencapsulated noni extracts have a particle size of 27-59 nm. Percent of inhibition of nanocapsule on cancer cells (specifically on fibrosarcoma of Balb/c male mice) were equal to 54.75% (P2), while non-encapsulated is 49.72% (P1). Nanocapsule of noni extracts has anticancer activity better than non-encapsulated form on fibrosarcoma of Balb/c male mice.&#x0D; Keywords: anticancer, nanoencapsulation, noni extract

Amoebicidal and trichomonicidal capacity of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with extracts of the plants Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae) and Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae)

Introduction: In tropical and developing countries, pathogenic protozoa are a major public health problem. Objective: The main objective of this study was the evaluation of ethanol extracts of Curcuma longa and Berberis vulgaris, as well as their main components curcumin (Cur) and berberine (Ber) in non-encapsulated form and encapsulated into polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) on Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis trophozoites as well as to evaluate the hemolytic activity. Additionally, we studied the morphology of the NPs, average particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and encapsulation percentages (%EE) of the formulations. Methods: For this purpose, the activity of the encapsulated and non-encapsulated treatments against E. histolytica and T. vaginalis was evaluated by the microassay technique (in-vitro). In addition, the cytotoxic capacity was determined by the hemolysis technique in healthy erythrocytes. The size and morphology of the NPs were determined by photon correlation spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: Phytochemical analysis of the extracts showed that C. longa had mainly tannins, phenols and flavonoids, and B. vulgaris alkaloids. The NPs were significantly (P &lt; 0.001) more effective compared to their non-encapsulated counterparts, but CurNPs and BerNPs were the most efficient treatments. CurNPs showed IC50 values (μg/mL) of 9.48 and 4.25, against E. histolytica and T. vaginalis respectively, and BerNPs 0.24 and 0.71. The respective particle sizes and encapsulation percentages for CurNPs and BerNPs were 66.5 and 73.4 nm, 83.59 and 76.48 %, respectively. SEM shows that NPs had a spherical morphology. Finally, we analyzed whether ethanolic extracts and NPs induced hemolytic activity and found that significantly NPs reduced hemolysis compared to the non-encapsulated extracts. Conclusions: Therefore, these findings suggest that the use of NPs represent a valuable and novel source of administration of bioactive compounds for the therapeutic treatment of diseases caused by protozoa of clinical interest since they potentiate the amebicidal and trichomonicidal activity of the administered products without significant hemolytic activity.

Hesperetin (citrus peel flavonoid aglycone) encapsulation using pea protein-high methoxyl pectin electrostatic complexes: complex optimization and biological activity.

Orange pomace polyphenols have potential for use as nutraceutical ingredients in functional foods and beverages. However, owing to their low water solubility and bioaccessibility, they are not being utilized to their full potential. The goal of this research is to assess the impact of encapsulation on hesperetin (HT - a model orange polyphenol) water solubility, antioxidant activity, and in vitro bioaccessibility. In this study, a citrus flavonoid aglycone, HT, was encapsulated within water-dispersible colloidal complexes (d=350 ± 8nm) formed by electrostatic attraction of pea protein isolate and high-methoxyl pectin at a mixing ratio of 1:1 (v/v) and pH4. The maximum amount of HT that could be dispersed in water was much higher for the encapsulated form (99 ± 7μg mL-1 ) than the non-encapsulated form (<10μg mL-1 ). The radical scavenging activity of the encapsulated HT (>90%, pH4) was much higher than the non-encapsulated form (<15% at pH 4 or 7). The in vitro bioaccessibility of encapsulated HT (27 ± 7%) was also much higher than the non-encapsulated form (<7%). These results suggest that a well-designed, biopolymer-based delivery system may improve the effective incorporation of HT, and potentially other orange pomace polyphenols, into food and beverage products. This could provide an additional high-value use for orange juicing by-products while introducing a new nutraceutical product to the food and beverage industry. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Preparation of nanoliposomes loaded with anthocyanins from grape skin extracts: stability, gastric absorption and antiproliferative properties.

