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Gene-editing technology shows great potential in glioblastoma (GBM) therapy. Due to the complexity of GBM pathogenesis, a single gene-editing-based therapy is unlikely to be successful; therefore, a multi-gene knockout strategy is preferred for effective GBM inhibition. Here, a non-invasive, biodegradable brain-targeted CRISPR/Cas12a nanocapsule is used that simultaneously targeted dual oncogenes, EGFR and PLK1, for effective GBM therapy. This cargo nanoencapsulation technology enables the CRISPR/Cas12a system to achieve extended blood half-life, efficient blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration, active tumor targeting, and selective release. In U87MG cells, the combinatorial gene editing system resulted in 61% and 33% knockout of EGFR and PLK1, respectively. Following systemic administration, the CRISPR/Cas12a system demonstrated promising brain tumor accumulation that led to extensive EGFR and PLK1 gene editing in both U87MG and patient-derived GSC xenograft mouse models with negligible off-target gene editing detected through NGS. Additionally, CRISPR/Cas12a nanocapsules that concurrently targeted the EGFR and PLK1 oncogenes showed superior tumor growth suppression and significantly improved the median survival time relative to nanocapsules containing single oncogene knockouts, signifying the potency of the multi-oncogene targeting strategy. The findings indicate that utilization of the CRISPR/Cas12a combinatorial gene editing technique presents a practical option for gene therapy in GBM.

Dual response polyurethane nanocapsules consisting of a hydrophilic core are synthesized via interfacial polyaddition of the diisocyanate monomers and different diols (VA‐060 and glycols) in inverse miniemulsion process. The presence of the water‐soluble NIR dye in the core and azo‐bonds in the polymer shell allows the selective release of encapsulated material triggered by temperature or NIR light. The capsules are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The capsule degradation under external stimuli, like temperature and NIR light, is confirmed microscopically by TEM. Macroscopic evidence of the capsule cleavage was achieved by the incorporation of the chemical into the capsule core, and subsequent treatment of the capsules with NIR laser in the presence of the suitable reagent outside the capsules. A color‐forming chemical reaction occurred after the shell opening. The reactions were easily detected by visual observation of a color change and by UV–Vis spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of so-called hybrid nanomaterials has been widely developed in terms of functional and morphological complexity. However, the specific control of the arrangement of organic and inorganic species, which determines the properties of the final material, still remains a challenge. This article offers a review of the strategies that have been used for the preparation of polymer–inorganic hybrid nanoparticles and nanocapsules via processes involving miniemulsions. Different polymer–inorganic nanostructures are classified into four main groups according to the sequential order followed between the synthesis of the polymer and the inorganic species, and the presence or not of their counterpart precursors. The minimization of the energy of the system governs the self-assembly of the different material components and can be addressed by the miniemulsion formulation to reduce the interfacial tensions between the phases involved. The state of the art in the preparation of hybrid nanoparticles is reviewed, offering insight into the structural possibilities allowed by miniemulsion as a versatile synthetic technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocarriers are essential for targeted and enhanced drug delivery. However, the use of toxic solvent and the complex of chemical functionalization have seriously limited their clinical translation. Here, a one‐step strategy is developed to direct the self‐assembly of biocompatible core‐shell nanocapsules with tunable surface functionality by microfluidics. Upon rapid mixing and solvent exchange of ethanol with water in a microfluidic device, drug, oil, polymer, and polymer‐PEG‐function co‐precipitate and self‐assemble into core‐shell nanocapsules with desired surface functionality as driven by energy minimization. The prepared PCL‐PEG‐FA core‐shell nanocapsules demonstrate a high encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity and exhibit excellent tumor‐targeting drug delivery performances both in vitro and in vivo via the binding of functional group on the nanocapsule surface with corresponding receptor on the tumor cell membrane. The immune activation in the tumor microenvironment is investigated in detail by flow cytometry and multiplex immunohistochemistry staining to reveal the underlying mechanism for enhanced anti‐tumor performances. The developed strategy is green, facile, versatile, scalable and offers a promising platform for the design of advanced nanocarriers with hierarchical structure and desired function for enhanced drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Protein kinase CK2 is a ubiquitous and highly conserved protein Ser/Thr kinase with diverse cell functions. CK2 is upregulated in various cancers and affects numerous aspects of their underlying pathobiology. The important role of microRNAs (miRNAs) referred to as oncomirs is also recognized in various cancers. Elevation of both CK2 and altered miRNA expression in cancers raised the question whether there was a connection between CK2 function and oncomirs in cancer. Methods: PCR array analysis was used to examine the effects of CK2 siRNA-mediated downregulation on miRNA levels in C4-2 prostate cancer cells. We employed prostate cancer, breast cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells as well as a prostate cancer xenograft orthotopic tumor model to examine the effects of CK2 siRNA-mediated downregulation or chemical inhibition on oncomir cluster miR-17 ~ 92 and miR-106b ~ 25 constituent miRNAs by quantitative reverse-transcriptase stem-loop PCR. Pri-miRNAs were measured in cancer cell lines by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR. Protein levels were assessed by western blot. PC3-LN4 prostate cancer orthotopic xenograft tumors and blood were collected from nude mice following repeated treatments with tenfibgen ligand nanocapsules containing RNAi-CK2 or RNAi-Control cargoes. Results: PCR array analysis demonstrated effect on a subset of miRNAs following CK2 downregulation; we focused our investigation on CK2 regulation of miR-17 ~ 92 and 106b ~ 25 oncomir clusters. Chemical inhibition or molecular downregulation of CK2 greatly reduced expression of miR-17 ~ 92 and 106b ~ 25 in prostate, breast and head and neck cancer cells in vitro. CK2α and CK2α´ protein levels were significantly correlated with many of the miR-17 ~ 92 and some of the miR-106b ~ 25 constituent members in prostate cancer cells. Decreased pri-miRNA levels for the miR-17 ~ 92 gene cluster transcript were observed for 5 of 6 cancer cell lines tested following CK2 downregulation. Nanocapsule-mediated delivery of RNAi-CK2 reduced CK2 protein expression in orthotopic prostate xenograft tumors and decreased intra-tumoral and serum levels of the oncomirs. Conclusions: Targeting CK2 for the development of new cancer therapies is under active investigation in many laboratories and pharmaceutical companies. Our data suggest a new role for CK2 in cell signaling and survival in multiple cancer types through maintenance of miR-17 ~ 92 and 106b ~ 25 biogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The Trypanosoma cruzi infection promotes an intense inflammatory process that affects several tissues. The cholinergic system may exert a regulatory immune response and control the inflammatory process. This study aimed to evaluate the comparative effect of free and nanoencapsulated benznidazole in acute T. cruzi infection to assess hematological, biochemical, and oxidative status triggered by the cholinergic system. Methods: For this, fifty female Swiss mice were distributed in eight groups, i.e., uninfected and infected animals under four treatment protocols: untreated (control—CT); vehicle treatment (Eudragit L 100—EL-100); benznidazole treatment (BNZ); and nanoencapsulated benznidazole treatment (NBNZ). After eight treatment days, the animals were euthanized for sample collection. Results: The peak of parasitemia was at day 7 p.i., and the BNZ and NBNZ controlled and reduced the parasite rate but showed no efficacy in terms of total elimination of parasites analyzed by RT-PCR in both infected groups. The infection promotes significant anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, which the BNZ improves. There was an increase in AChE activity during infection, leading to a pro-inflammatory response and an increase