Preparation and characterization of agarose-sodium alginate hydrogel beads for the co-encapsulation of lycopene and resveratrol nanoemulsion.

In the study, lycopene and resveratrol nanoemulsion hydrogel beads were prepared by using agarose­sodium alginate as a carrier and the semi-interpenetrating polymer network technique, characteristics and morphologies were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, rheological measurement. The synergistic antioxidant effect of lycopene and resveratrol was confirmed, the best synergistic antioxidant performance is achieved when the ratio of 1:1. To increase the solubility and improve the stability, the lycopene was prepared as solid dispersion added to the nanoemulsion. The encapsulation rate of lycopene and resveratrol reached 93.60 ± 2.94 % and 89.30 ± 1.75 %, respectively, and the cumulative release showed that the addition of agarose slowed down the release rate of the compound, which improves the applicability of lycopene and resveratrol and development of carriers for the delivery of different bioactive ingredients.

Preparation and Characterization of Silica-Coated Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Beads and the Delivery of Curcumin.

In this study, to address the defects of sodium alginate (SA), such as its susceptibility to disintegration, silica was coated on the outer layer of sodium alginate hydrogel beads in order to improve its swelling and slow-release properties. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as the hydrolyzed precursor, and the solution of silica precursor was prepared by sol-gel reaction under acidic conditions. Then SA-silica hydrogel beads prepared by ionic crosslinking method were immersed into the SiO2 precursor solution to prepare SA-silica hydrogel beads. The chemical structure and morphology of the hydrogel beads were characterized by XRD, FTIR, and SEM, and the results showed that the surface of SA-silica beads was successfully encapsulated with the outer layer of SiO2, and the surface was smooth and dense. The swelling experiments showed that the swelling performance effectively decreased with the increase of TEOS molar concentration, and the maximum swelling ratio of the hydrogel beads decreased from 41.07 to 14.3, and the time to reach the maximum swelling ratio was prolonged from 4 h to 8 h. The sustained-release experiments showed that the SA-silica hydrogel beads possessed a good pH sensitivity, and the time of sustained-release was significantly prolonged in vitro. Hemolysis and cytotoxicity experiments showed that the SA-silica hydrogel beads were biocompatible when the TEOS molar concentration was lower than 0.375 M. The SA-silica-2 hydrogel beads had good biocompatibility, swelling properties, and slow-release properties at the same time.

Intestinal-specific oral delivery of lactoferrin with alginate-based composite and hybrid CaCO3-hydrogel beads.

Sodium alginate hydrogel beads and sodium alginate/gellan gum composite hydrogel beads crosslinked by calcium chloride were prepared with different alginate concentrations (3-20 mg·mL-1). Additionally, a simple method for growing CaCO3in situ on the hydrogel to create novel inorganic-organic hybrid hydrogel beads was presented. FT-IR analysis revealed the involvement of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions in bead formation. Swelling behavior in acidic conditions showed a maximum of 13 g/g for composite hydrogels and CaCO3-incorporated hybrid hydrogels. Lactoferrin encapsulation efficiency within these hydrogels ranged from 44.9 to 56.6%. In vitro release experiments demonstrated that these hydrogel beads withstand harsh gastric environments with <16% cumulative release of lactoferrin, achieving controlled release in intestinal surroundings. While composite sodium alginate/gellan gum beads exhibited slower gastrointestinal lactoferrin digestion, facile synthesis and pH responsiveness of CaCO3-incorporated hybrid hydrogel also provide new possibilities for future studies to construct a novel inorganic-organic synergetic system for intestinal-specific oral delivery.

Oil palm frond-derived cellulose nanocrystals: Effect of pretreatment and elucidating its reinforcing potential in hydrogel beads.

