Influence of oleogel composition on lipid digestibility and ß-carotene bioaccessibility during in vitro digestion.

This study explored how co-oleogelator type, concentration, and water addition affect lipid digestion and ß-carotene (ßC) bioaccessibility in corn oil oleogels. Oleogels containing 0.1% ßC, 20% glyceryl stearate (GS), with lecithin (L) or hydrogenated lecithin (HL) (at 0, 0.5, or 2.5%) and their water-filled counterparts (1% water) were examined. In vitro intestinal digestion revealed HL-oleogels experienced higher lipolysis due to their smaller crystal size enhancing surface area for lipase action, whereas L-oleogels presented lower digestibility, attributed to larger oil droplets and a minimized surface area. Water addition didn't significantly change lipid digestibility. ßC bioaccessibility was inversely related to co-oleogelator concentration, with L-oleogels demonstrating the largest decrease, likely due to less free fatty acids released for micelle formation. However, water-filled oleogels enhanced ßC bioaccessibility. These findings highlight that tailored microstructure in oleogels can control lipid digestion and ßC bioaccessibility, paving the way for designing efficient delivery systems for targeted nutrient delivery.

Outcomes of patients with traumatic brain injury after stress ulcer prophylaxis: a retrospective multicenter study.

Background: Stress ulcers in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) present significant morbidity and mortality risks. Despite the low reported stress ulcer rates, stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) is widely administered in neurocritical care. It was hypothesized that universal SUP administration may not be associated with reduced rates of complications across all neurocritical care patients. Methods: This retrospective study encompassed neurocritical care patients aged ≥18 with moderate or severe TBI or SCI, admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between October 2020 and September 2021, across six level I trauma centers. Exclusions included patients with an ICU stay <2 days, prior SUP medication use, and pre-existing SUP diagnoses. The primary exposure was SUP, with the primary outcome being clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeds (CSGIBs). Secondary outcomes included pneumonia and in-hospital mortality. Patients were stratified by admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) groups. Results: Among 407 patients, 83% received SUP, primarily H2 receptor antagonists (88%) and proton pump inhibitors (12%). Patients on SUP were significantly younger, had lower admission GCS scores, higher Injury Severity Scores, longer ICU stays, and higher rates of mechanical ventilation than non-SUP patients. Overall, CSGIBs were rare (1%) and not significantly different between the SUP and non-SUP groups (p=0.06). However, CSGIBs exclusively occurred in patients with GCS scores of 3-8, and SUP was associated with a significantly lower rate of CSGIBs in this subgroup (p=0.03). SUP was also linked to significantly higher pneumonia rates in both GCS 3-8 and GCS 9-12 patients. Conclusions: This study highlights the low incidence of CSGIBs in neurocritical trauma patients and suggests potential benefits of SUP, particularly for those with severe neurological impairment. Nevertheless, the increased risk of pneumonia associated with SUP in these patients warrants caution. Further research is crucial to refine SUP guidelines for neurocritical care patients and inform optimal strategies. Level of evidence: Level III, retrospective.

Modulating edible-oleogels physical and functional characteristics by controlling their microstructure.

The influence of co-oleogelators like lecithin or hydrogenated lecithin together with the addition of dispersed water droplets to modulate the microstructure and thus the physical properties of glyceryl stearate (GS)-corn oil oleogels was investigated by thermal profile, microstructure, hardness, and oil binding capacity (OBC). The addition of ß-carotene (ßC) was also assessed. With lecithin, crystallization and melting temperatures were reduced, resulting in less-ordered crystal networks with a lower hardness and OBC, while with hydrogenated lecithin, the opposite effect was observed. In the presence of water, oleogels became harder but more brittle. Finally, ßC acted as a crystal modifier increasing the hardness and OBC in the presence of lecithin, but decreased these parameters in hydrogenated lecithin-containing and water-filled oleogels. This study provides a better understanding on how the composition of GS-based oleogels can affect their physical properties.

Effect of digestible versus non-digestible citral nanoemulsions on human gut microorganisms: An in vitro digestion study.