in M1 and M2 mACh receptors in the BNZ group, showing that the treatment interacted with the cholinergic pathway. In addition, a pro-oxidative response was characterized in the infection and mainly in the infected BNZ and NBNZ groups. The histopathological analysis showed significative splenomegaly and inflammatory infiltrate in the heart, liver, and spleen. Conclusions: The administration of the BNZ or NBNZ reverses hematological, hepatic, and renal alterations through cholinergic signaling and stimulates a pro-inflammatory response during acute T. cruzi infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the global challenge of cancer requires ongoing exploration of innovative therapeutic approaches. Nanotechnology has emerged as a particularly promising avenue for its unparalleled precision in drug delivery and therapeutic intervention. This study focuses on the efficacy of synthesized and characterized nanocapsule-loaded shikimic acid (Na-ShA) in enhancing anticancer properties and evaluating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of apoptosis. To this end, the sol–gel method was utilized to synthesize the nanocapsule, with several techniques such as DLS, FESEM, TEM, Edax, Zeta potential, and FTIR used to analyze its physicochemical characteristics. MTT assay was employed to evaluate toxicity impacts on three cancer cell lines (HepG2, SW480, and A2058), and apoptosis mechanisms were examined using qPCR, DAPI staining, and flow cytometry. The study's findings revealed that Na-ShA possesses an optimal size of 179.15 nm, displays monodispersity with a low polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.18, and exhibits high stability with a zeta potential of 41.7 mV. Moreover, Na-ShA demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against cancerous cells without any harmful effects on normal cells. The inhibition concentrations (IC50) of Na-ShA against HepG2, SW480, and A2058 cells were discovered to be 76.08, 62.5, and 31.7 μg/ml, respectively. Molecular analysis illustrated a significant increase in caspase 3 and 9 and down-regulation of MMP9 gene expressions notably. Fluorescent staining and flow cytometry results confirmed programmed cell death in treated cancer cells. The study concluded that Na-ShA exhibits a strong therapeutic effect against cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Implementing encapsulation techniques is pivotal in safeguarding bioactive molecules against environmental conditions for drug delivery systems. Moreover, the food‐grade nanocarrier is a delivery system and food ingredient crucial in creating nutraceutical foods. Nano α‐lactalbumin has been shown to be a promissory nanocarrier for hydrophobic molecules. Furthermore, the nanoprotein can enhance the tecno‐functional properties of food such as foam and emulsion. The present study investigated the nanostructured α‐lactalbumin protein (nano α‐la) as a delivery and controlled release system for bioactive molecules in a gastric‐intestinal in vitro mimic system. RESULTS: The nano α‐la was synthesized by a low self‐assembly technique, changing the solution ionic strength by NaCl and obtaining nano α‐la 191.10 ± 21.33 nm and a spherical shape. The nano α‐la showed higher encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity for quercetin than riboflavin, a potential carrier for hydrophobic compounds. Thermal analysis of nano α‐la resulted in a ΔH of −1480 J g−1 for denaturation at 57.44 °C. The nanostructure formed by self‐assembly modifies the foam volume increment and stability. Also, differences between nano and native proteins in emulsion activity and stability were noticed. The release profile in vitro showed that the nano α‐la could not hold the molecules in gastric fluid. The Weibull and Korsmeyer‐Peppas model better fits the release profile behavior in the studied fluids. CONCLUSION: The present study shows the possibility of nano α‐la as an alternative to molecule delivery systems and nutraceutical foods' formulation because of the high capacity to encapsulate hydrophobic molecules and the improvement of techno‐functional properties. However, the nanocarrier is not perfectly suitable for the sustainable delivery of molecules in the gastrointestinal fluid, demanding improvements in the nanocarrier. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer immunotherapy has demonstrated significant efficacy in various tumors, but its effectiveness in treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify a new immunotherapy target and develop corresponding intervention strategies. Bioinformatics analysis has revealed that growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is highly expressed in HCC and is closely related to poor prognosis of HCC patients. The previous study revealed that GDF15 can promote immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, knocking out GDF15 through gene editing could potentially reverse the suppressive tumor immune microenvironment permanently. To deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 system specifically to HCC, nanocapsules (SNC) coated with HCC targeting peptides (SP94) on their surface is utilized. These nanocapsules incorporate disulfide bonds (SNCSS) that release their contents in the tumor microenvironment characterized by high levels of glutathione (GSH). In vivo, the SNCSS target HCC cells, exert a marked inhibitory effect on HCC progression, and promote HCC immunotherapy. Mechanistically, CyTOF analysis showed favorable changes in the immune microenvironment of HCC, immunocytes with killer function increased and immunocytes with inhibitive function decreased. These findings highlight the potential of the CRISPR‐Cas9 gene editing system in modulating the immune microenvironment and improving the effectiveness of existing immunotherapy approaches for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric nanotheranostics have emerged as promising vehicles for diagnosis‐cum‐targeted therapy in solid tumors, offering precise delivery of therapeutic agents at the site of solid tumors and minimizing systemic side effects. This article summarizes the latest developments in using polymeric nanoparticles for specific treatment strategies in solid tumors. It explores the various methods these nanoparticles utilize for targeted medication delivery. This includes passive targeting through the amplified permeability and retention effect, active targeting via interactions between ligands and receptors, and stimuli‐responsive release mechanisms such as pH, temperature, and enzymatic triggers. Furthermore, we highlight recent developments in stimuli‐responsive polymeric nanoparticles, which enable controlled drug release in response to specific cues in the tumor microenvironment, thus enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Also, we focus on the theranostic polymeric nanoparticles, which are used for diagnosing and treating solid tumors. We discuss critical regulatory considerations and the regulatory bodies of different countries that regulate nanomedicines' safety, efficacy, quality, and manufacturing processes. Overall, this review provides insights into the latest innovations in polymeric nanoparticles for targeted therapy in solid tumors, elucidating their mechanisms of action, stimuli‐responsive properties, and regulatory pathways, which collectively contribute to developing effective and safe nanomedicines for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to prepare and apply nanocapsules containing glycerol monolaurate for eradicating Streptococcus mutans biofilms. The interfacial deposition method of the preformed polymer synthesized the nanocapsules characterized for mean diameter, polydispersity index, zeta potential, pH, and morphology by transmission electron microscopy. The microdilution method investigated antimicrobial activity. Crystal violet staining determined biomass quantification and the ability to inhibit biofilm formation. The study also measured exopolysaccharide production and the number of viable colonies. The characterization outcomes indicated acceptable values for the mean diameter 198.1 ± 2, a polydispersity index of 0.087 ± 0.018, a zeta potential of -21.30 ± 2.00 mV, a pH of 6.19 ± 0.12, and typical nanostructure morphology. The evaluations of minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of glycerol monolaurate (free and nanoencapsulated) revealed their ineffectiveness in inhibiting microorganisms. Only free glycerol monolaurate inhibits S. mutans growth with 125 µg/mL. Biomass, exopolysaccharide content, and viable colonies in the biofilm were analyzed to assess the compounds' ability to inhibit biofilm formation. The tested compounds did not significantly reduce the formed biofilm. Despite unfavorable outcomes of the formulated preparation, further experimentation with a new formulation is encouraged to explore alternative strategies and potential improvements.

