Poloxamer 407 copolymer is a versatile and widely used thermo-reversible material. Its use has many advantages, such as bio-adhesion, enhanced solubilization of poorly water-soluble drugs and many ...applications fields like oral, rectal, topical, nasal drug administration. Hydrogels made up of Poloxamer 407 are characterized by specific rheological features, which are affected by temperature, concentration and presence of other compounds. A strategic approach in topical therapeutic treatments may be the inclusion of drug delivery systems, such as ethosomes, transfersomes and niosomes, into hydrogel poloxamer formulation. The evaluation of the interaction between colloidal carriers and the Poloxamer 407 hydrogel network is essential for a suitable design of an innovative topical dosage form. For this reason, the Rheolaser Master™, based on diffusing wave spectroscopy, and a Kinexus Rotational Rheometer were used to evaluate the influence of nanocarriers on the microrheological features of hydrogels. The advantages of the Rheolaser Master™ analyzer are: (i) its ability to determine viscoelastic parameter, without altering or destroying the sample and at rest (zero shear); (ii) possibility of aging analysis on the same sample. This study provide evidence that vesicular systems do not influence the rheological features of the gel, supporting the possibility to encapsulate an innovative system into a three-dimensional network.
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In the last few years, essential oils (EOs) derived from plants have aroused great interest due to their well-known antimicrobial activity. Unfortunately, they present several limitations in their ...use, such as photosensitivity, temperature sensitivity, high volatility, and poor water solubility. The encapsulation technique represents a good solution to these problems and ensures protection of the functional properties of essential oils. In this work, bergamot essential oil (BEO) and sweet orange essential oil (OEO) loaded-Eudragit
RS 100 (EuRS100) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by using the nanoprecipitation technique. We obtained nanoparticles characterized by a mean diameter of 57 to 208 nm and a positive surface charge (39 to 74 mV). The antibacterial activity of the obtained systems against
was in vitro investigated. We demonstrated that both orange and bergamot essential oils were successfully encapsulated and our nanoparticles have good antibacterial activity. Finally, in order to evaluate the potential applicability of OEONps to prolong fresh orange juice shelf-life, survival of
during a storage period of one week at 25 °C was investigated: Orange essential oil-loaded nanoparticles (OEONPs) have been able to prolong the orange juice shelf life.
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In the last few decades, the combination between nanotechnology and nutraceutics has gained the attention of several research groups. Nutraceuticals are considered as active compounds, abundant in ...natural products, showing beneficial effects on human health. Unfortunately, the uses, and consequently the health benefits, of many nutraceutical products are limited by their unsuitable chemico-physical features. For example, many nutraceuticals are characterized by low water solubility, low stability and high susceptibility to light and oxygen, poor absorption and potential chemical modifications after their administration. Based on the potential efficacy of nutraceuticals and on their limiting features, nanotechnology could be considered a revolutionary innovation in empowering the beneficial properties of nutraceuticals on human health, thus enhancing their efficacy in several diseases. For this reason, nanotechnology could represent a new frontier in supplementary food. In this review, the most recent nanotechnological approaches are discussed, focusing on their ability to improve the bioavailability of the most common nutraceuticals, providing an overview regarding both the advantages and the possible limitations of the use of several nanodelivery systems. In fact, although the efficacy of smart nanocarriers in improving health benefits deriving from nutraceuticals has been widely demonstrated, the conflicting opinions on the mechanism of action of some nanosystems still reduce their applicability in the therapeutic field.
Ufasomes are unsaturated fatty acid liposomes made up of oleic and linoleic acids, natural components required in various biological processes. This kind of nanocarrier is characterized by a simple ...and dynamic structure and is able to improve the bioavailability of unsaturated fatty acids. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate ufasomes as natural compound delivery systems to deliver oleuropein and improve its antioxidant activity. Oleuropein is a phenolic compound mainly present in olives and olive oil, with several biological properties, such as the antioxidant activity. However, to improve their biological activity, antioxidant compounds should be able to cross cell membranes and uniformly incorporate in cells. Because of the great similarity between their constituents and cell membranes, ufasomes could be advantageous carriers for oleuropein delivery. The physico-chemical characteristics of ufasomes were investigated. A regular shape was shown by transmission electron microscopy studies, while the mean sizes were dependent on the ufasomes composition. In vitro studies highlighted that empty ufasomes did not lead to cell mortality at the tested concentrations and a good carrier internalization in CaCo-2 cells, further studies in vitro studies demonstrated that oleuropein-loaded ufasomes were able to enhance the antioxidant activity of the free active substance making this carrier a suitable one for nutraceutical application.
There is a constant increase in the attention being paid to food quality and the effects of food on human health among consumers. Vegetable milk is among the foods whose consumption worldwide has ...increased because, when compared to animal-derived milk, it offers numerous benefits for human health. The aim of this research work was to use vegetable milk to obtain yogurt-like products enriched with different concentrations of carob seed flour, which has a double function: to modify, and thus perfect, the rheological characteristics of vegetable-milk-based yogurt-like samples and to increase their nutritional value. The rheological parameters of the obtained samples were studied both in static and dynamic conditions, confirming that carob seed flour, especially at the highest used concentrations (0.75%; 1%), allows one to obtain products characterized by a good stability and suitable rheological characteristics. The obtained yogurt-like products may also be consumed by celiac subjects, since carob seed flour is a gluten-free flour, and allow celiac consumers to combine a gluten-free diet with a diet free of animal derivatives. Furthermore, the addition of carob flour allows one to obtain a tasty product thanks to the sweet taste of the carob seed flour.
