An Updated Overview on Nanonutraceuticals: Focus on Nanoprebiotics and Nanoprobiotics

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Abstract

Over the last few years, the application of nanotechnology to nutraceuticals has been rapidly growing due to its ability to enhance the bioavailability of the loaded active ingredients, resulting in improved therapeutic/nutraceutical outcomes. The focus of this work is nanoprebiotics and nanoprobiotics, terms which stand for the loading of a set of compounds (e.g., prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics) in nanoparticles that work as absorption enhancers in the gastrointestinal tract. In this manuscript, the main features of prebiotics and probiotics are highlighted, together with the discussion of emerging applications of nanotechnologies in their formulation. Current research strategies are also discussed, in particular the promising use of nanofibers for the delivery of probiotics. Synbiotic-based nanoparticles represent an innovative trend within this area of interest. As only few experimental studies on nanoprebiotics and nanoprobiotics are available in the scientific literature, research on this prominent field is needed, covering effectiveness, bioavailability, and safety aspects.

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Most cited references 163

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Towards a definition of inorganic nanoparticles from an environmental, health and safety perspective.

Melanie Auffan, Jérôme Rose, Jean-Yves Bottero … (2009)

The regulation of engineered nanoparticles requires a widely agreed definition of such particles. Nanoparticles are routinely defined as particles with sizes between about 1 and 100 nm that show properties that are not found in bulk samples of the same material. Here we argue that evidence for novel size-dependent properties alone, rather than particle size, should be the primary criterion in any definition of nanoparticles when making decisions about their regulation for environmental, health and safety reasons. We review the size-dependent properties of a variety of inorganic nanoparticles and find that particles larger than about 30 nm do not in general show properties that would require regulatory scrutiny beyond that required for their bulk counterparts.

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Electrospun Nanofibers: New Concepts, Materials, and Applications

Jiajia Xue, Jingwei Xie, Wenying Liu … (2017)

Electrospinning is a simple and versatile technique that relies on the electrostatic repulsion between surface charges to continuously draw nanofibers from a viscoelastic fluid. It has been applied to successfully produce nanofibers, with diameters down to tens of nanometers, from a rich variety of materials, including polymers, ceramics, small molecules, and their combinations. In addition to solid nanofibers with a smooth surface, electrospinning has also been adapted to generate nanofibers with a number of secondary structures, including those characterized by a porous, hollow, or core-sheath structure. The surface and/or interior of such nanofibers can be further functionalized with molecular species or nanoparticles during or after an electrospinning process. In addition, electrospun nanofibers can be assembled into ordered arrays or hierarchical structures by manipulation of their alignment, stacking, and/or folding. All of these attributes make electrospun nanofibers well-suited for a broad spectrum of applications, including those related to air filtration, water purification, heterogeneous catalysis, environmental protection, smart textiles, surface coating, energy harvesting/conversion/storage, encapsulation of bioactive species, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Over the past 15 years, our group has extensively explored the use of electrospun nanofibers for a range of applications. Here we mainly focus on two examples: (i) use of ceramic nanofibers as catalytic supports for noble-metal nanoparticles and (ii) exploration of polymeric nanofibers as scaffolding materials for tissue regeneration. Because of their high porosity, high surface area to volume ratio, well-controlled composition, and good thermal stability, nonwoven membranes made of ceramic nanofibers are terrific supports for catalysts based on noble-metal nanoparticles. We have investigated the use of ceramic nanofibers made of various oxides, including SiO2, TiO2, SnO2, CeO2, and ZrO2, as supports for heterogeneous catalysts based on noble metals such as Au, Pt, Pd, and Rh. On the other hand, the diameter, composition, alignment, porosity, and surface properties of polymeric nanofibers can be engineered in a controllable fashion to mimic the hierarchical architecture of an extracellular matrix and help manipulate cell behaviors for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. To this end, we can mimic the native structure and morphology of the extracellular matrix in tendon using uniaxially aligned nanofibers; we can use radially aligned nanofibers to direct the migration of cells from the periphery to the center in an effort to speed up wound healing; and we can also use uniaxially aligned nanofibers to guide and expedite the extension of neurites for peripheral nerve repair. Furthermore, we can replicate the anatomic structures at the tendon-to-bone insertion using nanofiber scaffolds with graded mineral coatings. In this Account, we aim to demonstrate the unique capabilities of electrospun nanofibers as porous supports for heterogeneous catalysis and as functional scaffolds for tissue regeneration by concentrating on some of the recent results.

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Applications and implications of nanotechnologies for the food sector.

Qasim Chaudhry, Michael J. Scotter, James Blackburn … (2008)

A review of current and projected nanotechnology-derived food ingredients, food additives and food contact materials is presented in relation to potential implications for consumer safety and regulatory controls. Nanotechnology applications are expected to bring a range of benefits to the food sector, including new tastes, textures and sensations, less use of fat, enhanced absorption of nutrients, improved packaging, traceability and security of food products. The review has shown that nanotechnology-derived food and health food products are set to grow worldwide and, moreover, a variety of food ingredients, additives, carriers for nutrients/supplements and food contact materials is already available in some countries. The current level of applications in the European food sector is at an elementary stage; however, it is widely expected that more and more products will be available in the EU over the coming years. The toxicological nature of hazard, likelihood of exposure and risk to consumers from nanotechnology-derived food/food packaging are largely unknown and this review highlights major gaps in knowledge that require further research. A number of uncertainties and gaps in relevant regulatory frameworks have also been identified and ways of addressing them proposed.

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Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Mol Sci

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int J Mol Sci

Journal ID (publisher-id): ijms

Title: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Publisher: MDPI

ISSN (Electronic): 1422-0067

Publication date (Electronic): 26 March 2020

Publication date Collection: April 2020

Volume: 21

Issue: 7

Electronic Location Identifier: 2285

Affiliations

[1 ]CREA—Research Centre for Food and Nutrition; Via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy; alessandra.durazzo@ 123456crea.gov.it (A.D.); massimo.lucarini@ 123456crea.gov.it (M.L.)

[2 ]Biotechnology Department, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 9th km of Farah Abad Road, Mazandaran, 48181 68984 Sari, Iran; nazhand.ah@ 123456gmail.com

[3 ]Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 23 Acad. G. Bonchev str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; atanas.atanasov@ 123456gmail.com

[4 ]Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland

[5 ]Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria

[6 ]Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital Health and Patient Safety, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria

[7 ]Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; ebsouto@ 123456ebsouto.pt

[8 ]CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal

[9 ]Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy; ettore.novellino@ 123456unina.it

[10 ]Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici (Napoli), Italy

Author notes

[* ]Correspondence: rafcapas@ 123456unina.it (R.C.); asantini@ 123456unina.it (A.S.); Tel.: +39-081-678664 (R.C.); +39-081-2539317 (A.S.)

Author information

Alessandra Durazzo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7747-9107

Eliana B. Souto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9737-6017

Raffaele Capasso https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3335-1822

Antonello Santini https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5505-3327

Article

Publisher ID: ijms-21-02285

DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072285

PMC ID: 7177810

PubMed ID: 32225036

SO-VID: 6a449c7c-6ddb-4ee6-8a55-d617fd6e4167

License:

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

An Updated Overview on Nanonutraceuticals: Focus on Nanoprebiotics and Nanoprobiotics

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Most cited references 163

Towards a definition of inorganic nanoparticles from an environmental, health and safety perspective.

Electrospun Nanofibers: New Concepts, Materials, and Applications

Applications and implications of nanotechnologies for the food sector.

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