Article
Infectious Diseases
Muhammed Awad, Timothy J. Barnes, Clive A. Prestidge
Summary: Lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs) are effective nanocarriers for delivering antimicrobials, but they are not stable in aqueous dispersions. In this study, lyophilization was used to produce dry LCNPs loaded with a hydrophobic antimicrobial compound. The rehydrated LCNPs retained their structure and antimicrobial activity. This research demonstrates the potential of lyophilization to enhance the application of LCNPs as an antimicrobial delivery system.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Zhiming Wang, Yongxuan Ma, Hualei Chen, Yuanyuan Deng, Zhencheng Wei, Yan Zhang, Xiaojun Tang, Ping Li, Zhihao Zhao, Pengfei Zhou, Guang Liu, Mingwei Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the fabrication of Pickering emulsion stabilized by rice bran-modified wheat gluten nanoparticle (RGNP) and evaluated the effect of rice bran-modification on lipid oxidation of emulsified soybean oil. The results showed that RGNP exhibited stronger antioxidant activities and could suppress the oxidation of soybean oil. Furthermore, RGNP also improved the oxidative stability of Pickering emulsion, which could expand the application of wheat gluten as an antioxidant solid particle.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Eman Gomaa, Heba A. Fathi, Noura G. Eissa, Mahmoud Elsabahy
Summary: Construction of nanocarriers, such as NLCs, has great potential in drug delivery systems. NLCs, as a new generation of solid lipid nanoparticles, have higher drug loading efficiency compared to SLNs and offer advantages in terms of preparation and scalability.
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Shreya Kaul, Upendra Nagaich, Navneet Verma
Summary: The research showed that the developed nanostructured liquid crystalline particles can improve the ocular residence time, permeability, and therapeutic effects of vancomycin. This novel ocular drug carrier may be a promising alternative for treating bacterial keratitis.
DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
P. Romero-Hasler, E. A. Soto-Bustamante, C. Parry-Mix, B. I. Ostrovskii
Summary: A series of 4-alkyloxyphenyl 4-(6-(methacryloyloxy)hexyloxy))benzoate monomers were synthesized and characterized. The study reveals the presence of both the nematic and monolayered orthogonal smectic A phase in the M6En series. It was found that monomers with a terminal chain length of five to twelve carbon atoms exhibit a wide temperature range of stable smectic A phase and a narrow intervening nematic phase at higher temperatures. The phase diagram and mesogenic properties of the M6En series are discussed in relation to the molecular structure of these monomers.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jiangtao Huang, Jintao Li, Yong Ning, Yalun Ren, Yuexin Shao, Huawen Zhang, Xueyang Zong, Huaiping Shi
Summary: Leucine supplementation increases milk protein and milk fat synthesis in bovine mammary cells. It activates mTOR and increases the expression of key genes involved in lipid metabolism. PPAR alpha is independently correlated with leucine dosage and plays a role in leucine catabolism.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Davor Daniloski, Noel A. McCarthy, Inge Gazi, Todor Vasiljevic
Summary: This study investigated the effect of differences in beta-casein polymorphic structure on the acid-induced gelation behavior of corresponding skim milks. The results showed that skim milk containing A2/A2 beta-casein formed gels with lower elastic modulus, water holding capacity, and gel permeability compared to A1/A1 and A1/A2 gels. Microscopy images also revealed differences in gel structure, with A1/A1 and A1/A2 gels having a denser microstructure and smaller pore size. The composition of the milks, such as the amount of alpha-helixes, aggregated beta-sheets, calcium, and x-casein, may contribute to these differences in gelation.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Vivek P. Chavda, Sathish Dyawanapelly, Shilpa Dawre, Ines Ferreira-Faria, Rajashri Bezbaruah, Niva Rani Gogoi, Praveen Kolimi, Divyang J. Dave, Ana Claudia Paiva-Santos, Lalitkumar K. Vora
Summary: Liquid crystal-based nanoformulations are efficient in delivering drugs and therapeutics to specific biological sites. Lyotropic liquid crystalline phases (LLCPs) have unique characteristics that make them promising drug delivery systems, offering improved drug loading, stability, and controlled release. Factors such as molecule shape, microsegregation, and chirality play important roles in the formation of these liquid crystalline phases. Additionally, due to their similarity to biological membranes, liquid crystals demonstrate higher bioadhesivity and biocompatibility, making them more effective for targeted drug delivery.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Maria Chountoulesi, Stergios Pispas, Ioulia K. Tseti, Costas Demetzos
