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Lipids play multiple roles in preserving neuronal function and synaptic plasticity, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been of particular interest in optimizing synaptic membrane organization and function. We developed a green-based methodology to prepare nanoliposomes (NL) from lecithin that was extracted from fish head by-products. These NL range between 100&ndash, 120 nm in diameter, with an n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio of 8.88. The high content of n-3 PUFA (46.3% of total fatty acid content) and docosahexanoic acid (26%) in these NL represented a means for enrichment of neuronal membranes that are potentially beneficial for neuronal growth and synaptogenesis. To test this, the primary cultures of rat embryo cortical neurons were incubated with NL on day 3 post-culture for 24 h, followed by immunoblots or immunofluorescence to evaluate the NL effects on synaptogenesis, axonal growth, and dendrite formation. The results revealed that NL-treated cells displayed a level of neurite outgrowth and arborization on day 4 that was similar to those of untreated cells on day 5 and 6, suggesting accelerated synapse formation and neuronal development in the presence of NL. We propose that fish-derived NL, by virtue of their n-3 PUFA profile and neurotrophic effects, represent a new innovative bioactive vector for developing preventive or curative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Supplemental material for Breathable hydrogel dressings containing natural antioxidants for management of skin disorders by Mattia Comotto, Saghi Saghazadeh, Sara Bagherifard, Bahar Aliakbarian, Mehdi Kazemzadeh-Narbat, Fatemeh Sharifi, Seyed Ali Mousavi Shaegh, Elmira Arab-Tehrany, Nasim Annabi, Patrizia Perego, Ali Khademhosseini and Ali Tamayol in Journal of Biomaterials Applications

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a natural bioactive compound with many health-promoting benefits. However, its poor water solubility and bioavailability has limited curcumin&rsquo, s biomedical application. In the present study, we encapsulated curcumin into liposomes, formed from natural sources (salmon lecithin), and characterized its encapsulation efficiency and release profile. The proposed natural carriers increased the solubility and the bioavailability of curcumin. In addition, various physico-chemical properties of the developed soft nanocarriers with and without curcumin were studied. Nanoliposome-encapsulated curcumin increased the viability and network formation in the culture of primary cortical neurons and decreased the rate of apoptosis.

International audience; Given the importance of the extracellular medium during tissue formation, it was wise to develop an artificial structure that mimics the extracellular matrix while having improved physico-chemical properties. That is why the choice was focused on gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), an inexpensive biocompatible hydrogel. Physicochemical and mechanical properties were improved by the incorporation of nanoparticles developed from two innovative fabrication processes: High shear fluid and low frequencies/high frequencies ultrasounds. Both rapeseed nanoliposomes and nanodroplets were successfully incorporated in the GelMA networks during the photo polymerization process. The impact on polymer microstructure was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and enzymatic degradation investigations. Mechanical stability and viscoelastic tests were conducted to demonstrate the beneficial effect of the functionalization on GelMA hydrogels. Adding nanoparticles to GelMA improved the surface properties (porosity), tuned swelling, and degradability properties. In addition, we observed that nanoemulsion didn't change significantly the mechanical properties to shear and compression solicitations, whereas nanoliposome addition decreased Young's modulus under compression solicitations. Thus, these ways of functionalization allow controlling the design of the material by choosing the type of nanoparticle (nanoliposome or nanoemulsion) in function of the application.

Emulsifier-free-emulsions were prepared with high frequency ultrasounds (HFU) generated by a piezoelectric ceramic transducer vibrating at 1.7 MHz. HFU emulsions were compared with emulsions made with standard emulsification processes: low frequency ultrasounds (LFU) and high pressure homogenization (HPH). Emulsions were prepared by combining sunflower oil with an aqueous phase either in the presence or absence of essential oil emulsifier. Oil droplets size distribution was determined by static light diffraction and nanoparticles tracking analysis (NTA) for the characterization of micrometric and nanometric droplets fraction respectively. More than 90% (v/v) of emulsion droplets were nanometric for HFU emulsions and were stable against coalescence during 30 days at 37 °C unlike other processed emulsions (LFU or HPH). Oily phases of emulsions analyzed by FTIR showed that oil composition was not affected during processing and that orange essential oil decreased edible oil oxidation during storage time.

Knowledge about interactions between foodstuffs and packaging material is of importance for development of new packaging systems. Migration of residual printing ink solvents from packages to the wrapped food can cause off-flavours in food and deteriorate quality of end products. ln addition, loss of aroma can result either from degradation of the aroma compounds, or absbrption into the packaging material. The aims of this study were the determination of partition coefficient of migrant in food simulantlpolymer system and developing a mathematical model in this system. The partition coefficients of migrants were determined by the Phase Ratio Variation method (pRV method) using a headspace-GC in food simulantlair system. By developing a new method, we calculated partition coefficients of migrants between food simulants/polymers. Mathematical predictive models were developed to predict the partition coefficient in octanol/water and food simulantlpolymer systems. The two types of descriptors used in these models were constitutional and quantum chemical descriptors. The results showed that the main physico-chemical properties of migrant, food and packaging influencing the partition coefficient were molecular weight, polarity, HLB and LUMO energy., Les connaissances sur les interactions entre les aliments et les matériaux d'emballage sont importantes pour le développement de nouveaux systèmes d'emballage. La migration des résidus d'encres d'impression de l'emballage vers l'aliment peut causer une perte de flaveurs des aliments et détériorer la qualité des produits finis. La perte d'arômes peut résulter de la dégradation des composés aromatiques ou de l'absorption par les matériaux d'emballage. La détermination du coefficient de partage des migrants dans le système aliment simulé/polymère et le développement d'un modèle mathématique dans ce système sont les principaux buts de cette étude. Les coefficients de partage des migrants ont été déterminés par la méthode de variation de ratio de phase (VRP) en utilisant la chromatographie phase gazeuse à espace de tête pour les systèmes aliments simulés/air. Les coefficients de partage des migrants entre les aliments simulés et les polymères ont été calculés par le développement d'une nouvelle méthode. Un modèle de prévision mathématique a permis de prédire le coefficient de partage dans les systèmes octanol/eau et aliment simulé/polymère. Deux descripteurs moléculaires utilisés dans ces modèles sont les descripteurs chimiques constitutionnelles et quantiques. Les résultats ont montré que les principales propriétés physicochimiques des migrants, aliments, et emballages influençant le coefficient de partage sont le poids moléculaire, la polarité, la balance hydrophilicité/lipophilicité et l'énergie LUMO.