Essential oil (EO) nanoemulsions have been recently studied due to their antimicrobial properties. Nevertheless, little is known about their possible negative effect against human gut microorganisms during their passage though the gastrointestinal tract. This work studied the effect of digestible (corn oil) or non-digestible (paraffin oil) citral nanoemulsions against specific microorganisms of human microflora under in vitro digestion conditions. The use of a citral lipid carrier (paraffin oil or corn oil) decreased the nanoemulsion particle size and increased its stability after gastric conditions with regards to the pure citral nanoemulsions. Digestible nanoemulsions formulated with corn oil and citral presented a lower bactericidal activity against Lactobacillus acidophilus and Escherichia coli after being subjected to in vitro digestion conditions in comparison to the initial nanoemulsion. However, a non-digestible nanoemulsion formulated with paraffin oil and citral presented a similar antimicrobial activity against L. acidophilus and E. coli to the one of the initial nanoemulsion. This evidences that non-digestible nanoemulsions may entrap the citral in the lipid core and thus retaining its antimicrobial potential during their passage though the gastrointestinal tract. Hence, this work evidences the impact of the lipid carrier digestibility when formulating antimicrobial nanoemulsions on certain intestinal probiotic bacteria.

Impact of the lipid phase composition and state on the in vitro digestibility and chlorophyllin bioaccessibility of W1/O/W2 emulsions into whole milk.

Water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) emulsions offer the potential to deliver hydrophilic bioactive compounds into foods, yet their application remains limited due to their instability. Thus, the impact of lipid phase composition and state on the colloidal stability, in vitro lipid digestibility and chlorophyllin (CHL) bioaccessibility of W1/O/W2 emulsions before and after incorporation into whole milk was studied. Medium-chain triglyceride oil (MCT) was used as a liquid lipid phase and MCT with glyceryl stearate (GS) or pure hydrogenated palm oil (HPO) as gelled lipid phases. The lipid phase composition was crucial to forming W1/O/W2 emulsions. MCT or MCT+GS allowed the successful formation of W1/O/W2 emulsions, being more stable upon gastric conditions those formulated with MCT+GS than pure MCT. In contrast, the use of HPO led to phase separation, which was maintained after the gastric conditions. Regarding their lipid digestibility, W1/O/W2 emulsions formulated with MCT or MCT+GS were fully digested, whereas only 40% of the lipid was digested using HPO. In accordance, the CHL bioaccessibility was higher using MCT or MCT+GS than HPO. When co-digested with whole milk, the colloidal stability and lipid digestibility of the W1/O/W2 emulsions with MCT or MCT+GS were not altered, whereas the W1/O/W2 emulsion-HPO showed enhanced colloidal stability and lipid digestibility (57.71 ± 3.06%), due to the surface-active properties of milk protein. The present study provides useful information to develop stable functional foods enriched with hydrophilic bioactive compounds by using W1/O/W2 emulsions.

The ANTI-Vea-UGR Platform: A Free Online Resource to Measure Attentional Networks (Alertness, Orienting, and Executive Control) Functioning and Executive/Arousal Vigilance.

The Attentional Networks Test for Interactions and Vigilance-executive and arousal components (ANTI-Vea) is a computerized task of 32 min duration in the standard format. The task simultaneously assesses the main effects and interactions of the three attentional networks (i.e., phasic alertness, orienting, and executive control) and two dissociated components of vigilance with reasonable reliability (executive and arousal vigilance). We present this free and publicly accessible resource (ANTI-Vea-UGR; https://anti-vea.ugr.es/) developed to easily run, collect, and analyze data with the ANTI-Vea (or its subtasks measuring some attentional and/or vigilance components embedded in the ANTI-Vea). Available in six different languages, the platform allows for the adaptation of stimulus timing and procedure to facilitate data collection from different populations (e.g., clinical patients, children). Collected data can be freely downloaded and easily analyzed with the provided scripts and tools, including a Shiny app. We discuss previous evidence supporting that attention and vigilance components can be assessed in typical lab conditions as well as online and outside the laboratory. We hope this tutorial will help researchers interested in measuring attention and vigilance with a tool useful to collect data from large sample sizes and easy to use in applied contexts.

Polysaccharide-based structured lipid carriers for the delivery of curcumin: An in vitro digestion study.

