•Zein/ carboxymethyl dextrin nanoparticles were fabricated to deliver curcumin.•Addition of carboxymethyl dextrin enhanced encapsulation efficiency of curcumin.•Complex nanoparticles improved ...stability and antioxidant activity of curcumin.•Complex nanoparticles delayed release of curcumin in gastrointestinal fluids.
In this work, zein/carboxymethyl dextrin nanoparticles were successfully fabricated at different zein to carboxymethyl dextrin (CMD) mass ratios. Zein/CMD nanoparticles with the negative charge and the smallest size (212 nm) were formed when the mass ratio of zein to CMD was 2:1, exhibiting improved encapsulation efficiency of curcumin (85.5%). Electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were main driven forces for nanoparticles formulation and curcumin encapsulation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy determined curcumin might be partially embedded in CMD during encapsulation. The spherical structures of zein/CMD nanoparticles and curcumin-loaded zein/CMD nanoparticles were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The photothermal stability and antioxidant activity of curcumin were significantly enhanced after be loaded in zein/CMD nanoparticles. Furthermore, encapsulation of curcumin in zein/CMD nanoparticles significantly delayed the release of curcumin in simulated gastrointestinal fluids. These results indicated that zein/CMD nanoparticles could be effective encapsulating materials for bioactive compounds in food industry.
Abstract
Background
The Wnt signaling pathway is a complex network of protein interactions that functions most commonly in embryonic development and cancer, but is also involved in normal ...physiological processes in adults. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway regulates cell pluripotency and determines the differentiation fate of cells during development. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway (also known as the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway) is a recognized driver of colon cancer and one of the most representative signaling pathways. As a functional effector molecule of Wnt signaling, the modification and degradation of β-catenin are key events in the Wnt signaling pathway and the development and progression of colon cancer. Therefore, the Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diseases, especially the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC).
Objective
Inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway to explore the therapeutic targets of colorectal cancer.
Methods
Based on studying the Wnt pathway, master the biochemical processes related to the Wnt pathway, and analyze the relevant targets when drugs or inhibitors act on the Wnt pathway, to clarify the medication ideas of drugs or inhibitors for the treatment of diseases, especially colorectal cancer.
Results
Wnt signaling pathways include: Wnt/β-catenin or canonical Wnt signaling pathway, planar cell polarity (Wnt-PCP) pathway and Wnt-Ca
2+
signaling pathway. The Wnt signaling pathway is closely related to cancer cell proliferation, stemness, apoptosis, autophagy, metabolism, inflammation and immunization, microenvironment, resistance, ion channel, heterogeneity, EMT/migration/invasion/metastasis. Drugs/phytochemicals and molecular preparations for the Wnt pathway of CRC treatment have now been developed. Wnt inhibitors are also commonly used clinically for the treatment of CRC.
Conclusion
The development of drugs/phytochemicals and molecular inhibitors targeting the Wnt pathway can effectively treat colorectal cancer clinically.
•The high concentrations of PE (2.0%, 5.0% and 10.0%) increased the peak viscosity.•The CS-PE mixtures exhibited a pseudoplastic and shear-thinning behavior.•Pectin promoted a remarkable reduction in ...the fraction of RDS.•The PE decreased the hydrolysis rate of CS with lower values of C∞ and k.
In this paper, the effects of pectin (PE) with different concentrations on the pasting, rheological and digestibility properties of corn starch (CS) were evaluated. The Rapid Visco-Analyzer results showed that the peak viscosity was decreased with the concentrations of PE (0.5% and 1.0%) and then increased when the concentration of PE exceeded 2.0%. PE resulted in lower breakdown and setback values of CS. Rheological results revealed that the CS and CS-PE mixtures exhibited a pseudoplastic and shear-thinning behavior. The storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) of CS were increased with increasing PE concentrations from 2.0% to 10.0%. PE resulted in a decrease in the starch susceptibility to α-amylase and promoted a remarkable reduction (P < 0.05) in the fraction of rapidly digested starch. The hydrolysis kinetic analysis suggested a decelerating effect of pectin on the hydrolysis rate of CS with lower values of equilibrium hydrolysis percentage (C∞) and kinetic constant (k).
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•Limited hydrolysis could improve emulsifying properties of whey protein isolate.•The emulsibility of protein/protein hydrolysates were enhanced with succinylation.•The digestion rate ...and extent were lower in emulsion with succinylated emulsifier.•The curcumin bioaccessibility increased in emulsions with succinylated emulsifier.