Summary: This review provides an overview of the engineering and characterization of non-lamellar lyotropic liquid crystalline nanosystems (LLCN), highlighting their advantages as drug delivery nanocarriers and innovative vaccine platforms. Non-lamellar LLCN demonstrate stimuli-responsive and controlled release properties, as well as unique adjuvant properties for immune system activation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Peter Bury, Marek Vevericik, Frantisek Cernobila, Matus Molcan, Katarina Zakut'anska, Peter Kopcansky, Milan Timko
Summary: The study investigates the effect of liquid crystalline hosts on structural changes in magnetosomes based on ferronematics using surface acoustic wave (SAW) technique and other measurements. The results show different responses of doped liquid crystals under magnetic and electric fields compared to undoped liquid crystals, with a decrease in threshold field and slight effects on structural changes.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aldemar Gordillo-Galeano, Claudia Elizabeth Mora-Huertas
Summary: The study emphasizes the importance of using dynamic light scattering and laser Doppler electrophoresis under suitable experimental conditions to provide reliable information about lipid nanoparticles, particularly in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) stabilized by nonionic surfactants.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Shujing Guo, Chuanguo Ma, Yuyuan Hu, Zhenjia Song, Tong Wang, Ruinan Yang
Summary: Encapsulation of phytosterols in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) is an effective approach to improve their physicochemical properties. In this study, a desired phytosterols-loaded NLC (PS-NLC) formulation with reduced absorption of intestinal cholesterol was screened by using glycerol monostearate (GMS) as the solid lipid fraction. The PS-NLCs with medium chain triglycerides (MCT) showed higher inhibition of cholesterol bioaccessibility than the formulations with long chain triglycerides (LCT), and a cocrystallization mechanism occurred during in vitro digestion.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Eleonora Maretti, Eliana Leo, Cecilia Rustichelli, Eleonora Truzzi, Cristina Siligardi, Valentina Iannuccelli
Summary: This study investigated the use of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLC) to enhance skin permeation of the highly lipophilic beta-carotene (BC) for improved antioxidant effects. The smallest sized NLC sample showed deeper penetration into the skin barrier, potentially providing better protection against oxidative damages.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Miora Rakotoarisoa, Borislav Angelov, Shirly Espinoza, Krishna Khakurel, Thomas Bizien, Markus Drechsler, Angelina Angelova
Summary: This study aims to develop dual- and multiloaded nanocarriers with antioxidant functionality and various protective activities. By coencapsulating curcumin and omega-3 PUFAs, the oxidative stability of self-assembled formulations can be increased. Through structural phase diagrams and compositional variations, different nanoscale structures can be achieved for potential development of stable and effective delivery systems.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Maria Apostolou, Sulaf Assi, Amos A. Fatokun, Iftikhar Khan
Summary: This study aimed to identify the effects of lipids on the physicochemical properties of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) through literature review. The size of solid lipid and its complexity tend to affect the particle size of the final formulation, while the ratio of solid to liquid lipid can influence the particle size and stability of NLCs. Entrapment efficiency is highly dependent on drug-lipid interaction and solubility, with no direct correlation found between lipids used and zeta potential.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Stephanie MacWilliams, Andrew J. Clulow, Nigel M. Kirby, Reinhard Miller, Ben J. Boyd, Graeme Gillies, David A. Beattie, Marta Krasowska
Summary: This study investigated the impact of dairy proteins on interfacial mono-and diglycerides (MDG) crystal formation using interfacially-sensitive techniques. The results showed that dairy proteins can lower the temperature at which MDG crystals form at the oil-water interface, and the displacement of proteins during interfacial crystal formation was observed. Additionally, X-ray scattering techniques were used to characterize lipid crystals formed at the oil-water interface for the first time, and the results demonstrated that protein adsorption does not affect the MDG crystal structures. Therefore, the informed selection of emulsifier components is crucial for controlling interfacial crystallization and its impact on emulsion stability.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Xudong Cai, Bo Fan, San H. Thang, Calum J. Drummond, Nhiem Tran, Jiali Zhai