The present work aimed at studying the in vitro digestion fate of κ-carrageenan (KC) or agar (AG) emulsion gels (EG), and KC oil-filled aerogels (OAG) in terms of their structural changes, lipolysis kinetics and curcumin bioaccessibility. On the one hand, both EG and aerogels showed large (70-200 µm) and heterogeneous particles after gastric conditions, indicating the release of bulk oil and gelled material. Nonetheless, this material release in the stomach phase was lower in the case of EG-AG and OAG-KC compared to EG-KC. After small intestinal conditions, EG and oil-filled aerogels presented a wide range of particle sizes probably due to the presence of undigested lipid material, gelled structures, as well as lipid digestion products. For the most part, adding curcumin to the structures' lipid phase did not cause of the structural modifications that occurred at the different in vitro digestion phases. On the other hand, the lipolysis kinetics was different depending on the type of structure. Amongst emulsion-gels, those formulated with κ-carrageenan presented a slower and lower lipolysis kinetics compared to those formulated with agar, which could be attributed to their higher initial hardness. Overall, the addition of curcumin in the lipid phase decreased the lipolysis in all the structures, which evidenced its interference in the lipid digestion process. The curcumin bioaccessibility reached high values (≈ 100 %) for all the studied structures, presenting a high solubility in intestinal fluids. This work unravels the implications of microstructural changes of emulsion-gels and oil-filled aerogels during digestion and their impact on their digestibility and subsequent functionality.

Understanding the Quality of Life and Its Related Factors in Orthodontics Postgraduate Students: A Mixed Methods Approach.

This study analyzed the academic, sociodemographic, and labor conditions related to the quality of life (QOL) of orthodontics postgraduate students in Colombia. A mixed study (explanatory sequential design) was conducted. An online cross-sectional survey (n = 84; 64.3% females) was carried out with sociodemographic, academic, social support, health, labor, and QOL (WHOQOL-BREF) variables. Descriptive, bivariate analyses, and multivariate linear regression were performed. Focus groups (FGs) delved into aspects of relevance regarding QOL and determinants, through qualitative content analysis and triangulation of information. The median score in the four WHOQOL-BREF dimensions surpasses 50 points, with the highest score being in the psychological dimension (62.5 ± 16.7). According to the multivariate linear regression models, the variables significantly associated with QOL scores were playing sports, being married/living together, normal BMI, low social support, and medium/low socioeconomic status. The qualitative results explained the determinants of QOL in the personal, academic, and social dimensions of the participants. The discourses showed that the postgraduate course represents a resignification of their life, where their QOL is affected by the difficulties of their academic development, by the difficulty of reconciling the personal academic load with their affective, work, and social life, and by the stress they experience in their staff process. In conclusion, the participants' QOL was moderate and affected by different factors. The findings highlighted the importance of mental health promotion and well-being strategies in students of orthodontic postgraduate training programs in Colombia for improving QOL.

Fabrication of edible solid lipid nanoparticle from beeswax/propolis wax by spontaneous emulsification: Optimization, characterization and stability.

In the current study, the production and characterization of novel solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) using safe/low-cost natural beeswax (BW) and propolis wax (PW) and by the simple and inexpensive assay of spontaneous emulsification were studied. To fabricate SLNs, the optimum levels of surfactant/oil ratio (SOR), stirring speed, and time were obtained based on minimum particle size (PS) and polydispersity index (PDI). Therefore, the optimal conditions to produce PW and BW nanoparticles were SOR of 1.26 and 2 under stirring speed of 1050 rpm for 20 min, leading to PS of 21.9 and 23.2 nm, respectively. The contact angle of 73.7° and 62.9° for BW and PW SLNs respectively, showed suitable hydrophilicity to stabilize oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions. Temperatures over 70 °C led to a drastic increment of PS in both types of SLNs. Upon nanoparticles drying, the utilization of cryoprotectants could cause less aggregation and better reconstitution.

Emulsion gels and oil-filled aerogels as curcumin carriers: Nanostructural characterization of gastrointestinal digestion products.

Agar and κ-carrageenan emulsion gels and oil-filled aerogels were investigated as curcumin carriers and their structure and mechanical properties, as well as their structural changes upon in vitro gastrointestinal digestion were characterized. Agar emulsion gels presented stiffer behaviour, with smaller and more homogeneous oil droplets (ϕ âˆ¼ 12 µm) than those from κ-carrageenan (ϕ âˆ¼ 243 µm). The structure of κ-carrageenan gels was characterized by the presence of rigid swollen linear chains, while agar produced more branched networks. After simulated gastrointestinal digestion bile salt lamellae/micelles (∼5 nm) and larger vesicles of partially digested oil (Rg âˆ¼ 20-50 nm) were the predominant structures, being their proportion dependent of the polysaccharide type and the physical state of the gel network. The presence of curcumin induced the formation of larger vesicles and limited the formation of mixed lamellae/micelles.