In this study, the succinic anhydride (SA) modified whey protein isolate (WPI) and whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) were prepared and characterized as novel emulsifiers. After the succinylation, the solubility, emulsibility, and water/oil binding capacity of WPI/WPH were improved. Emulsions with modified and unmodified WPI/WPH were prepared and characterized on rheological property, particle sizes, and droplet distribution using rheometer, zeta-sizer and confocal laser scanning microscopy. A simulated digestion system was utilized to monitor the gastrointestinal fate of emulsions and the bioaccessibility of curcumin loaded in emulsions. The final digestion extents of WPIE-10 and WPHE-10 (emulsions stabilized by modified WPI/WPH with 10% SA addition) were lower than those of WPIE-0 and WPHE-0 (emulsions stabilized by unmodified WPI/WPH). The order of curcumin bioaccessibility was WPIE-10 (79.64%) ≈ WPHE-10 (86.75%) > WPIE-0 (64.23%) ≈ WPHE-0 (60.62%). Our study provided valuable information about novel emulsifiers stabilizing delivery system to improve curcumin bioaccessibility.
In this study, zein/carboxymethyl dextrin nanoparticles (ZCPs) were used as stabilizers to prepare Pickering emulsions. The contact angle (θ) of ZCPs with a mass ratio of 2:1 (zein:CMD) was 89.1°, ...which was suitable for stabilizing Pickering emulsions. The droplet sizes of ZCPs stabilized Pickering emulsions were dependent on particle concentration and oil volume fraction. The droplet sizes of emulsions decreased with increasing particle concentration at a constant oil volume fraction, and increased as the oil volume fraction increased fixing particle concentration. Visual observation indicated that ZCPs stabilized Pickering emulsions at various particle concentrations and oil fractions were stable during long-term storage. The rheological measurements indicated that all emulsions exhibited shear thinning behavior and the elastic gel-like structure. Furthermore, the viscosity and gel-like structure were relied on ZCPs concentrations and oil volume fractions. Confocal laser scanning microscope showed that ZCPs formed the densely packed layer around the oil droplets. ZCPs stabilized Pickering emulsions significantly inhibited lipid oxidation compared to zein nanoparticles stabilized emulsions. In vitro digestion study suggested that the free fatty acids (FFA) released, bioaccessibility and stability of curcumin in ZCPs stabilized Pickering emulsions were higher than those in bulk oil and zein nanoparticles stabilized emulsions. These researches might facilitate the preparation of Pickering emulsions with excellent stability for nutraceutical delivery in food and pharmaceutical applications.
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•Zein/carboxymethyl dextrin nanoparticles (ZCPs) were fabricated as effective stabilizers.•Pickering emulsions stabilized by ZCPs had superior storage stability.•Pickering emulsions stabilized by ZCPs significantly inhibited lipid oxidation.•The presence of carboxymethyl dextrin improved bioaccessibility of curcumin.
The physical and oxidation stability of emulsions stabilized by conjugates prepared by Maillard reaction between whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) and linear dextrin (LD) with different degree of ...polymerization (DP) were investigated. In accordance with the gradient ethanol precipitation, LD1 (DP = 23.78), LD2 (DP = 47.62) and LD3 (DP = 64.96) were prepared. WPH-LD conjugates were obtained by Maillard reaction in dry-heating condition and the degree of glycation (DG) of conjugates increased with the increasing content of LD. Structural analysis (fluorescence spectra and circular dichroism) revealed that the secondary structure of WPH changed after glycation and the conjugates had less α-helix content than unmodified WPH. Meanwhile, the greater DPPH radical scavenging ability and iron chelating activity of conjugates were demonstrated compared with unmodified WPH. Conjugates containing LD with low and middle DP could form Pickering emulsions due to the aggregation of LD with short chains. The superior storage stability, oxidative stability and physical stability against environment stress of emulsions stabilized by conjugates, enhanced with increasing DP of LD in conjugates, were attributed to the combined action of stabilization of particle emulsifiers and greater steric hindrance (occupied the dominant position) provided by conjugates. Maillard reaction between LD and WPH was efficient to produce conjugates with high potential use as emulsifying agents to stabilize emulsions with excellent physical and oxidative stability.
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•Glycation degree of conjugates increased with the increasing content of dextrin.•β-Sheet content of whey protein hydrolysates was 37.6% and increased after glycation.•Conjugates exhibited greater DPPH scavenging ability and iron chelating activity.•Emulsions stabilized by conjugates exhibited superior physical stability.•Steric hindrance occupied the dominant position in stability of emulsions.
•The HOSA-SPS with different DS was prepared by prior modification with HMT.•The DS of HOSA-SPS was higher than that of OSA-SPS in the same reaction condition.•HMT resulted in a crystalline ...transformation from C- to A-type.•The To, Tp, Tc and ΔH of OSA-8 and HOSA-8 were lower than those of NSPS and HSPS, respectively.