Herein, cellulose nanocrystals were synthesized from oil palm fronds (CNC-OPF) involving two pretreatment approaches, viz. autohydrolysis and soda pulping. The pretreatments were applied individually to OPF fibers to assess their influence on CNCs' physicochemical and thermal properties. CNC-OPF samples were assessed using complementary characterization techniques, which confirmed their purity and characteristics. CP/MAS 13C NMR and TEM studies revealed that autohydrolysis pretreatment yielded CNCs with effective hemicellulose and extractives removal compared to that of soda pulping. XRD analysis demonstrated that autohydrolysis-treated CNC-OPF contained a much higher crystallinity index compared to soda pulping treatment. BET measurement disclosed a relatively higher surface area and wider pore diameter of autohydrolysis-treated CNC-OPF. Autohydrolysis-treated CNCs were applied as a reinforcement filler in alginate-based hydrogel beads for the removal of 4-chlorophenol from water, which attained a qmax of 19.168 mg g-1. BET analysis revealed the less porous nature of CNC-ALG hydrogel beads which could have contributed to hydrogel beads' relatively lower adsorption capacity. The point of zero charge of CNC-ALG hydrogel beads was 4.82, suggesting their applicability only within a short solution pH range. This study directs future studies to unveil the possibilities of functionalizing CNCs in order to enhance the adsorption performance of CNC-immobilized hydrogel beads towards 4-chlorophenol and other organic contaminants.

Formation of pH-responsive hydrogel beads and their gel properties: Soybean protein nanofibers and sodium alginate.

Hydrogel beads prepared from protein nanofibers are popular because of their safety, sleek appearance, and protection of biologically active substances. However, extreme external environmental variations, such as pH and temperature, can limit their practical application. To meet the application requirements of hydrogel beads in different environments, non-covalent mixtures of CaCl2 cross-linked soybean protein nanofibers (SNF) and sodium alginate (SA) were used to prepare hydrogel beads. In the present study, the hardness (782.48 g) and elasticity of hydrogel beads formed at SNF/SA = 7:3 and CaCl2 concentration of 0.1 mol/L were the maximum. Furthermore, the water content and pH swelling also reached a peak (98.68 %, 43.85 g/g) due to the best morphology and regular internal network structure. Meanwhile, the pH-responsive hydrogel beads with added anthocyanins were able to respond to the ambient pH under different temperatures and pH conditions and maintained color stability during 96 h of storage (ΔE < 5). In this experiment, a pH-responsive hydrogel bead based on soybean protein nanofiber (SNF) and sodium alginate (SA) was prepared by simple ionic crosslinking. It provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the future application of plant protein nanofibers as pH-responsive hydrogel materials.

Development of new generation cakes fortified with zinc oxide nanoparticles.

This study aimed to develop new generation cakes that were fortified with calcined ZnO nanoparticles (CZnO), uncalcined ZnO nanoparticles (UCZnO), beads (B(CZnO)) synthesized by encapsulating the CZnO with sodium alginate (SA), and the beads (B(UCZnO)) synthesized by encapsulating the UCZnO with sodium alginate (SA) and investigated the zinc (Zn) release in fortified cakes in simulated body fluids (SBF). The present study represents a novel method for increasing intestinal absorption and bioavailability of dietary zinc with zinc nanoparticles for use in the preparation of Zn fortified cakes as a dietary supplement to compensate for zinc deficiency in humans. The results revealed that a rapid increase in the release time and rate in the SGF solution was noted in the UCZnO added cakes. It was attributed to increased intestinal absorption and bioavailability as a result of the ultra-small size of ZnO. Also, ZnO release kinetics in SBF was also studied and data were adjusted into different kinetic models involving zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer-Peppas models. The present investigation recommends adding UCZnO to the cakes to control and increase the release from the cakes. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05840-x.

High-Throughput 3D Imaging Flow Cytometry of Suspended Adherent 3D Cell Cultures.

3D cell cultures are indispensable in recapitulating in vivo environments. Among the many 3D culture methods, culturing adherent cells on hydrogel beads to form spheroid-like structures is a powerful strategy for maintaining high cell viability and functions in the adherent states. However, high-throughput, scalable technologies for 3D imaging of individual cells cultured on the hydrogel scaffolds are lacking. This study reports the development of a high throughput, scalable 3D imaging flow cytometry platform for analyzing spheroid models. This platform is realized by integrating a single objective fluorescence light-sheet microscopy with a microfluidic device that combines hydrodynamic and acoustofluidic focusing techniques. This integration enabled unprecedentedly high-throughput and scalable optofluidic 3D imaging, processing 1310 spheroids consisting of 28 117 cells min-1. The large dataset obtained enables precise quantification and comparison of the nuclear morphology of adhering and suspended cells, revealing that the adhering cells have smaller nuclei with less rounded surfaces. This platform's high throughput, robustness, and precision for analyzing the morphology of subcellular structures in 3D culture models hold promising potential for various biomedical analyses, including image-based phenotypic screening of drugs with spheroids or organoids.