Prevalence of Heterotrophic Methylmercury Detoxifying Bacteria across Oceanic Regions.

Microbial reduction of inorganic divalent mercury (Hg2+) and methylmercury (MeHg) demethylation is performed by the mer operon, specifically by merA and merB genes, respectively, but little is known about the mercury tolerance capacity of marine microorganisms and its prevalence in the ocean. Here, combining culture-dependent analyses with metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data, we show that marine bacteria that encode mer genes are widespread and active in the global ocean. We explored the distribution of these genes in 290 marine heterotrophic bacteria (Alteromonas and Marinobacter spp.) isolated from different oceanographic regions and depths, and assessed their tolerance to diverse concentrations of Hg2+ and MeHg. In particular, the Alteromonas sp. ISS312 strain presented the highest tolerance capacity and a degradation efficiency for MeHg of 98.2% in 24 h. Fragment recruitment analyses of Alteromonas sp. genomes (ISS312 strain and its associated reconstructed metagenome assembled genome MAG-0289) against microbial bathypelagic metagenomes confirm their prevalence in the deep ocean. Moreover, we retrieved 54 merA and 6 merB genes variants related to the Alteromonas sp. ISS312 strain from global metagenomes and metatranscriptomes from Tara Oceans. Our findings highlight the biological reductive MeHg degradation as a relevant pathway of the ocean Hg biogeochemical cycle.

Volatile composition and sensory properties of wines from vineyards affected by iron chlorosis.

Recent studies have shown that mild to moderate iron chlorosis can have positive effects on grape quality potential, including volatile profile. The main objective of this work was to investigate, for the first time, how moderate iron stress in grapevines affects the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in wines. The study was carried out during 2018-2019 seasons, in 20 Tempranillo vineyard subzones with different degree of iron deficiency, located in Ribera del Duero (North-Central Spain). The results showed that moderate iron stress increased in wines the concentrations of VOCs associated with floral notes, such as 2-phenylacetaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol and 2-phenylethyl acetate, while reducing the presence of C6-alcohols, responsible for green-herbaceous aroma. A favourable reduction of pH and a betterment of parameters related to colour were detected in wines from iron deficient subzones. Chlorosis incidence was associated to improvements in wine sensory attributes as layer intensity, black fruit and aroma intensity.

Efecto del factor de crecimiento fibroblástico dos (FGF-2), en la reducción de la senescencia en células madre mesenquimales aisladas de gelatina de Wharton / Fibroblastic growth factor two (FGF-2), in reducing the senescent effect on mesenchymal stem cell isolated from Wharton ́s jelly

Resumen Introducción. Las células madre mesenquimales han generado interés en la ingeniería de tejidos, debido a sus propiedades proliferativas y capacidad de reparación de tejidos, sin embargo, para un trasplante exitoso, es necesario aumentar el número de células mediante un cultivo in-vitro. Durante este proceso la capacidad proliferativa disminuye, provocando cambios en la morfología y funcionalidad celular y afectando la viabilidad del cultivo, este estado se conoce como senescencia celular y como posibles causales, se ha considerado el estrés oxidativo y la falta de factores de crecimiento. Objetivos: Evaluar el efecto de FGF-2 sobre la senescencia de un cultivo de células madre mesenquimales aisladas de gelatina de Wharton y su papel en la regulación del estrés oxidativo. Metodología. Se añadieron dosis de 3,5 y 7,5 ng de FGF-2 al cultivo. Durante los pasajes 5 y 7, se estimó tanto la senescencia celular como la presencia de ROS (especies reactivas de oxígeno). Resultados.Se obtuvo en el pasaje 5, una diferencia significativa del 99,5% entre el control (+) con respecto a los tratamientos con FGF-2, sin embargo, en el pasaje 7 se observó un aumento en la producción de la enzima ß-galactosidasa y cambios morfológicos, confirmando un estado senescente en el cultivo en todos los tratamientos evaluados. Conclusión. Las dosis utilizadas en este estudio contribuyeron positivamente a disminuir el proceso senescente en el cultivo celular, además se determinó, que el FGF-2 puede prolongar el tiempo de cultivo, retardando parcialmente la concentración de especies reactivas de oxígeno