Nanoencapsulation technology enables the efficient delivery of natural bioactive compounds, enhancing stability and controlled release to improve bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Pyrogallol, a natural polyphenolic compound, has shown promising anticancer activities against various cancer cell lines. The purpose of this study was to synthesize and characterize nanocapsule-encapsulated pyrogallol (Na-Pyr) and investigate its anticancer potential, apoptotic signaling, and anti-metastatic properties. The process involved synthesizing the nanocapsules using the sol–gel method and evaluating their physical and chemical properties using various techniques. The MTT assay was used to test Na-Pyr’s cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines, including ovarian cancer (A2780), human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), and pancreatic cancer (ASPC-1), with Huvec serving as the normal cell line. DAPI staining, real-time PCR, and flow cytometry were performed to examine apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest. The results obtained from dynamic light scattering (DLS) manifested that Na-Pyr had a size of 176.4 ± 7.26 nm, an average zeta potential of about 42.1 ± 2.01 mV, and a polydispersity (PDI) index of 0.174 ± 0.02. Electron microscopy images exhibited a smooth surface and spherical shape, indicating material compatibility. Na-Pyr exhibited higher anticancer potential against ovarian cancer cells than HT-29 and ASPC-1 cancer cell lines with an IC50 value of 23.5 ± 0.95 μg/mL. Na-Pyr significantly modulates the Bax/Bcl2 ratio and activates the MMP9 pathway-mediated apoptosis. Flow cytometry analysis supported these findings, revealing increased percentages of necrotic, early apoptotic, and late apoptotic populations upon exposure to Na-Pyr. In conclusion, the study highlights the promising anticancer potential of Na-Pyr and its potential as an effective treatment strategy.

Abstract Gene‐editing technology shows great potential in glioblastoma (GBM) therapy. Due to the complexity of GBM pathogenesis, a single gene‐editing‐based therapy is unlikely to be successful; therefore, a multi‐gene knockout strategy is preferred for effective GBM inhibition. Here, a non‐invasive, biodegradable brain‐targeted CRISPR/Cas12a nanocapsule is used that simultaneously targeted dual oncogenes, EGFR and PLK1, for effective GBM therapy. This cargo nanoencapsulation technology enables the CRISPR/Cas12a system to achieve extended blood half‐life, efficient blood‐brain barrier (BBB) penetration, active tumor targeting, and selective release. In U87MG cells, the combinatorial gene editing system resulted in 61% and 33% knockout of EGFR and PLK1, respectively. Following systemic administration, the CRISPR/Cas12a system demonstrated promising brain tumor accumulation that led to extensive EGFR and PLK1 gene editing in both U87MG and patient‐derived GSC xenograft mouse models with negligible off‐target gene editing detected through NGS. Additionally, CRISPR/Cas12a nanocapsules that concurrently targeted the EGFR and PLK1 oncogenes showed superior tumor growth suppression and significantly improved the median survival time relative to nanocapsules containing single oncogene knockouts, signifying the potency of the multi‐oncogene targeting strategy. The findings indicate that utilization of the CRISPR/Cas12a combinatorial gene editing technique presents a practical option for gene therapy in GBM.

In the foreseeable future, heat exchangers will continue to play an important role in environmental management and have numerous applications, their geometry has been the subject of interest for many researchers. The main goal of this research is to improve the heat exchangers' thermal performance and exergetic efficiency using new type of nanofluid. In this concept, the effect of nanoencapsulated phase change material (NEPCM) addition to water and producing NEPCM nanofluid for heat transfer augmentation in shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) was investigated, experimentally. Nanocapsules were synthesized by miniemulsion polymerization containing phase change material (PCM) as core and chitosan (GO/CS) as shell material. After synthesis of nanocapsules, nanofluids with different concentration of NEPCM have been prepared and the stability and thermophysical properties of the nanofluids were characterized. In the subsequent stage, thermal and exergy efficiencies test was conducted on STHE using response surface method. The experiments were performed at different conditions; NPCM concentration (φ), inlet temperature (Tin) and Re number to optimse exergy efficiency. The optimum level of the φ, Tin and Re inlet for maximum ɛ (73 %) were found to be 10.55 %, 78.35 °C and 10365, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that proposed nanofluid could enhance exergy efficiency for thermal system. It appears that a combination of NEPCM nanofluids gives a better cooling rate in the heat exchangers and could be a promising alternative along with other cooling techniques.

The astaxanthin nanocapsules (ASX-LNC) was prepared by high-pressure homogenization technology, the microstructure, stability, antioxidant activity, and in vitro release characteristics of ASX-LNC were characterized and evaluated. The ASX-LNC comprised a core material and wall materials. The core material was composed of astaxanthin oil, and the wall materials were composed of β-cyclodextrin, decapolyglycerol monooleate, soybean lecithin (PC60), glycerol, and deionized water. The mean particle size of the ASX-LNC was 206.9 ± 2.8 nm, and the polydispersity index (PdI) value was 0.218 ± 0.026. The zeta potential of ASX-LNC was −26.16 ± 0.87 mV. The loading amount of ASX-LNC was 0.546%±0.032%, and the encapsulation efficiency was 99.65%±0.13%, indicating that the preparation process was feasible. The stability of ASX-LNC was determined under different conditions, indicating good stability of the ASX-LNC. In antioxidant research, the inhibition rate of free radicals of ASX-LNC was 91.03 ± 0.87% under 250 μg/mL for 30 min, and the inhibition rate of free radicals of astaxanthin ethanol solution was 90.83 ± 1.37%. The antioxidant capacity of astaxanthin was not affected by the encapsulation, which demonstrated the effect of prolonging the release of active ingredients due to the protection of the biological activity of astaxanthin by encapsulation. Compared with the astaxanthin ethanol solution, the ASX-LNC had a slow-release effect and could prolong the action time of active substances. Overall, ASX-LNC is a potential carrier for application in food and health products, which can control the release of active substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silica nanocapsules were functionalized with poly(methacrylic acid)-block-poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid) (PMAA-b-PAMPS) and assembled with chitosan (CHI) by layer-by-layer deposition and cross-linking to develop lithium electrolyte nanocomposites in the presence of concentrated alkaline solutions. The inorganic/organic nanocapsules and the assembled CHI chains endowed the multilayer films with well-defined structure, great temperature tolerance, and comparable mechanical properties. The films possessed a high loading capacity of alkaline electrolytes. The entrapment of a concentrated alkaline solution in the film matrix led to high ionic conductivity (~ 0.73 mS cm−1 at 25 °C) and outstanding temperature-tolerated capacity. The films maintained a constant ionic conductivity and physical strength against mechanical deformations. For the first time, the impact of molecular weight of block copolymers on electrochemical properties of electrolyte-loaded multilayer films was investigated. The lithium-ion batteries built by flexible alkaline electrolytes of nanocapsule-based multilayer films demonstrated excellent ionic conductivity and electrochemical sustainability, possessing discharge capacity of 163.5 mA h g−1 and retaining 97.53% of the original capacity after 120 cycles. This work demonstrates the first proof-of-concept platform of polymer/nanocapsule composite-incorporated multilayer films with well-defined internal structure and high loading capacity for energy storage. The multilayer films could be adopted as the reliable electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries and introduce enhanced cycling ability and high rate charge–discharge performance. We describe the structure, surface morphology, and electrochemical properties of multilayer films of block copolymer-functionalized silica nanocapsules and chitosan biopolymers via layer-by-layer deposition and cross-linking. The structure and property of the films could be manipulated by controlling the chain length of the block copolymers. In addition, the films could efficiently entrap alkaline solution, demonstrating