Tri-modified ferric alginate gel with high regenerative properties catalysts for efficient degradation of rhodamine B.

Water pollution caused by dyes has become a focal point of attention. Among them, the heterogeneous Fenton reaction has emerged as an effective solution to this problem. In this study, we designed a ferric alginate gel (PAGM) tri-modified with poly(vinyl alcohol), graphene oxide, and MoS2 as a heterogeneous Fenton catalyst for organic dye degradation. PAGM addresses the drawbacks of alginate gel, such as poor mechanical properties and gel chain dissolution, thereby significantly extending the catalyst's lifespan. The removal rate of rhodamine B by PAGM reached 95.5 % within 15 min, which was 5.9 times higher than that of unmodified ferric alginate gel. Furthermore, due to the π-π interactions, PAGM exhibits unique adsorption properties for pollutants containing benzene rings. Additionally, PAGM can be regenerated multiple times through a simple soaking procedure without any performance degradation. Finally, the reaction column constructed with PAGM maintained an 83.5 % removal rate even after 319 h of continuous wastewater treatment. This work introduces a novel concept for the study of alginate-based gel catalysts in heterogeneous Fenton reactions.

The potential of anthocyanin-loaded alginate hydrogel beads for intelligent packaging applications: Stability and sensitivity to volatile amines.

pH indicators have emerged as promising tools for real-time monitoring of product freshness and quality in intelligent food packaging applications. However, ensuring the stability of these indicators is critical for practical use. This study aims to evaluate the stability of anthocyanins-loaded alginate hydrogel beads of varying sizes at different temperatures under accelerated light conditions and relative humidity (RH) levels of 53% and 97% during 21 days of storage. Moreover, their sensitivity to the principal spoilage volatiles of muscle food products such as ammonia (NH3), dimethylamine (DMA) and trimethylamine (TMA) was investigated. The half-life of cyanidin-3-glucoside in small hydrogel beads was roughly twice as long as that of the larger beads under accelerated light exposure at 4 °C and they were less likely to undergo noticeable color changes over time. Both sizes of hydrogel beads stored at 97% RH and 4 °C showed color stability over the 21-day period with minimal color variation (|ΔE| ≤ 3). The UV-vis spectra of the purple corn extract exhibited changes across pH 2 to 12, as evidenced by the visible color variations, ranging from pink to green. The limit of detection (LOD) for NH3 was 25 ppm for small beads and 15 ppm for large ones. Both types of beads exhibited similar LOD for DMA and TMA, around 48 ppm. This research showed that alginate hydrogel beads containing anthocyanins from purple corn are a viable option for developing intelligent packaging of muscle foods. Furthermore, the use of hydrogel beads of different sizes can be customized to specific muscle foods based on the primary spoilage compound generated during spoilage.

Biodegradable Polymers for Micro Elastofluidics.

Micro elastofluidics is an emerging research field that encompasses characteristics of conventional microfluidics and fluid-structure interactions. Micro elastofluidics is expected to enable practical applications, for instance, where direct contact between biological samples and fluid handling systems is required. Besides design optimization, choosing a proper material is critical to the practical use of micro elastofluidics upon interaction with biological interface and after its functional lifetime. Biodegradable polymers are one of the most studied materials for this purpose. Micro elastofluidic devices made of biodegradable polymers possess exceptional mechanical elasticity, excellent bio compatibility, and structural degradability into non-toxic products. This article provides an insightful and systematic review of the utilization of biodegradable polymers in digital and continuous-flow micro elastofluidics.

Novel Y2O3 based calcium-alginate beads for highly selective adsorption of phosphate from aqueous solution.