AbstractIntroduction. Mesenchymal stem cells have been generated interest in tissue engineering, due to their proliferative properties and tissue repair capacity, however, for a successful transplant process, it is necessary to increase the number of cells in a culture expansion process. During this process the proliferative capacity is limited, causing changes in cell morphology and functionality affecting the viability of the culture, this state is known as cell senescence. Oxidative stress and deregulation of growth factors are considered as reasons. Aims. To evaluate the effect of FGF-2 on the senescence of a mesenchymal stem cells culture isolated from Wharton ́s jelly and its role in the regulation of oxidative stress. Methodology: 3,5 and 7,5 ng doses of FGF-2 were added to the culture medium from passage 2, then the senescence of the culture was evaluated and the presence of reactive oxygen species was determined during passages 5 and 7. Results. We observed that in passage 5, there is a significant difference 99.5% between the control (+) concerning the FGF-2 treatments, however, in passage 7, an increase in the production of the enzyme ß-galactosidase was observed and changes in morphology such as: increase in size and elongated shape of the cell, confirming a senescent state on the culture in all the treatments evaluated. Conclusion. The doses used in this study contributed positively to decrease this process in a cell culture, also, the FGF- 2 can prolong the cultivation time, partially decreasing the concentration of reactive oxygen species

Decisions about the diagnostic and treatment criteria of dental caries among a group of dental students, faculty staff and dentists within the city of Medellin, Colombia / Decisiones sobre los criterios de diagnóstico y tratamiento de la caries dental entre un grupo de estudiantes de odontología, profesores y odontólogos de la ciudad de Medellín, Colombia

Objective: To analyze the criteria for diagnosis and treatment decision-making in relation to dental caries in different participants (teachers of dentistry, dental students at dental schools, and dentists practicing at public oral health services) in the city of Medellin (Colombia). Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was applied in the period September 2015-december 2016 by means of an international validated questionnaire in 340 participants (dental teachers: 69, dental students: 193, dentists: 78). The survey addressed several topics related to detection and restorative threshold, preferences of preparation type, restorative materials used and opinions about diagnosis and treatment for dental caries. A descriptive analysis was carried out and Chi square tests were applied to observe statistically significant differences between the study variables.Results: 340 participants were surveyed among teachers who teach cariology, health care dentists, and undergraduate final-year students. Most participants were women (70%). The age mean was higher for DDSs (46 ± 9 years). On average, practicing dentists and dental teachers had a work experience of 21 ± 9 years. In case of treatment decisions, the majority of the surveyed would use immediate operative restorative treatment for advanced carious lesions (inner one-third of the dentin for approximal and grade 5 for occlusal). In addition, respondents reported different cavities diagnosis for clinical occlusal cases and some significant statistically differences were found for restorative treatment decisions and type of materials according to the type of participant. Conclusion: Criteria for diagnosis and treatment of dental caries differed among the student, dentist and dental teachers with variety in diagnosis and treatment concepts. However, a conservative tendency for restorative treatment decisions was observed. Strategies for incorporating non-restorative and minimal measures in professional practice should be considered in curricula of universities.

Objetivo: Analizar los criterios para la toma de decisiones diagnósticas y terapéuticas en relación a la caries dental en diferentes participantes (docentes, estudiantes de odontología de las facultades de odontología y odontólogos de los servicios públicos de salud bucal) de la ciudad de Medellín (Colombia). Material y Métodos: Se aplicó un estudio transversal en el período septiembre 2015 - diciembre 2016 mediante cuestionario internacional validado en 340 participantes (profesores de odontología: 69, estudiantes de odontología: 193, odontólogos: 78). La encuesta abordó varios temas relacionados con la detección y el umbral de restauración, las preferencias del tipo de preparación, los materiales de restauración utilizados y las opiniones sobre el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la caries dental. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y se aplicaron pruebas de Chi cuadrado para observar diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las variables de estudio. Resultados: Se encuestó a 340 participantes entre profesores que imparten clases de cariología, odontólogos y estudiantes de último año de pregrado. La mayoría de los participantes eran mujeres (70%). La edad media fue mayor para los odontólogos (46 ± 9 años). En promedio, los odontólogos y los profesores de odontología tenían una experiencia laboral de 21 ± 9 años. En caso de decisiones de tratamiento, la mayoría de los encuestados utilizaría tratamiento restaurador quirúrgico inmediato para lesiones cariosas avanzadas (tercio interno de la dentina para proximal y grado 5 para oclusal). Además, los encuestados informaron diferentes diagnósticos de caries para los casos clínicos oclusales y se encontraron algunas diferencias estadísticamente significativas para las decisiones de tratamiento restaurativo y el tipo de materiales según el tipo de participante. Conclusion: Los criterios para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de la caries dental fueron diferentes entre los estudiantes, odontólogos y profesores de odontología con variedad en los conceptos de diagnóstico y tratamiento. Sin embargo, se observó una tendencia conservadora para las decisiones de tratamiento restaurativo. Las estrategias para incorporar medidas mínimas y no restaurativas en la práctica profesional deben ser consideradas en los planes de estudio de las universidades.

