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Pharmaceutics
Special Issues
Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives
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Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Delivery and Controlled Release".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 18145

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Anna Rita Bilia

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
Interests: natural products; drug delivery systems; nanocarriers; topical administration; oral administration; brain delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Giulia Vanti

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Interests: pharmaceutical technology; nanodelivery system; dermal and mucosal delivery; natural product formulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eleonora Truzzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, 41125 Modena, Italy
Interests: NMR; food chemistry; functional foods; food authentication; metabolomics; analytical chemistry; chromatography; chemometrics; drug delivery systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to collect contributions in the field of pharmaceutical nanotechnology applied to plant and food derivatives, also considering the possibility of using plant and food as a source of bioactive components of nanodelivery systems.

Many constituents of plants and foods have numerous biological activities, but they do not possess drug-like characteristics, with consequently limited efficacy and clinical use. Recently, many food macromolecules have been reported for health-promoting effects, but they have low application in functional foods, food supplements, medical devices, or medicine because of their inefficient systemic delivery and poor oral bioavailability. However, they have attracted considerable attention as structural components of nanocarriers due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewable origin, and easy modification.

Therefore, nanotechnology encases the prospective of offering many strategies to improve the efficacy of natural derivatives from plants and foods and an application platform for their chemical, nutritional, and pharmaceutical potential.

Prof. Dr. Anna Rita Bilia
Dr. Giulia Vanti
Dr. Eleonora Truzzi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanodelivery system
  • liposome
  • nanovesicle
  • nanoparticle
  • nanoemulsion
  • food-macromolecule-based nanodelivery systems
  • bioavailability
  • controlled release
  • natural products
  • functional food
  • food supplements
  • plant derivatives
  • herbal drugs

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3704 KiB  
Article
Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Morin: Preparation, Characterization, and Ex Vivo Permeation Studies
by Federica De Gaetano, Consuelo Celesti, Giuseppe Paladini, Valentina Venuti, Maria Chiara Cristiano, Donatella Paolino, Daniela Iannazzo, Vincenza Strano, Anna M. Gueli, Silvana Tommasini, Cinzia Anna Ventura and Rosanna Stancanelli
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(6), 1605; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061605 - 28 May 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1930
Abstract
In recent years, bioactive compounds have been the focus of much interest in scientific research, due to their low toxicity and extraordinary properties. However, they possess poor solubility, low chemical stability, and unsustainable bioavailability. New drug delivery systems, and among them solid lipid [...] Read more.
In recent years, bioactive compounds have been the focus of much interest in scientific research, due to their low toxicity and extraordinary properties. However, they possess poor solubility, low chemical stability, and unsustainable bioavailability. New drug delivery systems, and among them solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), could minimize these drawbacks. In this work, morin (MRN)-loaded SLNs (MRN-SLNs) were prepared using a solvent emulsification/diffusion method, using two different lipids, Compritol® 888 ATO (COM) or Phospholipon® 80H (PHO). SLNs were investigated for their physical–chemical, morphological, and technological (encapsulation parameters and in vitro release) properties. We obtained spherical and non-aggregated nanoparticles with hydrodynamic radii ranging from 60 to 70 nm and negative zeta potentials (about −30 mV and −22 mV for MRN-SLNs-COM and MRN-SLNs-PHO, respectively). The interaction of MRN with the lipids was demonstrated via μ-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and DSC analysis. High encapsulation efficiency was obtained for all formulations (about 99%, w/w), particularly for the SLNs prepared starting from a 10% (w/w) theoretical MRN amount. In vitro release studies showed that about 60% of MRN was released within 24 h and there was a subsequent sustained release within 10 days. Finally, ex vivo permeation studies with excised bovine nasal mucosa demonstrated the ability of SLNs to act as a penetration enhancer for MRN due to the intimate contact and interaction of the carrier with the mucosa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives)
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Review