Recently, selective phosphorus removal from aqueous solution has been a highly desirable strategy to combat eutrophication due to the increasingly stringent phosphorous emission standards. However, conventional adsorbents pose the limitations in phosphate removal suffering from lack of selectivity and stability under complicated condition and poor separation. In this study, novel Y2O3 based calcium-alginate (Y2O3/SA) beads of feasible stability and highly selectivity towards phosphate by encapsulating Y2O3 nanoparticles inside calcium-alginate beads via Ca2+ controlled gelation process was synthesized and characterized. The phosphate adsorption performance and mechanism were investigated. In general, a high selectivity among co-existing anions was found with co-existing anion concentration up to 62.5 times of the phosphate concentration. Additionally, phosphate adsorption by Y2O3/SA beads exhibited stable performance over a wide pH range between 2 and 10, while reaching the maximum adsorption capacity at pH 3 (48.54 mg-P/g). The value of point of zero charge (pHpzc) of Y2O3/SA beads was approximately 3.45. Pseudo-second-order and Freundlich isotherm models can well accord with kinetics and isotherms data. The FTIR and XPS characterizations analyzed that inner-sphere complexes were proposed to be the major contributor of Y2O3/SA beads for phosphate removal. In conclusion, Y2O3/SA beads as the mesoporous material exhibited excellent stability and selectivity towards phosphate removal.

Easy separable, floatable, and recyclable magnetic-biochar/alginate bead as super-adsorbent for adsorbing copper ions in water media.

This work aimed to develop innovative material by combining properties of magnetic-biochar (derived from peanut shells) and hydrogel bead (MBA-bead) and apply it for adsorbing Cu2+ in water. MBA-bead was synthesized by physical cross-linking methods. Results indicated that MBA-bead contained ∼90% water. The diameter of each spherical MBA-bead was approximately 3 mm (wet form) and 2 mm in (dried form). Its specific surface area (262.4 m2/g) and total pore volume (0.751 cm3/g) were obtained from nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. X-ray diffraction data confirmed Fe3O4 presented in magnetic-biochar and MBA-bead. Its Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity for Cu2+ was 234.1 mg/g (30 °C and pHeq 5.0). The change in standard enthalpy (ΔH°) of the adsorption was 44.30 kJ/mol (dominant physical adsorption). Primary adsorption mechanisms were complexation, ion exchange, and Van der Waals force. Laden MBA-bead can be reused several cycles after desorbing with NaOH or HCl. The cost was estimated for producing PS-biochar (0.091 US$/kg), magnetic-biochar (0.303-0.892 US$/kg), and MBA-bead (1.369-3.865 US$/kg). MBA-bead can serve as an excellent adsorbent for removing Cu2+ ions from water.

Polydiacetylene-based hydrogel beads as colorimetric sensors for the detection of biogenic amines in spoiled meat.

Ingesting large quantities of biogenic amines (BAs), which are released from spoiled foods, can have adverse side effects on the human body. Herein, we developed a colorimetric sensor using polydiacetylene (PDA)-based hydrogel beads that change color upon binding with BAs, thereby conveniently checking whether food is spoiled due to improper storage and distribution. The colorimetric sensor is fabricated by mixing PDA liposomes with an alginate solution. PDA undergoes a color change from blue to red when exposed to various external stimuli. In addition, alginate bestows the hydrogel with a three-dimensional porous structure, affording a large surface area. The PDA-based hydrogel beads can visually confirm the presence of BAs in solution or vapor form. Cadaverine and propylamine were rapidly detected with distinct color changes in the solution and vapor phases, respectively. The spoilage of pork meat at room temperature could be detected after two days as a 40.84% red chromatic shift.

Design and optimization of an innovative lanthanum/chitosan bead for efficient phosphate removal and study of process performance and mechanisms.

