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Advances in Colloid and Interface... Aug 2020The shelf-life of foods is affected by several aspects, mainly chemical and microbial events, resulting in a considerable decline in consumer's acceptance. There is an... (Review)
Review
The shelf-life of foods is affected by several aspects, mainly chemical and microbial events, resulting in a considerable decline in consumer's acceptance. There is an increasing interest to substitute synthetic preservatives with the plant-based bioactive ingredients which are safe and natural. However, full implementation of this replacement is postponed by some challenges associated with bioactive ingredients, including their low chemical stability, off-flavor, low solubility, and short-term effectiveness. Encapsulation could overcome these limitations. The present review explains current trends in applying natural encapsulated ingredients for food preservation based on a classified description including essential oils, plant extracts, phenolics, carotenoids, etc. and their application for extending food shelf-life mostly dealing with antimicrobial, ant-browning and antioxidant properties. Encapsulation techniques, especially nanoencapsulation, is a promising strategy to overcome their limitations. Moreover, better results are obtained using a combination of proteins and polysaccharides as wall materials than single polymers. The encapsulation method and type of encapsulants highly influences the releasing mechanism and physicochemical properties of bioactive ingredients. These factors together with optimizing the conditions of encapsulation process leads to a cost-effective and well encapsulated ingredient which is more efficient than its free form in shelf-life improvement. It has been shown that the well-designed encapsulation systems, finally, boost the shelf-life-promoting functions of the bioactive ingredients, mostly due to enhancing their solubility, homogeneity in food matrices and contact surface with deteriorative agents, and providing their prolonged presence over food storage and processing via increasing the thermal and processing stability of bioactive compounds, as well as controlling their release on food surfaces, or/and within food packages. To this end and given the numerous wall and bioactive core substances available, further studies are needed to evaluate the efficiency of many encapsulated forms of both conventional and novel bioactive ingredients in food shelf-life extending since the interactions and anti-spoiling behaviors of the ingredients in various encapsulation systems and foodstuffs are highly variable that should be optimized and characterized before any industrial application.
Topics: Capsules; Food Preservation; Food Storage; Microtechnology; Nanostructures; Nanotechnology
PubMed: 32726708
DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2020.102210 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2022Optical fibers revolutionized the rate of information reception and transmission in telecommunications. The revolution has now extended to the field of physicochemical...
Optical fibers revolutionized the rate of information reception and transmission in telecommunications. The revolution has now extended to the field of physicochemical sensing. Optical fiber sensors (OFSs) have found a multitude of applications, spanning from structural health monitoring to biomedical and clinical measurements due to their unique physical and functional advantages, such as small dimensions, light weight, immunity to electromagnetic interference, high sensitivity and resolution, multiplexing, and remote operation. OFSs generally rely on the detection of measurand-induced changes in the optical properties of the light propagating in the fiber, where the OFS essentially functions as the conduit and physical link between the probing light waves and the physicochemical parameters under investigation. Several advanced micromachining techniques have been developed to optimize the structure of OFSs, thus improving their sensing performance. These techniques include fusion splicing, tapering, polishing, and more complicated femtosecond laser micromachining methods. This chapter discusses and reviews the most recent developments in micromachined OFSs specifically for biomedical applications. Step-by-step procedures for several optical fiber micromachining techniques are detailed.
Topics: Lasers; Microtechnology; Optical Fibers
PubMed: 34837190
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1803-5_20 -
Advanced Healthcare Materials Nov 2015Cells within a tissue are able to perceive, interpret and respond to the biophysical, biomechanical, and biochemical properties of the 3D extracellular matrix... (Review)
Review
Cells within a tissue are able to perceive, interpret and respond to the biophysical, biomechanical, and biochemical properties of the 3D extracellular matrix environment in which they reside. Such stimuli regulate cell adhesion, metabolic state, proliferation, migration, fate and lineage commitment, and ultimately, tissue morphogenesis and function. Current scaffold fabrication strategies in musculoskeletal tissue engineering seek to mimic the sophistication and comprehensiveness of nature to develop hierarchically assembled 3D implantable devices of different geometric dimensions (nano- to macrometric scales) that will offer control over cellular functions and ultimately achieve functional regeneration. Herein, advances and shortfalls of bottom-up (self-assembly, freeze-drying, rapid prototype, electrospinning) and top-down (imprinting) scaffold fabrication approaches, specific to musculoskeletal tissue engineering, are discussed and critically assessed.