Anthocyanin nanoliposomes (ANLs) were produced by a thin film ultrasonic dispersion method to improve the stability and bioavailability of anthocyanins (ACNs) obtained from grape skin extracts. The preparation parameters were predicted to be a soy lecithin to cholesterol ratio of 80 : 19 (w/w, 2 mg of ACNs) under ultrasonication at 120 W for 3.12 min by the response surface methodology. Under the optimal conditions, the fabricated ANLs presented an encapsulation efficiency of 40.1% with an average particle size of 117 nm, a PDI of 0.254 and a ζ-potential of 8.56 mV. The stability of ACNs was improved by nanoliposome encapsulation under various temperature and light conditions. Moreover, a MKN-28 (stomach) barrier model was established to evaluate the cellular transport of ACNs before and after nanoliposome encapsulation. HPLC-DAD/MS analyses demonstrated that ACNs obtained from grape skin extracts mainly consisted of five monomers. After 180 min of transportation, peonidin-3-5-diglucoside and malvidin-3-5-diglucoside (two representative monomers) present in ANLs (0.5 mg mL-1) showed the maximum transport efficiencies of 17.25 ± 1.62% and 18.94 ± 1.05%, respectively. However, their maximum transport efficiencies were 11.68 ± 1.01% and 15.33 ± 1.24%, respectively, existing in ACNs (non-encapsulated form, 0.5 mg mL-1). Furthermore, the antiproliferative properties of ANLs were assessed in two cancer cell lines MKN-28 and HepG-2 (liver). The ANLs presented more effective antiproliferative effects towards MKN-28 than the HepG-2 cell line. This study provides theories and a practice foundation for further application of ACNs as nutraceutical and functional foods.

The Effect of Phytobiotics Supplementation and Magnetized Drinking Water on Production Performance and Egg Quality of Laying Hens

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the production performance and egg quality of laying hens supplemented with phytobiotics and magnetized drinking water. This experiment used 2700 gauss level in Magnetized Drinking Water (MDW). The phytobiotics had two form: the non-encapsulated phytobiotics (PTO) and encapsulated phytobiotics (EPTO). There were untreated water (control) and the treated water (MDW, PTO, PTO+MDW, EPTO, EPTO+MDW). The treatments were presented by 0.6% for each treatment. The result showed highly significant (p&lt;0.01) improvement on feed conversion ratio (FCR) but no significant effect on other production performance variables including feed intake, hen day production (HDP), egg mass, and income over feed cost (IOFC). The results indicated a highly significant improvement (p&lt;0.01) on egg weight and yolk cholesterol. There were no significant effects on shape index (SI), shell weight, shell thickness, Haugh unit (HU), albumen height, yolk weight, yolk index (YI), and yolk color of egg quality variables. It was concluded that the encapsulated form (EPTO and EPTO+MDW) had the best improvement on FCR and yolk cholesterol, on another hand the non-encapsulated form (PTO and PTO+MDW) increased the egg weight of laying hens

113 Encapsulated Activated-Grape Seed Extract (ACTIVITIS™) inhibits demethylation of PP2A promoting anti-aging benefits and barrier repair for human skin

Cumulative oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are critical during skin aging. One pathway that regulates both processes involves Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a serine/threonine phosphatase. Reversible methylation of the C-terminal leucine of the PP2A catalytic subunit (PP2Ac) plays a crucial role in regulating PP2A function. Oxidative stress has been previously shown to dramatically decrease methylation of the C-terminal leucine of the PP2A catalytic subunit (PP2Ac) in dermal fibroblasts. Previously, we developed a novel, proprietary grape seed extract called Activated-Grape Seed Extract, or ACTIVITIS™ (INCI name: anthocyanins and hydrolyzed proanthocyanidins) which is enriched for PP2A-activating flavonoids with increased potency in preventing PP2A demethylation when compared to commercial Grape Seed Extract. To enhance skin delivery and other potential benefits of ACTIVITIS™, we developed a chemical encapsulation formulation utilizing a liposome-based approach. Results demonstrate that this novel encapsulated form of ACTIVITIS™ retains PP2A demethylating activity with similar potency as the non-encapsulated form. To explore the potential benefits of encapsulated ACTIVITIS™, we performed in vitro assays utilizing 3D epidermal skin tissue models and UVB irradiation. We found encapsulated ACTIVITIS™ significantly increases both cell proliferation (Ki67) and skin barrier (Filaggrin) marker expression after UVB irradiation. Moreover, encapsulated ACTIVITIS™ formulation decreases DNA damage marker Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD), thus enhancing epidermal integrity and barrier repair after UVB-induced effects. Lastly, clinical results in human subjects demonstrates that encapsulated ACTIVITIS™ is well tolerated and provides anti-aging benefits such as improving fine lines and wrinkles when applied topically.