Presence of excessive phosphorus in surface waters is the main cause for eutrophication. In this study, a lanthanum/chitosan (La/CS) bead was prepared so as to provide a cost-effective solution to the problem. The optimization of bead for the treatment was conducted, leading to the optimal condition: 30 wt% La/CS bead at a dosage of 30 g L-1 (wet weight). A higher phosphate removal around 90% was obtained in pH 4.0-10.0. Most of uptake occurred in the first 2 h and the equilibrium was reached in about 6 h. Coexisting ions of Cl-, [Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text] , and [Formula: see text] had negligible effects on the treatment, while the presence of F- reduced the uptake by 10.39%. The maximum adsorption capacity of 261.1 mg-PO4·g-1 (dried weight) at pH 5.0 was achieved, which is much better than many reported La-based adsorbents. The adsorbed phosphate can be effectively recovered with an alkaline solution. A multi-cycle regeneration-reuse study illustrated that the treated water still met the phosphorus discharge standard. The characterization results demonstrated the disappearance of La(OH)3 and La2(CO3)3 on the bead and the formation of NH3+ … P and La-P groups after the adsorption, indicating the significant roles of ion exchange and electrostatic attraction on the uptake. The excellent performance found in this study clearly indicates that the optimized La/CS bead is promising in the treatment of phosphate and perhaps its recovery for industrial use.

Facile synthesis of pH-responsive sodium alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel beads promoted by hydrogen bond.

In this work, a novel synthesis strategy of sodium alginate/carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel beads promoted by hydrogen bond was described. The beads were prepared by dropping the blends of two polymers into the citric acid solution. Besides hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions were also involved in the formation of the hydrogel beads. The thermal stability experiments revealed that the more the content of carboxymethyl chitosan, the better the thermal stability of the beads. The beads exhibited excellent pH sensitivity, pH reversibility, and lactoferrin loading capacity. The swelling ratio of the bead and its protein releasing profile was pH-dependent, which could prevent premature protein release in the gastric environment. Also, the circular dichroism results demonstrated that lactoferrin could maintain its structure during the loading and releasing process. The obtained results revealed that the hydrogel beads prepared in this work could be used as a potential protein carrier for oral delivery.

An optimized CaO2-functionalized alginate bead for simultaneous and efficient removal of phosphorous and harmful cyanobacteria.

Simultaneous removal of phosphorus (P) and algae is important to mitigate eutrophication, however, it is rather challenging in remediation of harmful algal blooms (HABs)-contaminated water. In this study, a wet alginate bead functionalized by CaO2 particle formed layer by layer was prepared with an in-situ method and optimized to remove phosphorous and inhibit algae growth. The stable H2O2 release with a concentration level of 0.06 mM was observed for a period of 26 d. The content of peroxy groups (-O-O-) in the optimal bead was 0.44 mmol·g-1 through permanganate-based titration study. For solution with an initial phosphorous concentration of 10 mg·L-1, the removal was around 97% in pH 3.0-10.0. XRD, SEM, and XPS studies and kinetic modelings showed that removal of phosphorus was mainly due to formation of insoluble Ca-P compounds in the bead. The CaO2-functionalized bead inhibited algae growth with an effect lasting over 170 d, which was much better than liquid H2O2 and Ca(OH)2 bead; the phosphorous removal with an efficiency of about 70% was simultaneously obtained. Furthermore, the bead demonstrated to be effective in removing algae in the realistic water from a reservoir. In summary, this study shows that the CaO2-functionalized material is promising for simultaneous removal of phosphorous and management of HABs.

Protection and Controlled Gastrointestinal Release of Bromelain by Encapsulating in Pectin-Resistant Starch Based Hydrogel Beads.

Hybrid pectin and resistant starch-based hydrogel beads loaded with bromelain using the extrusion gelation method were prepared and evaluated to enhance the activity of bromelain during gastrointestinal passage and thermal processing. The solutions of pectin-resistant starch with bromelain were dropped into the gelation bath containing calcium chloride (0.2 M) solution to develop various types of hydrogel beads. The physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized hydrogel beads were evaluated. The ratio (4.5:1.5 w/w) of pectin and resistant starch concentration significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the encapsulation efficiency (80.53%). The presence of resistant starch resulted in increased entrapment of bromelain, improved swelling properties with sustained release behavior, and improved gastric stability than pectin hydrogels alone. The swelling of hydrogel beads was higher at pH 7.4 than pH 1.2. Optimized batch of hybrid pectin/resistant starch exhibited a spherical shape. Optical and scanning electron microscopy showed a more packed and spherical shape from the pectin/resistant starch hydrogel bead network. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy was also used to confirm the presence of bromelain in the hydrogel beads. The encapsulated bromelain in the pectin/hi-maize starch beads produced at a pectin/hi-maize ratio of 4.5:1.5 (percent w/w; formulation P4) obtained the highest relative bromelain activity in all heat treatments including at 95°C, whereas the highest activity of free bromelain was found only at 30°C. Bromelain encapsulated in hydrogels released at a faster rate at simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, pH 7.4) than at simulated gastrointestinal fluid (SGF, pH 1.2).