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26 pages, 1080 KiB  
Review
Combination of Nanodelivery Systems and Constituents Derived from Novel Foods: A Comprehensive Review
by Eleonora Truzzi, Davide Bertelli, Anna Rita Bilia, Giulia Vanti, Eleonora Maretti and Eliana Leo
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(11), 2614; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15112614 - 11 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2151
Abstract
Novel Food is a new category of food, regulated by the European Union Directive No. 2015/2283. This latter norm defines a food as “Novel” if it was not used “for human consumption to a significant degree within the Union before the date of [...] Read more.
Novel Food is a new category of food, regulated by the European Union Directive No. 2015/2283. This latter norm defines a food as “Novel” if it was not used “for human consumption to a significant degree within the Union before the date of entry into force of that regulation, namely 15 May 1997”. Recently, Novel Foods have received increased interest from researchers worldwide. In this sense, the key areas of interest are the discovery of new benefits for human health and the exploitation of these novel sources of materials in new fields of application. An emerging area in the pharmaceutical and medicinal fields is nanotechnology, which deals with the development of new delivery systems at a nanometric scale. In this context, this review aims to summarize the recent advances on the design and characterization of nanodelivery systems based on materials belonging to the Novel Food list, as well as on nanoceutical products formulated for delivering compounds derived from Novel Foods. Additionally, the safety hazard of using nanoparticles in food products, i.e., food supplements, has been discussed in view of the current European regulation, which considers nanomaterials as Novel Foods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives)
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33 pages, 3601 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Nanoformulations for Quercetin Delivery
by Ekaterina-Michaela Tomou, Paraskevi Papakyriakopoulou, Elmina-Marina Saitani, Georgia Valsami, Natassa Pippa and Helen Skaltsa
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(6), 1656; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061656 - 5 Jun 2023
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3946
Abstract
Quercetin (QUE) is a flavonol that has recently received great attention from the research community due to its important pharmacological properties. However, QUE’s low solubility and extended first-pass metabolism limit its oral administration. This review aims to present the potential of various nanoformulations [...] Read more.
Quercetin (QUE) is a flavonol that has recently received great attention from the research community due to its important pharmacological properties. However, QUE’s low solubility and extended first-pass metabolism limit its oral administration. This review aims to present the potential of various nanoformulations in the development of QUE dosage forms for bioavailability enhancement. Advanced drug delivery nanosystems can be used for more efficient encapsulation, targeting, and controlled release of QUE. An overview of the primary nanosystem categories, formulation processes, and characterization techniques are described. In particular, lipid-based nanocarriers, such as liposomes, nanostructured-lipid carries, and solid-lipid nanoparticles, are widely used to improve QUE’s oral absorption and targeting, increase its antioxidant activity, and ensure sustained release. Moreover, polymer-based nanocarriers exhibit unique properties for the improvement of the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicology (ADME(T)) profile. Namely, micelles and hydrogels composed of natural or synthetic polymers have been applied in QUE formulations. Furthermore, cyclodextrin, niosomes, and nanoemulsions are proposed as formulation alternatives for administration via different routes. This comprehensive review provides insight into the role of advanced drug delivery nanosystems for the formulation and delivery of QUE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives)
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42 pages, 3507 KiB  
Review
Conjugation, Prodrug, and Co-Administration Strategies in Support of Nanotechnologies to Improve the Therapeutic Efficacy of Phytochemicals in the Central Nervous System
by Giovanna Rassu, Milena Sorrenti, Laura Catenacci, Barbara Pavan, Luca Ferraro, Elisabetta Gavini, Maria Cristina Bonferoni, Paolo Giunchedi and Alessandro Dalpiaz
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(6), 1578; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061578 - 23 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2770
Abstract
Phytochemicals, produced as secondary plant metabolites, have shown interesting potential therapeutic activities against neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Unfortunately, poor bioavailability and rapid metabolic processes compromise their therapeutic use, and several strategies are currently proposed for overcoming these issues. The present review summarises strategies [...] Read more.
