Gelatin is one of the most common natural macromolecules which is extensively used for preparing the nanoparticles. In the present study, type B gelatin-based nanoparticles were prepared using a twostep Desolvation method and to optimize the nanoparticles, gelatin concentration, consumed acetone, temperature, and stirring speed were examined. Subsequently, vitamin D3 was encapsulated in obtained nanoparticles. Findings of the study indicated that the most optimum conditions for producing the nanoparticles with 20 mg/ml gelatin concentration were 15 ml acetone consumed volume, 40 temperature and 1000 rpm stirring speed. The size of a produced particle under these conditions was reported as 88. 6 nanometers. Also, the morphology of the obtained nanoparticle was spherical with a smooth surface which was observable through the scanning electron microscope. The size of the afore-mentioned particle increased to 177. 2 nanometers followed by the addition of vitamin D3 to the produced nanoparticle which represents the encapsulation of the nanoparticle.

In the present study, catalase nanoparticles were prepared by Desolvation method using ethanol and glutaraldehyde as desolvating and crosslinking agents respectively. The factors such as the amount of ethanol and glutaraldehyde, stirring rate, and synthesis time were optimized. Properties of the nanoparticles including particle size, morphology, and structural changes were characterized using spectroscopic techniques such as UV-Visible, FT-IR, DLS, and SEM. Also, their kinetic parameters were determined on based the Michaelis-Menten equation. The results of the optimization studies revealed for a phosphate buffer solution (50 mM, pH 7. 0) contain catalase (1 mg/ mL), 4-mL absolute ethanol, and glutaraldehyde (12 mg/mL), up to 70% of the enzyme activity remained. In these conditions, the average of the particles was 53. 8 nm. Investigation of the UV-Visible and FT-IR spectra showed that the formation of the nanoparticles caused the structural changes at the tertiary and secondary levels. Comparing the kinetic parameters of the native enzyme and catalase nanoparticles showed that the Vmax is the same and that the Km is increased. The physical stability of catalase nanoparticles was also investigated. Results showed that the catalase nanoparticles lost only 20% of the activity when stored in phosphate buffer solution for 72 h at 4◦ C, whereas native catalase lost 55% under the same condition, implying that the catalase nanoparticles were more stable than native catalase molecules. Therefore, catalase nanoparticles offered a great potential to stabilize enzyme molecules for various applications.

Background and Objectives: Pomegranate seed oil contains significant amounts of estrols such as b- sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, and also, a, b and g tocopherols. The object of this article is encapsulation of pomegranate seed oil in zein nanoparticles and investigation of the stability of these encapsulated functional compounds in food systems model (such as acidic beverages) and passing under gastric simulating conditions and release in the intestinal tract.Materials and Methods: Zein was chemically cross-linked with citric acid in the presence of sodium hydroxide as catalyst. Water was then used to desolvate the zein and generate core-free or pomegranate seed oil-loaded particles.Results: The mean sizes of the particles obtained from non-cross-linked and cross-linked zeins were 350 and 246 nm, respectively. Cross-linking of the particles resulted to increase in the oil encapsulation efficiency from 87% to 95%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a spherical morphology for particles. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the occurrence of chemical linkages between citric acid and zein. Also it was found that oil entrapment inside the zein particles was merely physical.Conclusion: The results showed that citric acid in the presence of NaOH as alkaline catalyst can be used successfully for production of cross-linked zein.

Background: Progress in the field of biology and biochemistry has led to the discovery of numerous bioactive peptides and proteins in the last few decades. Delivery of therapeutic proteins/peptides has received a considerable amount of attention in recent years.Methods: In this study, a two-step Desolvation method was used to produce biodegradable hydrophilic gelatin nanoparticles (GNP) as a delivery system of protein model (BSA). The size and shape of the nanoparticles were examined by dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy.Results: Particles with a mean diameter of 200-300 nm were produced and the percentage of entrapment efficiency was found to be 87.4. The optimum amount of theoretical BSA loading was obtained, the release of BSA was monitored in vitro, and the mechanism of release was studied. The BSA release profile showed a biphasic modulation characterized by an initial, relatively rapid release period, followed by a slower release phase.Conclusion: Results show that the two-step Desolvation is an appropriate method for preparing GNP as a delivery vehicle for BSA.

In the last step of Desolvation method for preparation of albumin nanoparticles, glutaraldehyde (GA) is added to stabilize the newly formed nanoparticles. Due to undesirable effects of GA, the objective of this study was to evaluate alternative methods of crosslinking including ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, adding of glucose and combination of both methods. The nanoparticles were prepared by Desolvation procedure. Final particle size, zeta potential, FTIR, scanning electron micrograph, cellular uptake and cell toxicity of nanoparticles crosslinked with UV and/or glucose were compared with commonly crosslinked nanoparticles with GA. Moreover, drug release and stability parameters of docetaxel-loaded albumin nanoparticles were investigated. Size of all nanoparticles prepared by different methods was in the same range (100-200 nm). Zeta potential showed the same results except for those treated with UV. The results of FTIR assay were the same for all groups. Although crosslinking by UV or glucose alone resulted in cytotoxic effects, combination of UV and glucose had less cytotoxic effects compared to GA. Cellular uptake of nanoparticles crosslinked with UV + glucose and GA showed similar results. The release of docetaxel from UV + glucose and GA crosslinked nanoparticles showed the same biphasic release. These data support the idea that crosslinking with a combination of UV and glucose can be a promising alternative method for production of docetaxel-loaded albumin nanoparticles with the advantage of omitting toxic GA.