excellent ionic conductivity and electrochemical sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the interactions between nanocarriers and plasma proteins is essential for controlling their biological fate. Based on the reported potential of polymeric nanocapsules (NCs) for the targeted delivery of oncological drugs, the main objective of this work has been to investigate how the surface chemical composition influences their protein corona fingerprint. Thus, we developed six NC prototypes with different polymer shells and physicochemical properties and quantified the amount of protein adsorbed upon incubation in human plasma. Using sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS) and following the Minimum Information about Nanomaterial Biocorona Experiments (MINBE) guidelines, we identified different protein corona patterns. As expected, the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the polymer shell reduced the protein corona, particularly the adsorption of immunoglobulins. However, by comparing the different prototypes, we concluded that the protein adsorption pattern was not exclusively driven by PEG. In fact, a highly PEGylated prototype exhibited intense apolipoprotein IV adsorption. On the other hand, we also observed that polymeric NCs containing 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP) exhibited high adsorption of vitronectin, a protein that is known for enhancing the uptake of nanosystems by lung epithelium and several cancer cells. Overall, the gathered information allowed us to identify promising polymeric NCs with an expected prolonged circulation time, enhanced tumor targeting, liver accumulation, and preferential uptake by the immune system. In this sense, the analyses of the protein corona performed along this work will hopefully contribute to advancing a new generation of rationally designed nanometric drug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term cosmetics refers to any substances or products intended for external application on the skin with the aim of protection and better appearance of the skin surface. The skin delivery system promotes the controlled and targeted delivery of active ingredients. The development of this system has been driven by challenges encountered with conventional cosmeceuticals, including low skin retention of active components, limited percutaneous penetration, poor water dispersion of insoluble active ingredients, and instability of effective components. The aim is to create cosmeceuticals that can effectively overcome these issues. This review focuses on various nanocarriers used in cosmeceuticals currently and their applications in skin care, hair care, oral care, and more. The importance of nanotechnology in the sphere of research and development is growing. It provides solutions to various problems faced by conventional technologies, methods, and product formulations thus taking hold of the cosmetic industry as well. Nowadays, consumers are investing in cosmetics only for better appearance thus problems like wrinkles, ageing, hair loss, and dandruff requires to be answered proficiently. Nanocarriers not only enhance the efficacy of cosmeceutical products, providing better and longer-lasting effects, but they also contribute to the improved aesthetic appearance of the products. This dual benefit not only enhances the final quality and efficacy of the product but also increases consumer satisfaction. Additionally, nanocarriers offer protection against UV rays, further adding to the overall benefits of the cosmeceutical product. Figure 1 represents various advantages of nanocarriers used in cosmeceuticals. Nanotechnology is also gaining importance due to their high penetration of actives in the deeper layers of skin. It can be said that nanotechnology is taking over all the drawbacks of the traditional products. Thus, nanocarriers discussed in this review are used in nanotechnology to deliver the active ingredient of the cosmeceutical product to the desired site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cancer immunotherapy has demonstrated significant efficacy in various tumors, but its effectiveness in treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify a new immunotherapy target and develop corresponding intervention strategies. Bioinformatics analysis has revealed that growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is highly expressed in HCC and is closely related to poor prognosis of HCC patients. The previous study revealed that GDF15 can promote immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, knocking out GDF15 through gene editing could potentially reverse the suppressive tumor immune microenvironment permanently. To deliver the CRISPR/Cas9 system specifically to HCC, nanocapsules (SNC) coated with HCC targeting peptides (SP94) on their surface is utilized. These nanocapsules incorporate disulfide bonds (SNCSS) that release their contents in the tumor microenvironment characterized by high levels of glutathione (GSH). In vivo, the SNCSS target HCC cells, exert a marked inhibitory effect on HCC progression, and promote HCC immunotherapy. Mechanistically, CyTOF analysis showed favorable changes in the immune microenvironment of HCC, immunocytes with killer function increased and immunocytes with inhibitive function decreased. These findings highlight the potential of the CRISPR‐Cas9 gene editing system in modulating the immune microenvironment and improving the effectiveness of existing immunotherapy approaches for HCC.

Background and purpose: Today, the use of medicinal plants such as T. daenensis as a complementary and effective treatment method to control and inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms is increasing all over the world. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of T. daenensis essential oil (EO) and its nanocapsulated against some pathogenic bacteria isolated from aquatic and food samples. Materials and methods: In this experimental research, T. daenensis was collected in June 2023 in Shahrekord City. The EO of the dried aerial part of the plant was obtained by using a Clevenger device (steam distillation). The components in the EO were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-Mass). T. daenensis EO nanocapsules were prepared using Tween 20, Tween 80 as emulsifier, polyethylene glycol as a co-solvent, acidic chitosan solution (1%), and modified starch (5%) as a coating. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to confirm their structure. Antimicrobial properties against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from aquatic samples (fish and lobster) and various foods (raw milk, traditional ice cream and mutton, beef, chicken) were investigated by disc diffusion method, determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) by microdilution method. Also, the prevention of biofilm formation was investigated. Results: The main components of the T. daenensis EO were thymol (75.31 percent), 8 p-Cymene (4.62 percent), carvacrol (4.2 percent), trans-cayophyllene (3.01 percent), terpenine (2.01 percent) and beta- myrcin (1.21 percent), respectively. TEM and DLS methods confirmed the structure of the T. daenensis EO nanocapsules. The size of nanocapsules was between 50 and 90 nm. The MIC amounts for the mentioned bacteria were between 62.5 and 250 μg/ml. The lowest MIC value for P. mirabilis, S. aureus, and K. pneumoniae was reported with a concentration of 62.5 μg/ml of T. daenensis EO nanocapsule. Also, the amounts of MBC for the mentioned bacteria were between 125 and 1000 µg/ml. According to the obtained results, the MIC and MBC levels for all mentioned bacteria against T. daenensis EO nanocapsule were lower than the EO alone (P

The preparation of so-called hybrid nanomaterials has been widely developed in terms of functional and morphological complexity. However, the specific control of the arrangement of organic and inorganic species, which determines the properties of the final material, still remains a challenge. This article offers a review of the strategies that have been used for the preparation of polymer–inorganic hybrid nanoparticles and nanocapsules via processes involving miniemulsions. Different polymer–inorganic nanostructures are classified into four main groups according to the sequential order followed between the synthesis of the polymer and the inorganic species, and the presence or not of their counterpart precursors. The minimization of the energy of the system governs the self-assembly of the different material components and can be addressed by the miniemulsion formulation to reduce the interfacial tensions between the phases involved. The state of the art in the preparation of hybrid nanoparticles is reviewed, offering insight into the structural possibilities allowed by miniemulsion as a versatile synthetic technique.