According to the World Health Organization, every year 2 billion people worldwide get sick because of unsafe food. For this reason, food preservation from fungi, bacteria, and other contaminants is ...important to ensure the safety and quality of food to the consumers. Nowaday, there is an increasing demand in the food industry for natural preservatives which are safe. Among these natural compounds with antimicrobial activity, essential oils have aroused considerable interest in the food industry. Unfortunately, essential oils have numerous limitations in their use, mainly due to their hydrophobic property, and therefore they need to be encapsulated before use. The main goal of this specific review is to focus on the encapsulation of essential oils using edible polymers.
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Biopolymer-based gels have a significant impact on controlling rheological properties in a number of industrial processes. Many natural polymers such as animal and plant proteins are used as gelling ...agents. In particular, zein is a biocompatible protein that embraces almost 80% of the whole protein content of corn. The current study was designed to characterize various gels made up of zein, in order to provide useful formulations for various applications. Diffusing wave spectroscopy in association with dynamic rheology was used to obtain a full physico-chemical characterization of the zein dispersions. Zein gels were prepared using different amounts of protein (10%, 12.5%, 15% and 20% w/v) and their stability was evaluated by Turbiscan Lab®. The microrheological parameters e.g. SLB (solid-liquid balance), EI (elasticity index), MVI (macroscopic viscosity index) and the storage (G′) and loss (G″) moduli were evaluated as a function of strain, frequency, time, and temperature providing information on the linear viscoelastic region, structural assembly, and thermal characteristics. The formulations containing 15% and 20% w/v of zein formed stable dispersions especially at 37 °C. The high protein concentration showed storage moduli values significantly greater than those of viscous moduli, demonstrating that the elastic character became dominant. These findings were confirmed up to 50 °C. The viscosity of these samples decreased as the shear rate increased, thus demonstrating a typical pseudoplastic or shear thinning behavior. Our findings showed that dispersions containing 20% w/v of zein are promising low-cost formulations to be used as a gel in various fields of application.
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•The formulations containing 15% and 20% w/v of raw zein formed stable dispersions.•The high protein concentration promoted a typical pseudoplastic behavior.•Gels containing 20% w/v of raw zein are promising low-cost formulations.
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•Physicochemical characterization of colloidal nanocarriers•TEWL pharmaceutical analysis on SCE membranes•TEWL pharmaceutical analysis on healthy human volunteers
The measurement of ...Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) allows to evaluate the integrity of Stratum Corneum Epidermis (SCE) barrier after topical application of colloidal nanocarriers by using a non-invasive method. The temporarily modifications of SCE lipids are important for the passage of colloidal nanocarriers across the skin; this passage causes a modification of TEWL values. Niosomes, ethosomes®, and transfersomes® are used as topical drug delivery systems due to their biopharmaceutical properties, and capability to permeate intact through the SCE. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of TEWL values was studied for niosomes, ethosomes® and transfersomes® in occlusive and non-occlusive conditions. TEWL values in vivo, using healthy human volunteers, are ∼12 g/m2∙× h for all nanoformulations after 72 h, due to the rearrangement of lipids forming the SCE membranes. Conversely, TEWL values of healthy human volunteers, that are topically treated with niosomes, ethosomes® and transfersomes®, in non-occlusive conditions, are ∼20 g/m2∙× h. This data was lower than those obtained in occlusive conditions (∼35 g/m2∙× h). In vitro studies agreed results which are obtained in occlusive conditions using healthy human volunteers. SCE lipids of the skin restore their native structure after 72 h of nanocarrier application. In vitro and in vivo results showed that niosomes, ethosomes®, and transfersomes® interact with the skin in a temporary and reversible mode, and they can be used as suitable colloidal nanocarriers to increase the percutaneous permeation of drugs after topical application without damaging the native structure of the skin.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Passive microrheology was evaluated as a new technique for monitoring yoghurt fermentation. Ultra-high-temperature (UHT) semi-skimmed milk was inoculated with three different concentrations of a ...starter culture containing Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and the pH of the yoghurt and rheological parameters were determined at different time points during fermentation using a passive microrheology analyser. A correlation between the gel point and the amount of the starter culture mixture was observed. Passive microrheology can be considered a promising technique for real-time monitoring of the fermentation process of yoghurt.
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•Grape seed extract (GSE) was efficiently entrapped within chitosan microparticles.•GSE-microparticles exerted a significant anticancer activity.•The mucoadhesion of microsystems ...favored their cell uptake.
Studies have fully demonstrated that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables may reduce the incidence of tumors. In particular, Grape Seed Extract (GSE) has been shown to carry on chemopreventive and antitumor activity thanks to the numerous beneficial substances it contains.
The purpose of this work was to create a biocompatible matrix containing GSE in order to obtain microparticles able to modulate its biopharmaceutical parameters. The spray-drying technique was chosen in order to realize chitosan microparticles characterized by a mean diameter of 4–10μm and a positive surface charge that decreased after GSE encapsulation. The evaluation of the pharmacological activity of the GSE and these GSE-loaded chitosan microparticles on different cancer cells together with CLSM investigation evidenced an increase in the antitumor effect promoted by the polysaccharide as a consequence of the enhanced cell interaction.
Therefore GSE-loaded chitosan microparticles may be an innovative drug delivery system useful for the treatment of certain cancer-related diseases.
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