Topics: Animals; Freeze Drying; Humans; Microtechnology; Molecular Imprinting; Musculoskeletal System; Nanotechnology; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 26667589
DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201500004 -
International Journal of Biological... Sep 2019Microneedles (MNs), i.e. minimally invasive three-dimensional microstructures that penetrate the stratum corneum inducing relatively little or no pain, have been studied... (Review)
Review
Microneedles (MNs), i.e. minimally invasive three-dimensional microstructures that penetrate the stratum corneum inducing relatively little or no pain, have been studied as appealing therapeutic vehicles for transdermal drug delivery. Over the last years, the fabrication of MNs using biopolymers, such as polysaccharides and proteins, has sparked the imagination of scientists due to their recognized biocompatibility, biodegradability, ease of fabrication and sustainable character. Owing to their wide range of functional groups, polysaccharides and proteins enable the design and preparation of materials with tunable properties and functionalities. Therefore, these biopolymer-based MNs take a revolutionary step offering great potential not only in drug administration, but also in sensing and response to physiological stimuli. In this review, a critical and comprehensive overview of the polysaccharides and proteins employed in the design and engineering of MNs will be given. The strategies adopted for their preparation, their advantages and disadvantages will be also detailed. In addition, the potential and challenges of using these matrices to deliver drugs, vaccines and other molecules will be discussed. Finally, this appraisal ends with a perspective on the possibilities and challenges in research and development of polysaccharide and protein MNs, envisioning the future advances and clinical translation of these platforms as the next generation of drug delivery systems.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Microtechnology; Needles; Polysaccharides; Proteins
PubMed: 31028807
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.04.163 -
Current Opinion in Biotechnology Jun 2023Rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips is a key enabler for controlled biotechnology applications in microspaces, as it allows for the efficient design and production... (Review)
Review
Rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips is a key enabler for controlled biotechnology applications in microspaces, as it allows for the efficient design and production of microfluidic systems. With rapid prototyping, researchers and engineers can quickly create and test new microfluidic chip designs, which can then be optimized for specific applications in biotechnology. One of the key advantages of microfluidic chips for biotechnology is the ability to manipulate and control biological samples in a microspace, which enables precise and controlled experiments under well-defined conditions. This is particularly useful for applications such as cell culture, drug discovery, and diagnostic assays, where precise control over the biological environment is crucial for obtaining accurate results. Established methods, for example, soft lithography, 3D printing, injection molding, as well as other recently highlighted innovative approaches, will be compared and challenges as well as limitations will be discussed. It will be shown that rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips enables the use of advanced materials and technologies, such as smart materials and digital sensors, which can further enhance the capabilities of microfluidic systems for biotechnology applications. Overall, rapid prototyping of microfluidic chips is an important enabling technology for controlled biotechnology applications in microspaces, as well as for upscaling it into macroscopic bioreactors, and its continued development and improvement will play a critical role in advancing the field. The review will highlight recent trends in terms of materials and competing approaches and shed light on current challenges on the way toward integrated microtechnologies. Also, the possibility to easy and direct implementation of novel functions (membranes, functionalization of interfaces, etc.) is discussed.
Topics: Microfluidics; Cell Culture Techniques; Biotechnology; Microtechnology; Printing, Three-Dimensional
PubMed: 37163825
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102948 -
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach,... Feb 2021Self-propelled micro- and nanomotors (MNMs) have shown great potential for applications in the biomedical field, such as active targeted delivery, detoxification,... (Review)
Review
Self-propelled micro- and nanomotors (MNMs) have shown great potential for applications in the biomedical field, such as active targeted delivery, detoxification, minimally invasive diagnostics, and nanosurgery, owing to their tiny size, autonomous motion, and navigation capacities. To enter the clinic, biomedical MNMs request the biodegradability of their manufacturing materials, the biocompatibility of chemical fuels or externally physical fields, the capability of overcoming various biological barriers (e.g., biofouling, blood flow, blood-brain barrier, cell membrane), and the in vivo visual positioning for autonomous navigation. Herein, the recent advances of synthetic MNMs in overcoming biological barriers and in vivo motion-tracking imaging techniques are highlighted. The challenges and future research priorities are also addressed. With continued attention and innovation, it is believed that, in the future, biomedical MNMs will pave the way to improve the targeted drug delivery efficiency.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Microtechnology; Molecular Imaging; Nanotechnology
PubMed: 32578282
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202000512 -
Biosensors Aug 2022Understanding cell migration is a key step in unraveling many physiological phenomena and predicting several pathologies, such as cancer metastasis. In particular,... (Review)
Review
Understanding cell migration is a key step in unraveling many physiological phenomena and predicting several pathologies, such as cancer metastasis. In particular, confinement has been proven to be a key factor in the cellular migration strategy choice. As our insight in the field improves, new tools are needed in order to empower biologists' analysis capabilities. In this framework, microfluidic devices have been used to engineer the mechanical and spatial stimuli and to investigate cellular migration response in a more controlled way. In this work, we will review the existing technologies employed in the realization of microfluidic cellular migration assays, namely the soft lithography of PDMS and hydrogels and femtosecond laser micromachining. We will give an overview of the state of the art of these devices, focusing on the different geometrical configurations that have been exploited to study specific aspects of cellular migration. Our scope is to highlight the advantages and possibilities given by each approach and to envisage the future developments in in vitro migration studies under spatial confinement in microfluidic devices.