Background/Objectives: The Trypanosoma cruzi infection promotes an intense inflammatory process that affects several tissues. The cholinergic system may exert a regulatory immune response and control the inflammatory process. This study aimed to evaluate the comparative effect of free and nanoencapsulated benznidazole in acute T. cruzi infection to assess hematological, biochemical, and oxidative status triggered by the cholinergic system. Methods: For this, fifty female Swiss mice were distributed in eight groups, i.e., uninfected and infected animals under four treatment protocols: untreated (control—CT); vehicle treatment (Eudragit L 100—EL-100); benznidazole treatment (BNZ); and nanoencapsulated benznidazole treatment (NBNZ). After eight treatment days, the animals were euthanized for sample collection. Results: The peak of parasitemia was at day 7 p.i., and the BNZ and NBNZ controlled and reduced the parasite rate but showed no efficacy in terms of total elimination of parasites analyzed by RT-PCR in both infected groups. The infection promotes significant anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, which the BNZ improves. There was an increase in AChE activity during infection, leading to a pro-inflammatory response and an increase in M1 and M2 mACh receptors in the BNZ group, showing that the treatment interacted with the cholinergic pathway. In addition, a pro-oxidative response was characterized in the infection and mainly in the infected BNZ and NBNZ groups. The histopathological analysis showed significative splenomegaly and inflammatory infiltrate in the heart, liver, and spleen. Conclusions: The administration of the BNZ or NBNZ reverses hematological, hepatic, and renal alterations through cholinergic signaling and stimulates a pro-inflammatory response during acute T. cruzi infection.

Wound dressings play an essential role in wound care and healing, but the price is expensive for patients who have to treat for a long time such as patients from burns, scalds, etc. The objective of the research is to develop a wound dressing made with bacterial cellulose and local herb that has antibacterial properties, is cheap, and can be created by yourself. The bacterial cellulose (BC) produced from Acetobactor xylinum using coconut water waste to reduce costs. Its structure was changed to bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNC) by acid hydrolysis, dried in 2 methods: Oven dried at 50 °C (dy) or freeze dried (fd). Then, herbal dressings were produced as a composite BC with herbs in 2 forms: A solution, i.e. C. Odorata leaf extract solution and a colloid, i.e. C. hystrix essential oil nanocapsule. The results for the production of a wound dressing showed that fd-BCNC had good quality, good fiber dispersion, high porosity and no antibacterial activity. It is suitable as a primary or secondary wound dressing, that does not help in wound healing. When fd-BCNC was loaded with herbs in 2 forms, it was found to be stable at room temperature, water adsorption, water vapor permeability and inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Especially fd-BCNC of nanocapsule of C. hystrix peel essential oil has the best antibacterial effect. Therefore, you can apply this developed wound dressing to herbs used specifically for healing wounds. Moreover, we believe that this research will be a database that can be expanded to commercial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Today, the use of medicinal plants such as T. daenensis as a complementary and effective treatment method to control and inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms is increasing all over the world. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of T. daenensis essential oil (EO) and its nanocapsulated against some pathogenic bacteria isolated from aquatic and food samples. Materials and methods: In this experimental research, T. daenensis was collected in June 2023 in Shahrekord City. The EO of the dried aerial part of the plant was obtained by using a Clevenger device (steam distillation). The components in the EO were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-Mass). T. daenensis EO nanocapsules were prepared using Tween 20, Tween 80 as emulsifier, polyethylene glycol as a co-solvent, acidic chitosan solution (1%), and modified starch (5%) as a coating. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to confirm their structure. Antimicrobial properties against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from aquatic samples (fish and lobster) and various foods (raw milk, traditional ice cream and mutton, beef, chicken) were investigated by disc diffusion method, determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) by microdilution method. Also, the prevention of biofilm formation was investigated. Results: The main components of the T. daenensis EO were thymol (75.31 percent), 8 p-Cymene (4.62 percent), carvacrol (4.2 percent), trans-cayophyllene (3.01 percent), terpenine (2.01 percent) and betamyrcin (1.21 percent), respectively. TEM and DLS methods confirmed the structure of the T. daenensis EO nanocapsules. The size of nanocapsules was between 50 and 90 nm. The MIC amounts for the mentioned bacteria were between 62.5 and 250 μg/ml. The lowest MIC value for P. mirabilis, S. aureus, and K. pneumoniae was reported with a concentration of 62.5 μg/ml of T. daenensis EO nanocapsule. Also, the amounts of MBC for the mentioned bacteria were between 125 and 1000 µg/ml. According to the obtained results, the MIC and MBC levels for all mentioned bacteria against T. daenensis EO nanocapsule were lower than the EO alone (P<0.05). According to the results, with the increase in the concentration of EO, the diameter of the non-growth halo increased, while these results were not the same for T. daenensis EO nanocapsule. In all bacteria except S. aureus, the diameter of the non-growth halo for different concentrations of EO was greater than that of T. daenensis EO nanocapsule. The inhibition percentage of biofilm production was also reported 100% at 125 and 250 μg/ml of T. daenensis EO nanocapsule, except for K. pneumonia. In all concentrations of T. daenensis EO nanocapsule, the percentage of bacteria biofilm reduction was significantly higher than the EO alone (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, the T. daenensis EO nanocapsule had more antibacterial properties than EO alone. It is suggested that future studies for the toxicology of T. daenensis EO nanocapsule on normal and cancerous cells be done iv-vitro. In addition, to apply it in the food industry, experimental studies on food models should also be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocapsule preparation technology, as an emerging technology with great development prospects, has uniqueness and superiority in various industries. In this paper, the preparation technology of nanocapsules was systematically divided into three categories: physical methods, chemical methods, and physicochemical methods. The technological innovation of different methods in recent years was reviewed, and the mechanisms of nanocapsules prepared via emulsion polymerization, interface polymerization, layer-by-layer self-assembly technology, nanoprecipitation, supercritical fluid, and nano spray drying was summarized in detail. Different from previous reviews, the renewal iteration of core–shell structural materials was highlighted, and relevant illustrations of their representative and latest research results were reviewed. With the continuous progress of nanocapsule technology, especially the continuous development of new wall materials and catalysts, new preparation technology, and new production equipment, nanocapsule technology will be used more widely in medicine, food, cosmetics, pesticides, petroleum products, and many other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egypt has witnessed the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae, which has posed a serious healthcare challenge. The proper treatment choice for MDR-KP infections is not well determined which renders the problem more complicated, thus making the control of such infections a serious challenge for healthcare professionals. This study aims to encapsulate the cationic antimicrobial peptide; Cecropin-B (Cec-B), to increase its lifetime, drug targeting, and efficacy and study the antimicrobial effect of free and encapsulated recombinant rCec-B peptide on multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae (MDR-KP) isolates. Fifty isolates were collected from different clinical departments at Theodore Bilharz Research Institute. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of rCec-B against MDR-KP isolates were determined by the broth microdilution test. In addition, encapsulation of rCec-B peptide into chitosan nanoparticles and studying its bactericidal effect against MDR-KP isolates were also performed. The relative expression of efflux pump and porin coding genes (ArcrB, TolC, mtdK, and Ompk35) was detected by quantitative PCR in treated MDR-KP bacterial isolates compared to untreated isolates. Out of 60 clinical MDR isolates, 50 were MDR-KP. 60% of the isolates were XDR while 40% were MDR. rCec-B were bactericidal on 21 isolates, then these isolates were subjected to treatment using free nanocapsule in addition to the encapsulated peptide. Free capsules showed a mild cytotoxic effect on MDR-KP at the highest concentration. MIC of encapsulated rCec-B was higher than the free peptide. The expression level of genes encoding efflux and porin (ArcrB, TolC, mtdK, and Ompk35) was downregulated after treatment with encapsulated rCec-B. These findings indicate that encapsulated rCec-B is a promising candidate with potent antibacterial activities against drug-resistant K. pneumoniae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocapsules are colloidal particles with dimensions measured in nanometers and generally obtained in the range of 100 to 500 nm through nanoencapsulation technologies. Nanoencapsulation encapsulates nano-sized particles in liquid or solid form to create nanocapsules or nanoparticles. Generally, six classical methods are involved in nanocapsule formation: nanoprecipitation, emulsification-diffusion, double emulsification, emulsification-coacervation, polymer coating, and layerby-layer. Nanocapsules are prepared from different monomers and cross-linked polymers, contributing to their stability during and after encapsulation. They are segregated into ionic and non-ionic by the surface formal charges, which then influence the type of applications. The applications of nanocapsules usually range from developing targeted drug delivery systems, self-healing materials, and the encapsulation of nutritive additive compounds in nutraceutical products. Nowadays, people turn their attention to natural resources. Therefore, the polymer matrix and the active substances in nanocapsules have been adopted with various natural polymers such as protein, lipids, polysaccharides, plant metabolites, plant exudates, or plant extracts. Since nanotechnology products are predicted to be broadly utilized in the future, major key players must work collectively to handle the issue of safety regulation and user acceptance as well as optimum scale production of nanocapsules in industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using removable silica templates, protein nanocapsules comprising the A subunit of Helicobacter pylori urease (UreA) were synthesised. The templates were of two sizes, with solid core mesoporous shell (SC/MS) silica templates giving rise to nanocapsules of average diameter 510 nm and mesoporous (MS) silica templates giving rise to nanocapsules of average diameter 47 nm. Both were shown to be highly monodispersed and relatively homogenous in structure. Various combinations of the nanocapsules in formulation were assessed as vaccines in a mouse model of H. pylori infection. Immune responses were evaluated and protective efficacy assessed. It was demonstrated that vaccination of mice with the larger nanocapsules combined with an adjuvant was able to significantly reduce colonisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinyl palmitate (RP) is a retinol ester with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as an antiwrinkle agent. However, it has poor aqueous solubility and easily degrades into inactive forms for topical applications. Therefore, we developed chitosan-coated nanocapsules (ChiNCs) to encapsulate RP using a simple nanoprecipitation method for protection against physiological conditions and to enable deep skin penetration. The as-prepared RP-loaded nanocapsules (RP@ChiNCs) loaded with approximately 5 wt.% RP exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter of 86 nm and surface charge of 24 mV. They had adequate stability to maintain their physicochemical properties after lyophilization in a biological buffer. Notably, ChiNCs provided RP with remarkable protection against degradation for 4 weeks at 37 °C. Thus, RP@ChiNCs exhibited good antioxidant activity in situ for sufficiently long periods without considerable changes in their efficacy. Furthermore, ChiNCs enhanced the skin penetration of lipophilic RP based on the inherent nature of chitosan. RP@ChiNCs exhibited good in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects without causing any cytotoxicity in dermal fibroblasts. Accordingly, they promoted cell proliferation in a wound-scratch test and enhanced collagen synthesis. These results suggest that RP@ChiNCs are promising candidates for cosmetic and biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The complex preparation process and storage instability of nanoformulations hinders their development and commercialization. In this study, nanocapsules loaded with abamectin were prepared by interfacial polymerization at room temperature and ordinary pressure using the monomers of epoxy resin (ER) and diamine. The potential mechanisms of primary amine and tertiary amine in influencing the shell strength of the nanocapsules and the dynamic stability of abamectin nanocapsules (Aba@ER) in the suspension system were systematically researched. RESULTS: The tertiary amine catalyzed the self‐polymerization of epoxy resin into linear macromolecules with unstable structures. The structural stability of the diamine curing agent with a primary amine group played a key role in enhancing the structural stability of the polymers. The intramolecular structure of the nanocapsule shell formed by isophorondiamine (IPDA) crosslinked epoxy resin has multiple spatial conformations and a rigid saturated six‐membered ring. Its structure was stable, and the shell strength was strong. The formulation had stable dynamic changes during storage and maintained excellent biological activity. Compared with emulsifiable concentrate (EC), Aba@ER/IPDA had superior biological activity, and the field efficacy on tomato root‐knot nematode was enhanced by approximately 31.28% at 150 days after transplanting. CONCLUSION: Aba@ER/IPDA, which has excellent storage stability and simple preparation technology, can provide a nanoplatform with industrial prospects for efficient pesticide delivery. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contact insecticidal activity of in natura and maltodextrin/Angum gum nanoencapsulated essential oils of Eucalyptus globulus Labill and Zataria multiflora Bioss was evaluated against the third instar larvae of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The essential oil from E. globulus exhibited an average yield of 1.19%, and presented 1,8-cineol (59.08%) as the major component, while Z. multiflora essential oil, with an average yield of 1.5%, was characterized by thymol (26.12%) and carvacrol (25.31%) as the main components. The encapsulated particles presented spherical morphology with regular and homogeneous external surfaces, ranging from 60 to 130 nm in diameter. Laboratory bioassays estimated the contact LC50 of in natura and encapsulated essential oils as 13.07 and 1.34 µL L−1 for E. globulus and 1.47 and 5.87 µL L−1 for Z. multiflora, respectively. The results presented here, which are probably the first to be reported, suggested that essential oil nanoencapsulation represents an efficient method for enhancing both insecticidal activity and the durability of the active ingredients for sustainable pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates high drug-loading of novel pyridine derivatives (S1–S4) in lipid- and polymer-based core–shell nanocapsules (LPNCs) for boosting the anticancer efficiency and alleviating toxicity of these novel pyridine derivatives. The nanocapsules were fabricated using a nanoprecipitation technique and characterized for particle size, surface morphology, and entrapment efficiency. The prepared nanocapsules exhibited a particle size ranging from 185.0 ± 17.4 to 223.0 ± 15.3 nm and a drug entrapment of >90%. The microscopic evaluation demonstrated spherical-shaped nanocapsules with distinct core–shell structures. The in vitro release study depicted a biphasic and sustained release pattern of test compounds from the nanocapsules. In addition, it was obvious from the cytotoxicity studies that the nanocapsules showed superior cytotoxicity against both MCF-7 and A549 cancer cell lines, as manifested by a significant