Purpose: The aim of the present investigation was to formulate protein nanoparticles (PNPs) loaded suppositories for colon targeting of metronidazole (MZ), to achieve sustain release effect. Methods: PNPs were formulated via Desolvation technique by utilizing 23 factorial design which results into eight formulations. The synthesized PNPs were characterized for different physicochemical and in vitro parameters viz. particle size, surface morphology, entrapment efficiency and zeta potential, drug-excipients compatibility studies. Results: The formulated PNPs were found to be spherical in shape and have an average size in the range of 300. 7 nm to 504. 8 nm. Based on the results obtained, F7 was found to be the optimized formulation that was loaded into the suppository base. Furthermore, suppositories were also characterized for several parameters like content uniformity, weight variation and liquefaction time. Conclusion: Resultant, suppositories were free from pits, fissures and cracks. The in-vitro release data of MZ-PNPs loaded suppositories were compared with the suppositories loaded with active ingredient only i. e. MZ. Screening against Pheretima posthuma was also conducted. The results of in vitro drug release testing proved that protein nanoparticle loaded suppositories is a better approach, compared to pure MZ loaded suppositories. Release kinetic study concluded that the formulation follows Higuchi’ s equation i. e. having a biphasic release pattern. The efficiency of the formulated dosage form was evaluated using Indian earthworms, P. posthuma.

Objective(s): This study aims to enhance 17 a-methyltestosterone loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles (MT-HSA NPs) bioavailability through a Desolvation technique. Dopamine (DA) molecules were conjugated on the surface of MT-HSA NPs and have the potential to act as tiny proper ligands in a unique treatment system to cope with cancer in which drug will be transmitted to the cancer area. Herein, we used HSA as an adaptable carrier of anticancer agents for methyltestosterone transport to the tumor site via DA D1-D5 receptors. In the present study, sonication of MT-HSA solution was carried out before the Desolvation procedure to increase the drug loading and entrapment efficiency. Materials and Methods: Various parameters were optimized to characterize NPs including morphology, size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, drug release profile, and entrapment efficiency. Results: Under the optimum conditions of HSA and drug (1: 41), at pH 9, results demonstrate sizes of 69 nm and 82 nm for MT-HSA and MT-HSA-DA NPs respectively. For MT-HSA NPs, the polydispersity index was found to be 0. 3 and the average drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were 14% and 91% respectively. Anticancer activity and the release of drug was investigated through MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Results show that targeted NPs are more effective than non-targeted NPs. Conclusion: According to these studies, the therapeutic effects against various diseases such as cancers increase through cellular targeting property of a biocompatible drug delivery system. This is the first report for methyltestosterone delivery to breast cancer cells based on HSA NPs.

Human serum albumin nanoparticles (HSA-NPs) were synthesized using the modified Desolvation method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), electronic absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Zeta Sizer as well as field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) of the sample confirmed the formation of HSA NPs with an average size of 68 nm. The obtained results shown that HSA-NPs was successfully synthesized. The cytotoxic study of HSA-NPs in the HFFF2, normal cell lines was conducted and cell viability percentage demonstrated more than 90% within 24 h. Therefore, the synthesized NPs were nontoxic compared to the control samples. Furthermore, the release of the oxaliplatin as an anticancer drug incorporated in HSA NPs was also investigated in physiological conditions. The drug loading (DL) and drug entrapment efficiency (DEE) were enhanced and the DL of 0. 9% and DEE of 51% are achievable. The Higuchi model was shown the best fitting compared to the different kinetically release model. This result and result of cyclic voltammetry indicated that the drug release mechanism followed by diffusion manner. Therefore, our present study showed that the biocompatible HSA NPs could improve prolonged release of oxaliplatin as anticancer drugs.

In our previous work, the effect of use of a water soluble CDI/NHS system as nontoxic cross-linking agent on fabrication of gelatin nanoparticles was investigated. In this research, the effect of variation in some synthetic parameters of gelatin nanoparticles cross-linked by CDI/NHS system such as type of gelatin and formulation of crosslinking agent on their size and distribution was examined. The conventional two step Desolvation method was used for preparation of gelatin nanoparticles. The morphology, mean size and size distribution of the formed nanoparticles were evaluated and compared with each other. In addition, intrinsic viscosities of all the nanoparticles were measured and compared under different conditions. The results showed that the presence of more NHS and absence of NHS catalyst in CDI/NHS system lead to the large particle size and broad size distribution of nanoparticles that were attributed to the fast and slow cross-linking rate, respectively.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. Carvacrol, an important natural terpenoid product in aromatic plants such as thyme, has shown antiinflammatory effects in animal models of arthritis. However, its poor water solubility and high volatility have limited its application. In the present study in order to overcome this problem, we encapsulated carvacrol in the bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles and examined its therapeutic and immunomodulatory effects in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA). Carvacrol-loaded BSA nanoparticles were prepared by Desolvation method. Nanoparticles had encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 67. 7 ± 6. 9% and loading capacity (LC) of 26. 6 ± 2%. The size of particles was 148 ± 25 nm and they had monomodal distribution. After arthritis induction, the rats were treated intraperitoneally with nanoparticle for every 3 days until day 28. The treatment of the rats with 375 mg/mL carvacrol-loaded BSA nanoparticle significantly decreased clinical severity score (27. 5 ± 9. 8%, p = 0. 008), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (33. 4 ± 10%, p = 0. 02), nitric oxide production (82. 3 ± 2. 6%, p = 0. 004) and interleukin (IL)-17 gene expression (55. 1 ± 8. 2%, p = 0. 003) compared to the untreated arthritic group. A higher reduction in inflammation severity in arthritic rats treated with carvacrol-loaded BSA in comparison to those treated with carvacrol alone was observed. In conclusion, encapsulation of carvacrol in nanoparticles reduced arthritis signs and release of NO and IL-17 inflammatory cytokine and therefore is suggested to be considered as a good approach for improving the therapeutic applications of carvacrol in RA.