Lipid Digestibility and Polyphenols Bioaccessibility of Oil-in-Water Emulsions Containing Avocado Peel and Seed Extracts as Affected by the Presence of Low Methoxyl Pectin.

In this study, the digestibility of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions using low methoxyl pectin (LMP) as surfactant and in combination with avocado peel (AP) or seed (AS) extracts was assessed, in terms of its free fatty acid (FFA) release and the phenolic compound (PC) bioaccessibility. With this purpose, AP and AS were characterized by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS before their incorporation into O/W emulsions stabilized using LMP. In that sense, AP extract had a higher content of PCs (6836.32 ± 64.66 mg/100 g of extract) compared to AS extract (1514.62 ± 578.33 mg/100 g of extract). Both extracts enhanced LMP's emulsifying properties, leading to narrower distributions and smaller particle sizes compared to those without extracts. Similarly, when both LMP and the extracts were present in the emulsions the FFA release significantly increased. Regarding bioaccessibility, the PCs from the AS extracts had a higher bioaccessibility than those from the AP extracts, regardless of the presence of LMP. However, the presence of LMP reduced the bioaccessibility of flavonoids from emulsions containing either AP or AS extracts. These results provide new insights regarding the use of PC extracts from avocado peel and seed residues, and the effect of LMP on emulsion digestibility, and its influence on flavonoids bioaccessibility.

Formation and Stabilization of W1/O/W2 Emulsions with Gelled Lipid Phases.

Water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) emulsions are emulsion-based systems where the dispersed phase is an emulsion itself, offering great potential for the encapsulation of hydrophilic bioactive compounds. However, their formation and stabilization is still a challenge mainly due to water migration, which could be reduced by lipid phase gelation. This study aimed to assess the impact of lipid phase state being liquid or gelled using glyceryl stearate (GS) at 1% (w/w) as well as the hydrophilic emulsifier (T80: Tween 80 or lecithin) and the oil type (MCT:medium chain triglyceride or corn oil (CO) as long chain triglyceride) on the formation and stabilization of chlorophyllin W1/O/W2 emulsions. Their colloidal stability against temperature and light exposure conditions was evaluated. Gelling both lipid phases (MCT and CO) rendered smaller W1 droplets during the first emulsification step, followed by formation of W1/O/W2 emulsions with smaller W1/O droplet size and more stable against clarification. The stability of W1/O/W2 emulsions was sensitive to a temperature increase, which might be related to the lower gelling degree of the lipid phase at higher temperatures. This study provides valuable insight for the formation and stabilization of W1/O/W2 emulsions with gelled lipid phases as delivery systems of hydrophilic bioactive compounds under common food storage conditions.

Influence of lipid nanoparticle physical state on ß-carotene stability kinetics under different environmental conditions.