decrease in the IC50 value compared to free test compounds. The in vivo antitumor efficacy of the optimized nanocapsule formulation (S4-loaded LPNCs) was investigated in an Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) solid tumor-bearing mice model. Interestingly, the entrapment of the test compound (S4) within LPNCs remarkably triggered superior tumor growth inhibition when compared with either free S4 or the standard anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil. Such enhanced in vivo antitumor activity was accompanied by a remarkable increase in animal life span. Furthermore, the S4-loaded LPNC formulation was tolerated well by treated animals, as evidenced by the absence of any signs of acute toxicity or alterations in biochemical markers of liver and kidney functions. Collectively, our findings clearly underscore the therapeutic potential of S4-loaded LPNCs over free S4 in conquering EAC solid tumors, presumably via granting efficient delivery of adequate concentrations of the entrapped drug to the target site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexadecylamine (HDA) was in situ encapsulated into SiO2 nanoshells, to obtain the HDA@SiO2 nanocapsule with excellent thermal reliability during the process of energy release/storage. Closed-pore structured HDA@SiO2 nanocapsule was successfully synthesized. The latent heats of crystallization and melting for HDA@SiO2 nanocapsule are 189.3 and 193.8 Jg−1, with the 91.2 wt% encapsulated HDA in the nanocapsule. The crystallization and melting temperatures (TCand TM) are 33.34 °C and 49.53 °C for HDA@SiO2 nanocapsule, respectively. After undergoing 200 thermal cycles, the latent heats of HDA@SiO2 nanocapsule decreased by 0.16% and 0.46% with the unchanged phase transition temperature, indicating HDA@SiO2 nanocapsule has superior operational reliability. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of HDA@SiO2 is 0.13 Wm−1K−1, an approximately 20% improvement over that of pure HDA. The temperature of degradation and evaporation of HDA@SiO2 nanocapsule was increased by more than 10 °C compared with that of bulk HDA. The HDA@SiO2 nanocapsule exploited in this work exhibits excellent operational reliability and high latent heat during the process of energy release/storage, which makes it more suitable and competitive in the recycling and utilization of thermal and solar energy.

Self-healing polymers and nanocomposites form an important class of responsive materials. These materials have the capability to reversibly heal their damage. For aerospace applications, thermosets and thermoplastic polymers have been reinforced with nanocarbon nanoparticles for self-healing of structural damage. This review comprehends the use of self-healing nanocomposites in the aerospace sector. The self-healing behavior of the nanocomposites depends on factors such as microphase separation, matrix–nanofiller interactions and inter-diffusion of polymer–nanofiller. Moreover, self-healing can be achieved through healing agents such as nanocapsules and nanocarbon nanoparticles. The mechanism of self-healing has been found to operate via physical or chemical interactions. Self-healing nanocomposites have been used to design structural components, panels, laminates, membranes, coatings, etc., to recover the damage to space materials. Future research must emphasize the design of new high-performance self-healing polymeric nanocomposites for aerospace structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is one of the main medical complaints of cancer patients, there are currently no specific drugs for the effective treatment. In this respect, α-terpineol (TP) seems to be a potential candidate for this purpose, since it has several pharmacological properties that can be improved by nanosytems. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and investigate an antinociceptive action of TP in nanocapsules (TP-LNC) on a peripheral neuropathy induced by paclitaxel (PTX) in mice. Nanocapsules were obtained through the interfacial deposition of preformed polymer method and physicochemically characterized. The effect of TP and TP-LNC was assessed using the hyperalgesia test in mice with neuropathy induced by PTX (32 mg/kg, i.p.). Its effect on calcium channels was evaluated by patch-clamp and molecular docking. TP-LNC presented satisfactory stability and encapsulation efficiency of 64.5%; it also prolonged the antihyperalgesic effect when cooperated with free TP. Moreover, it was found that TP presented molecular interactions with different channels for calcium, being able to reduce calcium currents. These findings bring new evidence about the analgesic action of TP and its modulating action of calcium channels and reiterate the benefits of the encapsulation of monoterpenes in nanosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mannitol and inositol, as sugar alcohol phase change materials with high latent heat, have wide application prospects in medium temperature thermal energy storage. The phase change temperature of binary sugar alcohol can be adjusted by changing the proportion of the sugar alcohol components, thus the temperature range of application is wider than that of one-component sugar alcohol. There are some problems such as leakage, oxidation and supercooling during the thermal cycles of sugar alcohols. Micro/nanoencapsulation of sugar alcohols and addition of nucleating agent are effective measures to solve the problems. In this paper, silicon carbide doped mannitol and inositol binary sugar alcohol nanocapsules were prepared. Phase change characteristics and thermal stability of the nanocapsules were studied by differential scanning calorimeter, scanning electron microscope, thermogravimetric analyzer and thermal cycling test, and the influence of silicon carbide was discussed. The results show that the nanocapsules have high phase change enthalpy, high encapsulation rate and high energy storage efficiency. The thermal decomposition temperature is higher than that of the binary sugar alcohol. The supercooling degree of the nanocapsules decreases by 32.2 ℃ compared with the binary sugar alcohol after thermal cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discipline of nanoscience has made enormous strides in the recent two decades. The researchers in the field of nanomedicine have been looking into using natural biodegradable polymeric nano-colloids for targeted drug delivery, due to their high levels of bioavailability, biocompatibility, enhanced permeability, better retention time, safety, and less toxicity. The nasal cavity has been considered as an efficient route with great potential for the management of local and systemic diseases like asthma, pneumonia, Alzheimer's disease, etc. Chitosan (CS), a natural polymer, along with its greater efficacy and less toxicity, makes it an attractive candidate for nasal administration. This review has focused on the limitations that might arise when using the nasal route and how CS can play a mechanistic role in helping with these complications when using the nasal drug delivery system. The major revelation from this article is to summarize the various formulations and innovation of CS-loaded nano colloids, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, hydrogels, in situ gel, etc. The preclinical study and various patents published also concluded that the intranasal delivery of CS-loaded nanocolloids have wide potential to manage various neurodegenerative, respiratory, cardiovascular, etc. disorders.

Nanocapsule preparation technology, as an emerging technology with great development prospects, has uniqueness and superiority in various industries. In this paper, the preparation technology of nanocapsules was systematically divided into three categories: physical methods, chemical methods, and physicochemical methods. The technological innovation of different methods in recent years was reviewed, and the mechanisms of nanocapsules prepared via emulsion polymerization, interface polymerization, layer-by-layer self-assembly technology, nanoprecipitation, supercritical fluid, and nano spray drying was summarized in detail. Different from previous reviews, the renewal iteration of core–shell structural materials was highlighted, and relevant illustrations of their representative and latest research results were reviewed. With the continuous progress of nanocapsule technology, especially the continuous development of new wall materials and catalysts, new preparation technology, and new production equipment, nanocapsule technology will be used more widely in medicine, food, cosmetics, pesticides, petroleum products, and many other fields.

