Drug Delivery and Cosmeceutical Applications of Poly- Lactic Acid Based Novel Constructs - A Review.

BACKGROUND: Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) based novel constructs have been engineered for targeted applications in various biomedical sectors of the modern world. In this context, a special focus has been given to pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries. METHODS: In this review, we extensively reviewed, analyzed and compiled salient information from the authentic bibliographic sources including PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Springer, Bentham Science and other scientific databases. A focused review question and inclusion/exclusion criterion were adopted to appraise the quality of retrieved peer-reviewed research literature. RESULTS: Recently, bio-based constructs are being engineered for target applications in different bio- and non-bio sectors of the modern world to address the growing human health-related serious concerns. The utilization of properly designed and structured materials thus allows the creation of a well-defined environment that induces a series of directed measures, and so on. Over the last few years, PLA-based novel constructs have received exceptional attention as potential candidates for various biotechnological and biomedical applications at large and drug delivery in particular. Owing to their unique characteristics including biocompatibility, together with the adjustable thermomechanical and tunable control drug release, PLA has raised interesting applications in many sectors of the medical world. So far, many of such PLA-based bio-constructs have been exploited in drug delivery systems, cosmeceutical products, and therapeutic uses. In recent years, many new applications have been reported for PLA-based materials at the micro- and nano- level, resulting in novel requests for specific drug delivery and cosmeceutical sectors. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, this review summarizes recent research on different aspects of PLA and PLA-based novel constructs and their potential biomedical applications. Moreover, with the aid of nanotechnology, PLA has made a positive impact in emerging sectors such as cosmetics, drug delivery technologies, and healthcare advances.

Using high hydrostatic pressures to retain the antioxidant compounds and to reduce the enzymatic activity of a pitaya-pineapple (Stenocereus sp.-Fragaria ananassa) beverage.

Pitaya (Stenocereus sp.) is a fruit native to arid and semiarid areas of Mexico. It has high antioxidant activity mainly due to its contents of betalains and phenolics, but its consumption is limited due to very short shelf-life and not very recognized flavor. A beverage of pitaya and pineapple was formulated to improve sensory properties. A high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) study at 400-600 MPa and 25 °C for 2-10 min was applied in the beverage and the effect on the contents of vitamin C, total phenolics and betalains, and the pectin methylesterase (PME) activity of pitaya-pineapple beverages, was evaluated. The effect of the come up time (CUT) was also studied. Vitamin C contents increased from 5% at 600 MPa-CUT to 64% at 400 MPa/CUT. Total phenolic concentrations decreased (20-48%) at all processing conditions tested at 400 MPa/CUT, total betacyanins were retained. At 500 MPa/10 min losses of betaxanthins of up to 6% occurred. The maximum PME activity decrease was 23% at 600 MPa 5 min, but an increase of PME activity 7% was observed at 400 MPa/10 min. HHP seem to be a good option to retain most of the antioxidant compounds in pitaya-pineapple beverage, but more studies are necessary to inactivate PME.