Phytochemicals, produced as secondary plant metabolites, have shown interesting potential therapeutic activities against neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Unfortunately, poor bioavailability and rapid metabolic processes compromise their therapeutic use, and several strategies are currently proposed for overcoming these issues. The present review summarises strategies for enhancing the central nervous system’s phytochemical efficacy. Particular attention has been paid to the use of phytochemicals in combination with other drugs (co-administrations) or administration of phytochemicals as prodrugs or conjugates, particularly when these approaches are supported by nanotechnologies exploiting conjugation strategies with appropriate targeting molecules. These aspects are described for polyphenols and essential oil components, which can improve their loading as prodrugs in nanocarriers, or be part of nanocarriers designed for targeted co-delivery to achieve synergistic anti-glioma or anti-neurodegenerative effects. The use of in vitro models, able to simulate the blood–brain barrier, neurodegeneration or glioma, and useful for optimizing innovative formulations before their in vivo administration via intravenous, oral, or nasal routes, is also summarised. Among the described compounds, quercetin, curcumin, resveratrol, ferulic acid, geraniol, and cinnamaldehyde can be efficaciously formulated to attain brain-targeting characteristics, and may therefore be therapeutically useful against glioma or neurodegenerative diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives)
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34 pages, 1735 KiB  
Review
Phytochemicals and Cancer Treatment: Cell-Derived and Biomimetic Vesicles as Promising Carriers
by Sara Baldassari, Alice Balboni, Giuliana Drava, Daniela Donghia, Paolo Canepa, Giorgia Ailuno and Gabriele Caviglioli
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(5), 1445; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15051445 - 9 May 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2884
Abstract
The majority of anticancer agents currently used derive from natural sources: plants, frequently the ones employed in traditional medicines, are an abundant source of mono- and diterpenes, polyphenols, and alkaloids that exert antitumor activity through diverse mechanisms. Unfortunately, many of these molecules are [...] Read more.
The majority of anticancer agents currently used derive from natural sources: plants, frequently the ones employed in traditional medicines, are an abundant source of mono- and diterpenes, polyphenols, and alkaloids that exert antitumor activity through diverse mechanisms. Unfortunately, many of these molecules are affected by poor pharmacokinetics and limited specificity, shortcomings that may be overcome by incorporating them into nanovehicles. Cell-derived nanovesicles have recently risen to prominence, due to their biocompatibility, low immunogenicity and, above all, targeting properties. However, due to difficult scalability, the industrial production of biologically-derived vesicles and consequent application in clinics is difficult. As an efficient alternative, bioinspired vesicles deriving from the hybridization of cell-derived and artificial membranes have been conceived, revealing high flexibility and appropriate drug delivery ability. In this review, the most recent advances in the application of these vesicles to the targeted delivery of anticancer actives obtained from plants are presented, with specific focus on vehicle manufacture and characterization, and effectiveness evaluation performed through in vitro and in vivo assays. The emerging overall outlook appears promising in terms of efficient drug loading and selective targeting of tumor cells, suggesting further engrossing developments in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives)
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39 pages, 4468 KiB  
Review
Biopolymer- and Lipid-Based Carriers for the Delivery of Plant-Based Ingredients
by Lynda Gali, Annachiara Pirozzi and Francesco Donsì
Pharmaceutics 2023, 15(3), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030927 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3078
Abstract
Natural ingredients are gaining increasing attention from manufacturers following consumers’ concerns about the excessive use of synthetic ingredients. However, the use of natural extracts or molecules to achieve desirable qualities throughout the shelf life of foodstuff and, upon consumption, in the relevant biological [...] Read more.
Natural ingredients are gaining increasing attention from manufacturers following consumers’ concerns about the excessive use of synthetic ingredients. However, the use of natural extracts or molecules to achieve desirable qualities throughout the shelf life of foodstuff and, upon consumption, in the relevant biological environment is severely limited by their poor performance, especially with respect to solubility, stability against environmental conditions during product manufacturing, storage, and bioavailability upon consumption. Nanoencapsulation can be seen as an attractive approach with which to overcome these challenges. Among the different nanoencapsulation systems, lipids and biopolymer-based nanocarriers have emerged as the most effective ones because of their intrinsic low toxicity following their formulation with biocompatible and biodegradable materials. The present review aims to provide a survey of the recent advances in nanoscale carriers, formulated with biopolymers or lipids, for the encapsulation of natural compounds and plant extracts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Nanodelivery Systems for Plant and Food Derivatives)
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