Carotenoids are lipophilic compounds that provide important health-related benefits for human body functions. However, they have low water solubility and chemical stability, hence their incorporation in aqueous-based foods requires the use of emulsion-based lipid carriers. This work aimed at elucidating whether their inclusion in emulsion-based Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) can provide a protective effect against ß-carotene degradation under different environmental conditions in comparison to liquid lipid nanoemulsions. Glyceryl Stearate (GS) was mixed with Medium Chain Trygliceride (MCT) oil to formulate SLNs. SLNs presented a significantly enhanced ß-carotene retention and a slower ß-carotene degradation kinetics at increasing storage temperature, acidic conditions and light exposure. In fact, SLNs formulated with 5% GS in the lipid phase and stored at 4 °C and pH 7 retained almost 70% of the initially encapsulated ß-carotene after 55 days of storage, while it was completely degraded when it was encapsulated in liquid nanoemulsions. Moreover, it was observed that the solid lipid type affects the protective effect that SLNs may confer to the encapsulated lipophilic bioactives. Saturated long chain triglycerides, such as hydrogenated palm oil (HPO) presented slower and lower ß-carotene degradation kinetics in comparison to solid lipids composed of MCT, such as Coconut Oil (CNUT) or MCT + 5% of GS in the lipid phase. This work evidences that the incorporation of lipophilic bioactive compounds, such as ß-carotene, into SLNs slows down their degradation kinetics which might be attributed to a reduced diffusion of the oxidative species due to the lipid crystalline structure.

Cytotoxic Effects of Blue Scorpion Venom (Rhopalurus junceus) in a Glioblastoma Cell Line Model.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is one of the leading cause of death worldwide. Besides current therapies and treatments to counter cancer, new alternatives are required to diminish the cell proliferation of oncogenic processes. METHODS: One of the most promissory therapy includes the use of blue scorpion venom as a specific cytotoxic agent to kill tumoral cells, including Glioblastoma multiforme. OBJECTIVES: We show evidence of the cytotoxic effect of blue scorpion venom in a cellular model of Glioblastoma multiforme. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that 50 µg/ml of scorpion venom is capable to diminish the viability of Glioblastoma populations. CONCLUSION: It is possible that the action mechanism could be associated with a loss of membrane integrity. Additionally, some metalloproteinases as MMP2 and MMP9 may also participate in the potential action mechanism.

The lipid type affects the in vitro digestibility and ß-carotene bioaccessibility of liquid or solid lipid nanoparticles.

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are emulsion-based carriers of lipophilic bioactive compounds. However, their digestibility may be affected by the solid lipid phase composition. Hence, the aim of this work was to study the in vitro lipolysis kinetics as well as the relationship between the lipid digestion, micelle fraction composition and ß-carotene bioaccessibility of SLNs with different solid lipids, being blends of medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, glyceryl stearate (GS) or hydrogenated palm oil (HPO) as compared to liquid lipid nanoparticles (LLNs) with pure MCT. SLNs formulated with GS were fully digested, similarly to LLNs. However, HPO-containing SLNs presented slower lipolysis kinetics during the intestinal phase at increasing HPO concentration. Despite this, HPO-SLNs showed higher ß-carotene bioaccessibility, which was related to the higher amount of monounstaturated free fatty acids in the micelle fraction. Thus, this work provides valuable insight for designing delivery systems of bioactive compounds with optimal functionality.

In vitro digestibility and release of a mango peel extract encapsulated within water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) emulsions containing sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

Mango peel is a rich source of phenolic compounds (PC), which can be used in food fortification. The use of water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) emulsions represents a potential strategy to encapsulate, protect and incorporate PC from mango peel into food products. Moreover, even though non-digestible biopolymers are usually incorporated into emulsions to enhance stability, little is known about the effect on the digestibility and release of PC. In this study, a mango peel extract (MPE) was encapsulated using W1/O/W2 emulsions containing sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC; 0, 0.5, 1.0% w/w) in W2, and their colloidal stability, lipid digestibility kinetics (free fatty acid release), and release (in terms of antioxidant activity) under in vitro digestion conditions were evaluated. The presence of CMC in emulsions caused flocculation of droplets, which remained unchanged during the gastric phase, suggesting that bridging flocculation occurred. Moreover, a slower lipid digestion rate was observed in emulsions containing CMC, with k-values ranging between 0.21 and 0.25 min-1, compared to emulsions without CMC (around 0.14 min-1). However, although CMC may slow down the lipolysis reaction during the first 40 min due to physical or steric hindrance, at the end of the intestinal phase, emulsions with or without CMC had a similar final FFA release. Moreover, MPE release was triggered under gastric conditions, probably by osmotic imbalance, showing a constant antioxidant activity value during the intestinal phase only in emulsions containing CMC. This study provides relevant insights to design double emulsions as delivery systems of water-soluble bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity, such as PC.