Nano-encapsulation of hydroxytyrosol into formulated nanogels improves therapeutic effects against hepatic steatosis: An in vitro study

Nanomaterials hold promise as a straightforward approach for enhancing the performance of bioactive compounds in several healthcare scenarios. Indeed, nanoencapsulation represents a valuable strategy to preserve the bioactives, maximizing their bioavailability. Here, a nanoencapsulation strategy for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is presented. NAFLD represents the most common chronic liver disease in Western societies, and still lacks an effective therapy. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), a naturally occurring polyphenol, has been shown to protect against hepatic steatosis through its lipid-lowering, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the efficient delivery of HT to hepatocytes remains a crucial aspect: the design of smart nanogels appears as a promising tool to promote its intracellular uptake. In this paper, we disclose the synthesis of nanogel systems based on polyethylene glycol and polyethyleneimine which have been tested in an in vitro model of hepatic steatosis at two different concentrations (0.1 mg/mL and 0.5 mg/mL), taking advantage of high-content analysis tools. The proposed HT-loaded nanoscaffolds are non-toxic to cells, and their administration showed a significant decrease in the intracellular triglyceride levels, restoring cell viability and outperforming the results achievable with HT in its non-encapsulated form. Moreover, nanogels do not induce oxidative stress, thus demonstrating their biosafety. Overall, the formulated nanogel system achieves superior performance compared to conventional drug administration routes and hence represents a promising strategy for the management of NAFLD.

An investigation of calcium carbonate core-shell particles for incorporation of 225Ac and sequester of daughter radionuclides: in vitro and in vivo studies

Alpha therapy provides an outstanding prospect in the treatment of recalcitrant and micrometastatic cancers. However, side effects on the normal tissues and organs (especially, kidneys) due to the release of daughter isotopes from α-emitters remain a bottleneck. In this work, calcium carbonate core-shell particles of different sizes were considered as isotope carriers for encapsulation of 225Ac (highly powerful alpha-emitter that generates 4 net alpha particle isotopes in a short decay chain) in order to achieve in vitro and in vivo retention of 225Ac and its daughter isotopes. According to the in vitro studies, the developed calcium carbonate core-shell particles were able to retain 225Ac and its daughter isotopes (221Fr and 213Bi) exhibited good stability in biological media and dose-dependent biocompatibility (over 30 d). The SPECT imaging demonstrated the size-dependent distribution of 225Ac-doped core-shell particles. Further, in vivo studies confirmed the high retention efficiency of calcium carbonate core-shell particles, which was demonstrated in normal Wistar rats (up to 10 d). Interestingly, the radioactivity accumulation in kidney and urine was significantly less for encapsulated 225Ac than in case of non-encapsulated form of 225Ac (225Ac conjugated with albumin), indicating the absence of radioisotope leakage from the developed particles. Thus, our study validates the application of 225Ac-doped core-shell particles to sequester α-emitter (225Ac) and its decay products in order to reduce their systemic toxicity during alpha therapy.

Nanobiofertilization as a novel technology for highly efficient foliar application of Fe and B in almond trees.

Nanofertilization is postulated as a new technology to deal with the environmental problems caused by the intensive use of traditional fertilizers. One of the aims of this new technology is to improve foliar fertilization, which has many environmental advantages, but currently there are numerous factors that limit its efficiency. In this research, the objective was to study the potential of membrane vesicles derived from plant material as nanofertilizers of iron (Fe) and boron (B) for foliar application in almond trees (Prunus dulcis L.). The results show that the application of vesicles caused invaginations in the plasma membrane of the leaf cells. Also, the increase in leaf B and Fe was greater when these elements were applied in an encapsulated form rather than in a non-encapsulated form. The distribution of these elements in leaf tissues indicated the existence of an intracellular element transport pathway and accumulation areas, enabling greater element entry and mobility.

