Effect of twin-screw extrusion pretreatment on starch structure, rheological properties and 3D printing accuracy of whole potato flour and its application in dysphagia diets.

Twin-screw extrusion pretreatment has great potential for the development of three-dimensional (3D) printed food as dysphagia diets. This study aimed to investigate the effect of twin-screw extrusion pretreatment on starch structure, rheological properties and 3D printing accuracy of whole potato flour and its application in dysphagia diets. The results indicated that twin-screw extrusion pretreatment was found to change chain length distributions, short-range ordered structure and relative crystallinity of whole potato flour (WPF), thereby improving its 3D printing performance. With the increasing proportion of long linear chains (DP > 12), the intensity of hydrogen bonds, linear viscoelastic region, storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G″), viscosity and n of whole potato flour paste were increased, enhancing high printing accuracy and shape retention of 3D printed samples with a denser microstructure and smaller pore diameter distribution. The whole potato flour paste extruded with a peristaltic pump speed at 5.25 mL/min (WPF-4) displayed the highest printing accuracy with excellent rheological properties, good water distribution state and dense network structure, which classified as class 5 level dysphagia diets. This research provides an effective guidance for the modification of whole potato flour using twin-screw extrusion pretreatment as 3D printed food inks for dysphagia patients.

An optimized 3D-printed capsule scaffold utilizing artificial neural network for the targeted delivery of chlorogenic acid to the colon.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is an important bioactive polyphenol with extensive biological properties. This study aimed to fabricate an optimized three-dimensional (3D)-printed capsule scaffold and CGA capsules for targeted delivery of hydrophobic CGA to the colon. The optimized printing parameters identified using the neural network model were a temperature of 170 °C, a printing speed of 20 mm/s, and a nozzle diameter of 0.3 mm. The capsules exhibited slow releasing properties of CGA, and the releasing rates of Eudragit®FS 30D-sealed capsules (due to more cracks and voids) were faster than those of Eudragit®S100-sealed capsules. The Ritger-peppas model was the best fitting model to describe the releasing process of CGA from 8 CGA capsules (R2 ≥ 0.98). All CGA capsules exhibited shear-thinning properties with stable sol-gel viscosity at low shear rates. FTIR spectra confirmed the formation of non-covalent bonds between CGA and the sol. Overall, the obtained 3D-printed capsules provided a promising carrier for the targeted delivery of CGA in the development of personalized dietary supplements.

Amphiphilic carboxylated cellulose-g-poly(l-lactide) copolymer nanoparticles for oleanolic acid delivery.

Carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (CCNs), as one of nanocellulose are promising hydrophilic biomass materials for drug delivery. In this work, a series of amphiphilic carboxylated cellulose-graft-Poly(L-lactide) (CC-g-PLLA) copolymers were synthesized via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) method. The copolymers were characterized by 1H-NMR, FT-IR, WXRD and TGA, and their solubility in organic solvents was improved. Then, these amphiphilic copolymers were self-assembled into nanoparticles for delivery of anticancer drug oleanolic acid (OA). The copolymer (DSPLLA 2.03) nanoparticles displayed the smallest size (196.82 ± 9.14 nm) and the highest drug loading efficiency (24.76 ± 0.58%). The nanoparticles exhibited a spherical shape, well water solubility of OA (16.9 mg/mL) and a prolonged drug release (120 h). In vitro and In vivo study indicated that the nanoparticles maintained cytotoxicity to 4T1 cells and MCF-7 cells and displayed high antitumor efficiency. The amphiphilic CC-g-PLLA copolymer nanoparticles provide a novel platform for drug delivery.

pH-Sensitive nanogels based on the electrostatic self-assembly of radionuclide 131I labeled albumin and carboxymethyl cellulose for synergistic combined chemo-radioisotope therapy of cancer.

Development of biocompatible and biodegradable nanocarriers with multiple functionalities has attracted great interest in recent years. In this study, a hybrid hydrogel nanoparticle (nanogel) platform based on the self-assembly of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) is presented for the first time. It was facile to realize the efficient co-delivery of radionuclide 131I and chemotherapeutic drugs such as camptothecin (CPT) to achieve the combined chemo-radioisotope therapy of cancer. Notably, a nanogel was prepared by a simple and green electrostatic interaction approach, instead of chemical reaction, showing typical spherical shape with average size about 120 nm, high drug loading capacity, robust stability and low hemolysis. Interestingly, such nanogels exhibited pH-dependent drug release profile, leading to significant reduction of damage to normal tissues. Furthermore, the as-prepared nanogels could effectively promote intracellular uptake, prolong blood circulation time and enhance accumulation in the tumor tissues. As a result, an excellent therapeutic effect was achieved both in vitro and in vivo through combined chemo-radioisotope therapy. Collectively, this study presents the preparation of a novel green nanocarrier by a reliable and simple approach, and offers an effective strategy for the combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.