Topics: Cell Movement; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; Microfluidics; Microtechnology; Printing
PubMed: 36004998
DOI: 10.3390/bios12080604 -
The Analyst Jan 2016In the last several years, nanoscale vesicles that originate from tumor cells and which can be found circulating in the blood (i.e. exosomes and microvesicles) have been... (Review)
Review
In the last several years, nanoscale vesicles that originate from tumor cells and which can be found circulating in the blood (i.e. exosomes and microvesicles) have been discovered to contain a wealth of proteomic and genetic information to monitor cancer progression, metastasis, and drug efficacy. However, the use of exosomes and microvesicles as biomarkers to improve patient care has been limited by their small size (30 nm-1 μm) and the extensive sample preparation required for their isolation and measurement. In this Critical Review, we explore the emerging use of micro and nano-technology to isolate and detect exosomes and microvesicles in clinical samples and the application of this technology to the monitoring and diagnosis of cancer.
Topics: Animals; Exosomes; Humans; Microtechnology; Nanotechnology; Neoplasms
PubMed: 26378496
DOI: 10.1039/c5an01610j -
International Journal of Nanomedicine 2019Recent breakthroughs in nanoparticle research have led to improved drug delivery and have overcome problems associated with normal drug delivery methods. Optimizing the... (Review)
Review
Recent breakthroughs in nanoparticle research have led to improved drug delivery and have overcome problems associated with normal drug delivery methods. Optimizing the design of nanoparticles in terms of controlled size, shape, and surface chemistry of nanoparticles can maximize the therapeutic efficacy. To maximize therapeutic effects, advanced formulation and fabrication methods have been developed. Biomedical applications of nanoparticles produced using the new fabrication techniques, including drug delivery and molecular imaging, have been widely explored. This review highlights the simple and versatile manufacturing techniques that can be used in the development of new types of nanoparticles that have strictly controlled physiochemical properties and their multifaceted advantages in drug delivery and molecular imaging.
Topics: Animals; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Microtechnology; Molecular Imaging; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 31695361
DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S212037 -
Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and... Feb 2018The transdermal route of drug delivery is convenient, pain-free and follows controlled rate release pattern. However, many therapeutically active drugs cannot cross the... (Review)
Review
The transdermal route of drug delivery is convenient, pain-free and follows controlled rate release pattern. However, many therapeutically active drugs cannot cross the stratum corneum effectively. Lipophilic drugs like nifedipine cross the outer skin barrier easily and polar drugs, such as epinephrine are ineffective in showing the same effect. Due to these reasons, advancements in drug delivery have taken place to deliver a wide range of drugs, especially macromolecules through the transdermal route and directly into systemic circulation bypassing hepatic metabolism and GIT degradation. So there is a need for advanced drug delivery systems like microneedles and nanoneedles through transdermal route. These tiny needles will also serve as non-toxic, safe and stable systems for advanced drug delivery. Thus, macro to nanoformulation is the fast emerging fields nowadays. These have additional advantages to transdermal patches, such as better penetration, permeation, controlled release and direct delivery to the cytoplasm.
Topics: Drug Delivery Systems; Epidermis; Humans; Microtechnology; Nanotechnology; Needles
PubMed: 28355887
DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2017.1304409