Summary: Responsive nanoparticle delivery systems have potential for reducing off-target side effects in chemotherapeutic treatment. In this study, lipid-based cubosomes loaded with paclitaxel were formulated and stabilized by novel amphiphilic block copolymers containing pH-responsive and/or hydrogen peroxide-responsive blocks. The cubosomes demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency and controlled release of the drug in response to pH and H2O2 changes. In vitro cytotoxicity and cell uptake studies showed that the cubosomes had higher toxicity and cell internalization efficiency compared to free paclitaxel and cubosomes stabilized by non-responsive block copolymers. The results highlight the potential of responsive block copolymers in stabilizing lipid cubosomes and enhancing drug release and cellular uptake.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Adam Markowski, Magdalena Zaremba-Czogalla, Anna Jaromin, Ewa Olczak, Adrianna Zygmunt, Haniyeh Etezadi, Ben J. Boyd, Jerzy Gubernator
Summary: Pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease, and there is an urgent need for new drugs and therapies. Liposome-based formulations of naturally-derived bioactive compounds show promise as anticancer candidates due to their ability to accumulate in tumor tissues and protect against toxicity. In this study, the naturally-derived flavonoid baicalein was encapsulated in a liposomal bilayer with high efficiency. The resulting formulation showed stability and demonstrated cytotoxic activity against pancreatic cancer cell lines, making it a potential candidate for anti-PDAC therapy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huiyan Li, Huilin Zhang, Xiaofang He, Peiran Zhao, Tong Wu, Jinxuan Xiahou, Yelin Wu, Yanyan Liu, Yang Chen, Xingwu Jiang, Guanglei Lv, Zhenwei Yao, Jian Wu, Wenbo Bu
Summary: A communication interception strategy is developed to block spatiotemporal crosstalk between lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) using amorphous-core@crystalline-shell Fe@Fe3O4 nanoparticles (ACFeNPs). This strategy induces autophagy and ER stress, leading to a significant therapeutic effect for cancer treatment.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Junhua Li, Jinjing Sun, Cuihua Chang, Luping Gu, Yujie Su, Jiali Zhai
Summary: The influence of neutral locust bean gum (LBG), guar gum (GG), and anionic xanthan gum (XG) on the foaming and baking properties of egg white (EW) powders were investigated in this study. The addition of these gums increased the surface tension, particle size, viscosity, and interfacial adsorption modulus of reconstituted EW solutions, while decreasing surface hydrophobicity. The addition of gums, especially LBG and GG, reduced the whipping time in the preparation of cake batter by facilitating the rapid infiltration of air in foam. The inclusion of neutral gums improved the baking performance of EW powders by increasing the foaming rate and capacity.
FOOD HYDROCOLLOIDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Haitao Yu, Brendan P. Dyett, Jiali Zhai, Jamie B. Strachan, Calum J. Drummond, Charlotte E. Conn
Summary: Non-lamellar lyotropic liquid crystal nanoparticles (LLCNPs) are gaining attention in drug delivery and nanomedicine. Traditional methods lack control and reproducibility in particle size distribution and are unsuitable for fragile therapeutics. A scalable, high-throughput strategy is urgently needed. A bottom-up approach was used to formulate LLCNPs with lower polydispersity compared to traditional top-down methods. The particle size could be controlled by varying the flow rate. Stable, drug-loaded cubosomes were successfully formulated using this method. This work promotes the use of LLCNPs in nanomedicine.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Malinda Salim, Gisela Ramirez, Andrew J. Clulow, Adrian Hawley, Ben J. Boyd
Summary: The development of formulation approaches for coadministering lopinavir and ritonavir antiretroviral drugs to children is crucial for effective treatment of HIV infection. This study investigated the digestion of milk and infant formula on the solubilization behavior of lopinavir and ritonavir to understand the fate of the drugs in the gastrointestinal tract. The findings highlighted the importance of assessing the solubilization of individual drugs in a combined matrix in order to determine their availability for absorption and metabolism.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Cuihua Chang, Xin Li, Jiali Zhai, Yujie Su, Luping Gu, Junhua Li, Yanjun Yang
