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The development of nano-dosage forms of phytochemicals represents a significant progress of the scientific approach in the biomedical research. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of lipid nanocarriers based on natural oils (grape seed oil, fish oil and laurel leaf oil) in counteracting free radicals and combating certain tumor cells. No drug was encapsulated in the nanocarriers. The cytotoxic effect exerted by bioactive nanocarriers against two tumor cells, MDA-MB 231 and HeLa cell lines, and two normal cells, L929 and B16 cell lines, was measured using the MTT assay, while oxidative damage was assessed by measuring the total antioxidant activity using chemiluminescence analysis. The best performance was obtained for nanocarriers based on an association of grape seed and laurel leaf oils, with a capacity to scavenge about 98% oxygen free radicals. A dose of nanocarriers of 5mg·mL(-1) has led to a drastic decrease in tumor cell proliferation even in the absence of an antitumor drug (e.g. about 50% viability for MDA-MB 231 cell line and 60% viability for HeLa cell line). A comparative survival profile of normal and tumor cells, which were exposed to an effective dose of 2.5mg·mL(-1) lipid nanocarriers, has revealed a death rate of 20% for normal B16 cells and of 40% death rate for MDA-MB 231 and HeLa tumor cells. The results in this study imply that lipid nanocarriers based on grape seed oil in association with laurel leaf oil could be a candidate to reduce the delivery system toxicity and may significantly improve the therapeutic efficacy of antitumor drugs in clinical applications., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The coencapsulation of two UV filters, butyl-methoxydibenzoylmethane (BMDBM) and octocrylene (OCT), into lipid nanocarriers was explored to develop stable cosmetic formulations with broad-spectrum photoprotection and slow release properties. Different types of nanocarriers in various concentrations of the two UV filters were tested to find the combination with the best absorption and release properties. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have been the two types of lipid nanocarriers used. The NLCs were based on either medium chain triglycerides (MCT) or squalene (Sq). The following physicochemical properties of the nanocarriers have been evaluated: particle size, morphology, zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency, loading capacity, and thermal behavior. The nanocarriers have been formulated into creams containing low amounts of UV filters (2.5% BMDBM and 1% OCT). The best photoprotection results were obtained with the cream based on NLCs prepared with MCT, having a sun protection factor (SPF) of 17.2 and an erythemal UVA protection factor (EUVA-PF) of 50.8. The photostability of the encapsulated BMDBM filter was confirmed by subjecting the nanocarriers-based creams to in vitro irradiation. The prolonged UV-protection efficacy was coupled with a slow in vitro release of the synthetic UV filters, which followed the Higuchi release model., (© 2013 The American Society of Photobiology.)

The paper addresses issues related to the shelf life of some snacks type food products developed within the SUMAFOOD project, with the addition of Saccharina Latissima algae powder, respectively hydrolyzed fish protein. The replacement coefficients of wheat flour in the recipe varied between 1.5% and 6%. The results show a good stability of the products, but in the case of using hydrolyzed fish protein, there is the phenomenon of lipid oxidation due to their high content of unsaturated fatty acids. Oxidation leads to rancidity and the production of undesirable volatile compounds due to the secondary level of oxidation that negatively affects the nutritional value and sensory characteristics of the products. Therefore, it is important to investigate different preservation techniques, mainly by using natural antioxidants (i.e. rosemary extract) to extend the stability of biomass powders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this investigation was to develop solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) of umbelliferone by means of a high shear homogenization technique and to evaluate the efficiency of SLN systems in preserving and enhancing antioxidant activity of the flavonoid active component. The aqueous SLN dispersions combine two structural types of lipid compounds and different types of emulsifiers including a mixture of monoalkyl polyoxyethylene sorbitan with a block copolymer and lecithin. The assessment of umbelliferone stability in aqueous SLN dispersions, the size distribution of lipid nanoparticles loaded with umbelliferone (by DLS technique), as well as the structural changes (FT-IR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry) of these lipid nanomatrices have been investigated. Moreover, the influence of umbelliferone concentration onto entrapment efficiency and antioxidant properties were clearly evidenced on four kinds of lipid nanoparticles. The umbelliferone-loaded SLN prepared with polyethylene glycol sorbitan monostearate shown a mean particle size of 173.4 nm ± 3.279, as well as good entrapment efficiency (EE = 60.70%) and antioxidant properties (AA = 75%). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]