Fabrication, Evaluation, In Vivo Pharmacokinetic and Toxicological Analysis of pH-Sensitive Eudragit S-100-Coated Hydrogel Beads: a Promising Strategy for Colon Targeting.

The aim of present research aims to fabricate a system of enteric coating of hydrogel beads with pH-sensitive polymer, which shows solubility at pH > 7, and explore their potential to target the colon for drug delivery. Hydrogel beads were fabricated through the extrusion-dripping technique followed by ion gelation crosslinking. Moreover, freeze-thaw cycle was implemented for crosslinking of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Ca-alginate blend beads. The oil-in-oil solvent evaporation method was adopted for the Eudragit coating of hydrogel beads using different coat: core ratios (4:1 or 8:1). Coated and uncoated hydrogel beads were evaluated by in vitro physicochemical properties, swelling and drug release behaviours, and in vivo pharmacokinetics, swelling, and toxicity evaluation. Diclofenac sodium was loaded as an experimental drug. Drug entrapment efficiency for the PVA/Ca-alginate beads was calculated as 98%, and for Ca-alginate beads, it came out to a maximum of 74%. Drug release study at various pH suggested that, unlike uncoated hydrogel beads, the coated beads delay the release of diclofenac sodium in low pH of the gastric and intestinal environment, thus targeting the colon for the drug release. It was concluded that Eudragit S-100-coated hydrogel beads could serve as a more promising and reliable way to target the colon for drug delivery.Graphical abstract.

Preparation, physicochemical characterization and in vitro release behavior of resveratrol-loaded oxidized gellan gum/resistant starch hydrogel beads.

Hydrogel beads composed of oxidized gellan gum (OGG) and resistant starch (RS) were successfully fabricated by ionic cross-linking and used as delivery carriers for resveratrol. Firstly, OGG with different degrees of oxidation were prepared through 2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance to prove that carboxyl groups were successfully introduced into the gellan gum molecules. Molecular weight, thermal stability, zeta potential and gelation temperature of OGG were also investigated. Subsequently, resveratrol was encapsulated into OGG/RS hydrogel beads in the form of resveratrol/ß-cyclodextrins inclusion complexes. The addition of RS significantly influenced the morphological structure and swelling capacity of OGG/RS hydrogel beads. The OGG/RS hydrogel beads exhibited a pH-sensitivity and high encapsulation efficiency of resveratrol (84.95 %-90.73 %). Furthermore, the in-vitro release behaviors demonstrated that OGG/RS hydrogel beads showed good stability in simulated gastric fluids and sustained release of resveratrol in simulated intestinal fluids. The obtained results indicate that OGG/RS hydrogel beads show a potential as delivery system for resveratrol in the food industry.

Preparation, Characterization, and Release Behavior of Doxorubicin hydrochloride from Dual Cross-Linked Chitosan/Alginate Hydrogel Beads.

With double cross-linking of chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SALG), a colon-targeting CS/SALG hydrogel bead was prepared and used for the colon-targeted release of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). The CS/SALG hydrogel bead showed the improved mechanical property to withstand the simulated colon intestinal fluid (SCF), small intestinal fluid (SIF), as well as gastric fluid (SGF). DOX was released slightly in SGF and SIF and rapidly in SCF, showing a controlled DOX release from the CS/SALG hydrogel bead under different physiological conditions. In vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo toxicity assays indicated that the DOX-loaded CS/SALG hydrogel bead displayed obvious inhibition to tumor cells. These results suggested that the CS/SALG hydrogel bead had the potential application as a colon-targeting oral formulation for DOX transport.