Summary: The emerging research interests in protein particle fabrication as soft-particle emulsifiers show the potential of using them in novel poly-phase dispersing food systems. This review summarizes the key physicochemical properties of protein particles and their role in constructing Pickering emulsions. However, challenges such as sensitivity to pH, ionic strength, temperature changes, and oxidation during storage limit their acceptance in food products. Current strategies to improve the stability and restrict oxidation are discussed. An ideal protein particle-based Pickering emulsion system is proposed, promoting its use in innovative food and nutraceutical products.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Syaza Y. Binte Abu Y. Bakar, Malinda Salim, Andrew J. Clulow, Susanne Seibt, Cornelia B. Landersdorfer, Donna T. Geddes, Kevin R. Nicholas, Ben J. Boyd
Summary: Colostrum provides essential bioactive components for the infant gut microbiota colonization and preventing infectious diseases. However, substitutes are urgently needed for premature infants when colostrum is unavailable. This study aimed to design an appropriate lipid component for a colostrum substitute and evaluate its ability to reduce inflammation in intestinal cells. Analysis showed that the digestion of colostrum and the substitute mixtures had similar lipid profiles but exhibited subtle differences in self-assembly behavior. Bifidobacteria cultured on the substitute mixtures modulated the biological markers of necrotizing enterocolitis, suggesting the potential of these substitutes in reducing the characteristics associated with this disease.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chiara Pasquarella, Serena Bertoni, Nadia Passerini, Ben J. Boyd, Karlis Berzins
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of different spectral ranges in the kinetic in situ analysis of lipid polymorphic transformations and found that the low-frequency Raman (LFR) domain showed superior characteristics and structural sensitivity.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qi Han, Mohamad El Mohamad, Stuart Brown, Jiali Zhai, Carlos J. Rosado, Yi Shen, Ewan W. Blanch, Calum J. Drummond, Tamar L. Greaves
Summary: Ionic liquids have a substantial effect on the structure and aggregation of globular proteins, and different concentrations and types of ILs can induce changes in protein structure and aggregation.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Haitao Yu, Joshua Iscaro, Brendan Dyett, Yiran Zhang, Susanne Seibt, Natalia Martinez, Jacinta White, Calum J. Drummond, Steven Bozinovski, Jiali Zhai
Summary: mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology has great potential in disease prevention and treatment. This study discovered a correlation between the mesophase transition of LNPs and the transfection efficiency of mRNAs, highlighting the importance of mesophase transition in endosomal escape.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Anas Aljabbari, Shinji Kihara, Thomas Rades, Ben J. Boyd, Karlis Berzins
Summary: The adsorption of gut relevant biomolecules onto particles after oral administration of solid oral dosage forms is expected to form a gastrointestinal corona, which could influence solution-mediated solid-state transformations. This study used low-frequency Raman spectroscopy to investigate the in situ solid-state phase transformations under biorelevant conditions and the presence of biomolecules. The results showed a change in the solid-state transformation pathway from amorphous to crystalline drug and the role of biomolecules in influencing these transformations.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Haiyan Li, Keerthi Subramanian Iyer, Lei Bao, Jiali Zhai, Jiao Jiao Li
Summary: Granular microporous hydrogels made of non-spherical microgels show enhanced characteristics compared to traditional nanoporous hydrogels, promoting cell viability, migration, and tissue regeneration. These hydrogels have higher macroporosity and improved mechanical properties, allowing for better alignment and differentiation of cells in anisotropic tissue. The development of these hydrogels is gaining increasing interest in regenerative medicine.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Malinda Salim, Sara J. Fraser-Miller, Karlis Berzins, Joshua J. Sutton, Keith C. Gordon, Ben J. Boyd
Summary: Low-frequency Raman spectroscopy (LFRS) is used to detect and track the precipitation of drugs in lipid-based formulations during digestion. Multivariate data analysis and univariate analysis approaches were used to analyze the spectral changes over time and compare the results with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. LFRS was found to be a complementary technique to determine the kinetics of drug precipitation from lipid-based formulations, potentially providing more accessible results than SAXS.