With the acceleration in oilfield developments, reservoir advantage channels have been gradually developed. This has led to ineffective circulation in the oilfield injection system and a significant decrease in production. The profile control and displacement technology of low-permeability and heterogeneous reservoirs are in urgent need of updating. In this paper, an intelligent profile control and displacement agent is proposed. The controlled release mechanism and profile control and displacement mechanism is clarified by physical simulation experiments. The profile control agent is a nanocapsule with environmental response and controlled release. The structure of the capsule is a core–shell structure, which is composed of an amphiphilic copolymer AP-g-PNIPAAM and Janus functional particles. The surface chemical stability of the micro/nanocapsule is analyzed by a potentiometric method. The study shows that a temperature at 45 °C causes a potential change in the micro/nanocapsule, indicating that the micro/nanocapsule has a slow release at this temperature. When the temperature is in the range of 40 to 45 °C, the absorbance greatly increases; therefore, it is considered that the capsule wall LCST is about 45 °C. Heating causes the surface contraction of the capsule wall to intensify, the micropores in the capsule wall to increase, the release amount to increase and the release rate per unit time to increase. The release time increases proportionally with the increase in capsule wall thickness. When the release time is the same, an alkaline or acidic environment can improve the release rate of the nanocapsule. The effect of profile control and flooding is evaluated through different differential core models. The research shows that the controlled release micro/nanocapsule has a good environmental response and the internal components can be effectively controlled by adjusting the temperature or pH value. This research has shown that the nanocapsules have good application prospects in low-permeability heterogeneous reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, extracts of mountain tea were obtained by maceration, supercritical fluid, ultrasound assisted, subcritical water and microwave. The highest extraction efficiency (22.55%) and total phenolic content (80.50 mg GA/g DM) was observed in extract obtained via ultrasound assisted extraction. Antioxidant activity of different concentrations of extracts was compared with 100 ppm TBHQ synthetic antioxidant and an increased in concentration of extract increased antioxidant activity. Type and percentage of wall materials (0, 50 and 100), the ratio of extracts to wall materials (0.1, 0.25 and 0.4 w/w), and sonication time (2, 4 and 6 min) as independent variable levels and encapsulation efficiency of phenolic compounds, particle size of nanocapsule and zeta potential were considered as a response to optimization of encapsulation conditions of the extract. An increase in sonication time resulted in increased encapsulation efficiency and decreased particle size of capsule. As the ratio of extract to wall materials increased, the encapsulation efficiency of extract increased and particle size decreased. Type of wall materials has effect on encapsulation efficacy, zeta potential, and particle size of capsule. The optimum conditions for encapsulating of mountain tea extract were 6 min ultrasound; the ratio of extract to wall 0.4 and the amount of Arabic gum and alginate were 30.3% and 69.7% respectively. In optimum conditions, the encapsulation efficiency, Zeta potential and particle size were 57.43%, -52.1 mV and 82.06 nm. The amount of sedimentation and release of extract during the storage period was increasing. Nanocapsule has a smooth and interconnected structural that due to high encapsulation efficiency this nanocapsule can be added to food as an antioxidant compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photo-chemotherapy is a potent anticancer therapeutic approach. Herein, we designed a gold-capsulated lapatinib nanomedicine for breast cancer treatment. The biodegradable PLGA (poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)) nanoparticles were surface coated with glycol chitosan followed by adsorption and reduction of gold seeds on the surface to form nanocapsule. These multifunctional nanomaterials exhibited significant absorbance (600–900 nm) in the near-infrared region and had a porous surface that facilitated controlled diffusion of the encapsulated anticancer drug, lapatinib. Further, the gold-coated PLGA lapatinib nanocapsule showed synergistic effect of combined chemo-photothermal therapy with > 80% cytotoxicity. Moreover, these nanomaterials were found to be non-hemolytic and biocompatible. The biodistribution of the nanocapsule in Balb/c mice revealed higher Au content in the liver followed by spleen with no significant change in body weight and abnormal clinical signs. Hence, gold-capsuled polymeric nanomedicine could be a promising therapeutic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinyl palmitate (RP) is a retinol ester with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as an antiwrinkle agent. However, it has poor aqueous solubility and easily degrades into inactive forms for topical applications. Therefore, we developed chitosan-coated nanocapsules (ChiNCs) to encapsulate RP using a simple nanoprecipitation method for protection against physiological conditions and to enable deep skin penetration. The as-prepared RP-loaded nanocapsules (RP@ChiNCs) loaded with approximately 5 wt.% RP exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter of 86 nm and surface charge of 24 mV. They had adequate stability to maintain their physicochemical properties after lyophilization in a biological buffer. Notably, ChiNCs provided RP with remarkable protection against degradation for 4 weeks at 37 °C. Thus, RP@ChiNCs exhibited good antioxidant activity in situ for sufficiently long periods without considerable changes in their efficacy. Furthermore, ChiNCs enhanced the skin penetration of lipophilic RP based on the inherent nature of chitosan. RP@ChiNCs exhibited good in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects without causing any cytotoxicity in dermal fibroblasts. Accordingly, they promoted cell proliferation in a wound-scratch test and enhanced collagen synthesis. These results suggest that RP@ChiNCs are promising candidates for cosmetic and biomedical applications.

Using removable silica templates, protein nanocapsules comprising the A subunit of Helicobacter pylori urease (UreA) were synthesised. The templates were of two sizes, with solid core mesoporous shell (SC/MS) silica templates giving rise to nanocapsules of average diameter 510 nm and mesoporous (MS) silica templates giving rise to nanocapsules of average diameter 47 nm. Both were shown to be highly monodispersed and relatively homogenous in structure. Various combinations of the nanocapsules in formulation were assessed as vaccines in a mouse model of H. pylori infection. Immune responses were evaluated and protective efficacy assessed. It was demonstrated that vaccination of mice with the larger nanocapsules combined with an adjuvant was able to significantly reduce colonisation.

Nanocapsules can be designed for applications including drug delivery, catalysis, and biological imaging. The mussel-inspired material polydopamine is a promising shell layer for nanocapsules because of its free radical scavenging capacity, ability to react with a broad range of functional molecules, lack of toxicity, and biodegradability. Previous reports of polydopamine nanocapsule formation have relied on a templating approach. Herein, we report a template-free approach to polydopamine nanocapsule formation in the presence of resveratrol, a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound found in red wine and grapes. Synthesis of nanocapsules occurs spontaneously in an ethanolic resveratrol/dopamine·HCl solution at pH 8.5. UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that resveratrol is incorporated into the nanocapsules. We also observed the formation of a soluble fluorescent dopamine-resveratrol adduct during synthesis, which was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography, UV-vis spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, we studied the influence of solvent composition, dopamine concentration, and resveratrol/dopamine ratio on the nanocapsule diameter and shell thickness. The resulting nanocapsules have excellent free radical scavenging activity as measured by a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. Our work provides a convenient pathway by which resveratrol, and possibly other hydrophobic bioactive compounds, may be encapsulated within polydopamine nanocapsules.