Ralf Greiner

Chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles loaded with paraquat herbicide: An environmentally safer alternative for weed control

Paraquat is a fast acting nonselective contact herbicide that is extensively used worldwide. However, the aqueous solubility and soil sorption of this compound can cause problems of toxicity in nontarget organisms. This work investigates the preparation and characterization of nanoparticles composed of chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) to produce an efficient herbicidal formulation that was less toxic and could be used for safer control of weeds in agriculture. The toxicities of the formulations were evaluated using cell culture viability assays and the Allium cepa chromosome aberration test. The herbicidal activity was investigated in cultivations of maize (Zea mays) and mustard (Brassica sp.), and soil sorption of the nanoencapsulated herbicide was measured. The efficiency association of paraquat with the nanoparticles was 62.6 ± 0.7%. Encapsulation of the herbicide resulted in changes in its diffusion and release as well as its sorption by soil. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays showed that the nanoencapsulated herbicide was less toxic than the pure compound, indicating its potential to control weeds while at the same time reducing environmental impacts. Measurements of herbicidal activity showed that the effectiveness of paraquat was preserved after encapsulation. It was concluded that the encapsulation of paraquat in nanoparticles can provide a useful means of reducing adverse impacts on human health and the environment, and that the formulation therefore has potential for use in agriculture.

Potential bioavailability enhancement of bioactive compounds using food-grade engineered nanomaterials: a review of the existing evidence

The development of engineered nanometre sized materials (ENM) produced with food-grade ingredients and designed as delivery systems for organic and inorganic materials has gained increasing interest. The major reason for this trend is the aim to overcome problems associated with the low bioavailability of many bioactive compounds (BC) which are usually claimed to benefit human health. In this review, outcomes of studies investigating the potential bioavailability enhancement of BC using ENM as delivery systems are summarised and discussed. It focuses on in vitro and in vivo studies carried out with ENM produced with food-grade materials and designed for the delivery of vitamins, other secondary plant metabolites and minerals. Furthermore, the physical and physicochemical aspects governing the preparation of the systems, the loading of the BC, the stability of the delivery systems in food applications and finally the release of the BC in the gastrointestinal tract are also considered. The mechanisms leading to an enhanced bioavailability are based on (i) improved solubility of the BC under gastrointestinal conditions, (ii) the protection of the BC from the chemical conditions in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), (iii) the controlled release within the GIT or (iv) an improved transfer through the intestinal wall. The main outcome of the review is that particle size, surface properties and physical state of the ENM are key parameters to be controlled aiming at an enhanced nutritional value of food materials. Furthermore, the bioavailability classification scheme (BCS) can help to understand the efficacy of different ENM for the delivery of specific BC.

Stability of anthocyanin-rich w/o/w-emulsions designed for intestinal release in gastrointestinal environment.

Anthocyanins belong to the most important hydrophilic plant pigments. Outside their natural environment, these molecules are extremely unstable. Encapsulating them in submicron-sized containers is one possibility to stabilize them for the use in bioactivity studies or functional foods. The containers have to be designed for a target release in the human gastrointestinal system. In this contribution, an anthocyanin-rich bilberry extract was encapsulated in the inner aqueous phase of water-in-oil-in-water-double emulsions. The physical stability as well as the release of free fatty acids and encapsulated, bioactive substances from the emulsions during an in vitro gastrointestinal passage were investigated. The focus was on the influence of emulsion microstructural parameters (for example, inner and outer droplet size, disperse phase content) and required additives (emulsifier systems), respectively. It could be shown that it is possible to stabilize anthocyanins in the inner phase of double emulsions. The release rate of free fatty acids during incubation was independent of the emulsifier used. However, the exterior (O/W)-emulsifier has an impact on the stability of multiple emulsions in gastrointestinal environment and, thus, the location of release. Long-chained emulsifiers like whey proteins are most suitable to transport a maximum amount of bioactive substances to the effective location, being the small intestine for anthocyanins. In addition, it was shown that the dominating release mechanism for entrapped matter was coalescence of the interior W(1) -droplets with the surrounding W(2) -phase.

Process-induced undesirable compounds: Chances of non-thermal approaches

During the processing of meat and meat products the generation of undesirable compounds can occur. Known examples are the generation of substances that can lead to a negative effect on the texture, flavour or colour of products after processing or during storage. Furthermore, thermal processing and smoking have been associated with the generation of or contamination with toxic substances, e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or heterocyclic amines. The introduction of new processing technologies may result in the formation of different undesirable compounds compared to traditional technologies. Some of these changes may be without relevant nutritional or health impact, while others may raise concern. To begin with, an overview on the formation of undesirable process-induced compounds by the traditional processing of meat and the proposed strategies for their reduction is presented. Hereby attention is mainly paid to those compounds which present human health concerns. Later the focus lays on the process-induced modifications occurring in meat as a result of high hydrostatic pressure treatments.