Optimization of wall material for phage encapsulation via freeze-drying and antimicrobial efficacy of microencapsulated phage against Salmonella.

Microencapsulated phage as dry powder provides a protection to the phage particles from the harsh conditions while improving efficacy for controlling Salmonella. In this study, wall materials for phage encapsulation were optimized by altering the ratios of whey protein isolate (WPI) and trehalose prior to freeze-drying. Combination of WPI/trehalose at ratio of 3:1 (w/w) represented the optimal formulation with the highest encapsulation efficiency (91.9%). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed H-bonding in the mixture system and glass transition temperature presented at 63.43°C. Encapsulated form showed the phage survivability of > 90% after 5h of exposure to pH 1.5, 3.5, 5.5, 7.5 and 9.5. Phages in the non-encapsulated form could not survive at pH 1.5. In addition, microencapsulated phage showed high effectiveness in decreasing the numbers of S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium by approximately 1log CFU/ml at 10°C and 30°C for both serovars. Phage powder newly developed in this study provides a convenient form for Salmonella control application and this form exhibits high stability over a wide range of temperatures and pH. This encapsulated phage thus can be used in various food applications without being interfered by physiological acidic or alkaline pH of foods or environments where phages are applied.

The survival rate and efficiency of non-encapsulated and encapsulated native starter cultures to improve the quality of artisanal game meat sausages.

This study addresses the application of native, multiple strain starter cultures for standardization of game meat sausages production. The designed starter cultures consisting of two indigenous Lactobacillus sakei and one Leuconostoc mesenteroides strains. These strains were used in both, the encapsulated and non-encapsulated form, in the game meat dough, individually or in combination, with eight treatments in total. Microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of the sausages were monitored throughout the manufacturing process, while sensory properties, biogenic amine content, and volatile compounds were evaluated in the final products. As revealed by rep-PCR, native starter cultures, encapsulated or non-encapsulated, had survived the whole sausage production process; however, to varying degrees. The application of indigenous decarboxylase negative Lb. sakei strains significantly (P < 0.05) reduced tyramine content, rapidly decreased pH and promoted the number reduction of Enterobacteriaceae and elimination of E. coli, L. monocytogenes and coliforms in ready-to-eat products. A total of 84 volatile compounds were identified by SPME-GC-MS in the eight treatment batches of game meat sausages, with only minor differences between the treatments. No significant differences in sensory traits (P > 0.05) between tested treatments were found, although treatment with the Lb. sakei strains received the highest scores for the sensory traits including cross-section, odour, hardness, aroma, and overall acceptability. Combination of multi-strain Lb. sakei starter cultures resulted in growth prevention of undesirable microbiota, reduction of tyramine content and increased the acceptability parameters of full-ripened sausages, which make them good candidates for industrial as well as artisanal application.

Anti-HPV Nanoemulsified-Imiquimod: A New and Potent Formulation to Treat Cervical Cancer.

Cervical cancer is associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV) and nowadays is the fourth most frequent cancer among women. One of the treatments for this disease is based on the application of imiquimod. In this study, we postulated that the use of imiquimod in nanoemulsion results in a better antitumoral effect than the drug administered in its nonencapsulated form for the treatment of cervical cancer. Permeability studies using vaginal mucosa, as membrane, and in vitro studies involving cervical cancer cells (viability, clonogenic assay, and cell death analysis) were performed. We showed that low amount of encapsulated imiquimod permeated the vaginal mucosa. However, a higher percentage of cells died after the treatment with low amount (3.0 μmol L-1) of the formulation compared to the free drug. In addition, the innovative formulation presented a combinatory mechanism of cell death involving autophagy and apoptosis. Our results demonstrate that the imiquimod-loaded nanoemulsioncan be an alternative product for the treatment of cervical cancer validating the hypothesis.