In order to increase the degree of substitution (DS), a combination of heat-moisture treatment (HMT) and octenyl succinylation (OSA) was used to modify sweet potato starch (SPS). The content of OSA had significant influence on the DS of starch, and DS of HMT OSA-modified SPS (HOSA-SPS) was higher than that of OSA-modified SPS (OSA-SPS), indicating that prior HMT could enhance the reaction. HOSA-SPS showed higher contents of SDS and RS in comparison with OSA-SPS as OSA concentration was beyond 6%. HMT decreased swelling power of starch while OSA modification had a contrary role (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed starch was destroyed by OSA modification while HMT had slight effect on the structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that crystal type of starch was transformed from C- to A-type resulted from HMT, and remained unchanged by OSA modification. The onset, peak, and conclusion gelatinization temperatures of starch increased by HMT and decreased by OSA modification (p < 0.05).
The Pickering emulsions stabilized by chitosan hydrochloride - carboxymethyl starch (CHC-CMS) nanogels prepared through a facile covalent cross-linking method using ...1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl-aminopropyl-1-carbodiimide) were investigated. The smallest mean size of CHC-CMS nanogels (378.2 nm) was obtained when the volume ratio of CHC: CMS was 2:1. The three-phase contract angle of CHC-CMS nanogels was 89.3°, which exhibited that the CHC-CMS nanogels could be used as effective Pickering emulsifiers. The effects of CHC-CMS nanogels concentration, oil phase fraction and environment factors viz, pH, ionic strength on the stability of emulsions were evaluated. An increase in CHC-CMS nanogels concentration led to a formation of smaller droplets, and the droplet size of Pickering emulsions was increased with the rise of oil phase fraction. The Pickering emulsions were highly stable at pH 6 and above. Increasing NaCl concentration was found to generate the aggregation of droplets. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the CHC-CMS nanogels could be adsorbed on the oil-water interface and form a densely packed layer at the surface of spherical oil droplets, which exhibited long-term stability for 3 months storage. Rheological results illustrated that all emulsions showed the typical pseudoplastic fluid characteristics and satisfied the Herschel-Bulkley model. The fact that the elastic modulus (G') was higher than the loss modulus (G″) in all the samples was indicative of the formation of an elastic gel-like structure. These results provided a potential way for Pickering emulsions preparations, which could be used as an effective delivery carrier of bioactives.
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•Chitosan hydrochloride-carboxymethyl starch (CHC-CMS) nanogels were prepared.•CHC-CMS nanogels were used as Pickering emulsions stabilizers.•CHC-CMS nanogels formed a densely packed layer on the surface of oil droplets.•Emulsions stabilized by CHC-CMS nanogels had long-term storage stability.•All emulsions showed the pseudoplastic fluid characteristics and gel-like structure.
Mentha (also known as peppermint), a genus of plants in the taxonomic family Lamiaceae (mint family), is widely distributed throughout temperate regions of the world. Mentha contains various ...constituents that are classified as peppermint essential oil (PEO) and non-essential components. PEO, consisting mainly of menthol, menthone, neomenthol and iso-menthone, is a mixture of volatile metabolites with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, scolicidal, immunomodulatory, antitumor, neuroprotective, antifatigue and antioxidant activities. Mounting evidence indicates that PEO may pharmacologically protect gastrointestinal, liver, kidney, skin, respiratory, brain and nervous systems, and exert hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. Clinically, PEO is used for gastrointestinal and dermatological diseases, postoperative adjuvant therapy and other fields. This review aims to address the advances in the extraction and isolation of PEO, its biological activities, pharmacological effects, toxicity and applications, with an emphasis on the efficacy of PEO on burn wounds and psoriasis, providing a comprehensive foundation for research, development and application of PEO in future.
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•Delineated the methods of extraction and isolation of PEO.•Summarized the biological activities, pharmacological effects, toxicity and applications of PEO.•Elucidated the transdermal absorption of PEO and its efficacy on burn wounds and psoriasis.
Random guessing behaviors are frequently observed in low-stakes assessments, often attributed to factors such as test-takers lacking motivation or experiencing time constraints and fatigue. Existing ...research suggests that responses stemming from random guessing behaviors introduce biases into the constructs and relationships of interest. This is particularly problematic when estimating the relationship between speed and ability. This study introduces a Mixture Fluency model designed to account for random guessing behaviors while utilizing valid response accuracy and response time to uncover students' latent attribute profiles. The model directly addresses a limitation present in the Fluency cognitive diagnostic model (Wang & Chen,
Psychometrika
,
85
, 600–629, (
2020
), which assumes that test-takers consistently employ solution behaviors when answering questions. To investigate the effectiveness of the proposed Mixture Fluency model, we conducted a simulation study encompassing various simulation conditions. Results from this study not only confirm the model's ability to detect potential random guessing behaviors but also demonstrate its capacity to enhance the inference of targeted latent constructs within the assessment. Additionally, we showcase the practical utility of the proposed model through an application to real data.
