Recently, consumers have been increasingly inclined towards natural antimicrobials and antioxidants in food processing and packaging. Several bioactive compounds have originated from natural sources, and among them, grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is widely accepted and generally safe to use in food. GSE is a very commonly used antimicrobial in food; lately, it has also been found very effective as a coating material or in edible packaging films. A lot of recent work reports the use of GSE in food packaging applications to ensure food quality and safety; therefore, this work intended to provide an up-to-date review of GSE-based packaging. This review discusses GSE, its extraction methods, and their use in manufacturing food packaging film/coatings. Various physical and functional properties of GSE-added film were also discussed. This review also provides the food preservation application of GSE-incorporated film and coating. Lastly, the opportunities, challenges, and perspectives in the GSE-added packaging film/coating are also debated.

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Grapefruit Seed Extract-Added Functional Films and Coating for Active Packaging Applications: A Review

Development, characterization and application of intelligent/active packaging of chitosan/chitin nanofibers films containing eggplant anthocyanins

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death worldwide, which propels the development of advanced technologies for CVD diagnosis and treatment. Biomarker‐responsive nanomaterials are appealing therapeutic platforms that provide new horizons for CVD theranostics. In this review, recent advances in nanomaterials with endogenous biomarkers as stimuli or targets for CVD theranostics is presented. First, the categories of biomarkers involved are comprehensively itemized based on pathological mechanisms including pH, reactive oxygen species, lipids, enzymes, macrophage receptors, subendothelium components, platelet receptors, inflammation, and osteopontin. The role of these biomarkers in bridge‐building between nanomaterials and CVD is then presented. Next, the biomedical applications of nanomaterials responsive to endogenous biomarkers as stimuli or targets for the diagnosis and treatment of CVD are elaborated. Finally, the challenges and future research directions of biomarker‐responsive nanomaterials in CVD are also discussed. This review will provide scientific guidance to facilitate clinical applications of biomarker‐responsive nanomaterials.

Nanomaterials Responsive to Endogenous Biomarkers for Cardiovascular Disease Theranostics

Effective food packaging that can protect foodstuffs from physical, chemical, and biological damage and maintain freshness and quality is essential to the food industry. Wheat gluten shows promise as food packaging materials due to its edibility, biodegradability, wide availability, low cost, film-forming potential, and high resistance to oxygen. The low mechanical properties and poor water permeability of wheat gluten coatings and films limit their wide applications; however, some inferior properties can be improved through various solutions. This work presents a comprehensive review about wheat gluten-based coatings and films, including their formulation, processing methods, properties, functions, and applications. The mechanical and water resistance properties of coatings and films can be reinforced through wheat gluten modification, combinations of different processing methods, and the incorporation of reinforcing macromolecules, antioxidants, and nanofillers. Antioxidants and antimicrobial agents added to wheat gluten can inhibit microbial growth on foodstuffs, maintain food quality, and extend shelf life. Performances of wheat gluten-based coatings and films can be further improved to expand their applications in food packaging. Current research gaps are identified. Future research is needed to examine the optimal formulation and processing of wheat gluten-based coatings and films and their performance.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/1750-3841.16454

Wheat gluten-based coatings and films: Preparation, properties, and applications.

Mitochondrial-targeted and ROS-responsive nanocarrier via nose-to-brain pathway for ischemic stroke treatment

Multi-functional pH-sensitive active and intelligent packaging based on highly cross-linked zein for the monitoring of pork freshness.

Essential oil-loaded antimicrobial and antioxidant zein/poly(lactic acid) film as active food packaging

Stroke is one of the major causes of death and severe disability worldwide. At present, intravenous thrombolysis to restore blood flow at the ischemic part of the brain is the main treatment for ischemic stroke. However, even if patients are treated in time during the therapeutic window of thrombolytic drugs, thrombolysis causes a sharp increase in oxygen concentration at the injury site after ischemia–reperfusion, leading to the outbreak of free radicals, which further aggravates the brain injury. Neuroprotective therapy, which is combined with thrombolytic therapy, is an important treatment for ischemic stroke and metabolic disorders caused by ischemic brain injury. It can inhibit various types of cell necrosis, increase cell viability, delay neuronal death, and promote the recovery of neural functions. This review summarizes novel neuroprotective treatments for stroke, especially nanotechnology‐assisted advanced targeted therapies. Future prospects and challenges are also discussed for the development of neuroprotective nanomaterials.

Neuroprotective Treatments for Ischemic Stroke: Opportunities for Nanotechnology

A novel protocol was established to synthesize novel α-glucosidase inhibitors (prodelphinidin B gallates) from proanthocyanidins from Chinese bayberry leaves (BLPs) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) via acid-catalyzed transformation, which had improved regulation against postprandial hyperglycemia. Their structural-activity relationship was clarified by enzymatic kinetics, multispectroscopic method, molecular docking analysis, and sucrose loading test. ProDB MG and DG were noncompetitive inhibitors of α-glucosidase with IC50 values of 7.82 and 7.52 μg/mL, respectively. They bound with α-glucosidase spontaneously through van der Waals force and hydrogen bonding interaction, inducing the change of spatial conformation and secondary structure of α-glucosidase. Molecular docking studies suggested that proDB MG and DG attached to another one nonactive pocket with strong affinity. ProDB DG exerted significant improvement of postprandial hyperglycemia in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, proDB MG and DG, potential antidiabetic compounds, alleviate postprandial hyperglycemia by inhibiting α-glucosidase.

Improving Regulation of Polymeric Proanthocyanidins and Tea Polyphenols against Postprandial Hyperglycemia via Acid-Catalyzed Transformation.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevailing malignant primary brain tumor, and the precise diagnosis of GBM has always been a challenge. Gboxin is a recently developed drug efficiently inhibiting the oxidative phosphorylation in GBM cells, and both the chlorotoxin (CLTX) and GBM cell membrane coating are capable of GBM targeting and tumor homing. Herein, the near‐infrared (NIR) persistent luminescence (PL) nanoparticle, CUDZG, with a dual function of imaging and therapy is developed based on ZnGa2O4:Cr3+,Sn4+. CUDZG exhibits superior rechargeable NIR PL for at least 48 h with excellent tissue penetration in vivo, which enables the longstanding autofluorescence‐free imaging of the orthotopic GBM. The tumor growth of both the orthotropic and subcutaneous GBM‐bearing mice are significantly suppressed by CUDZG. This is the first‐time report of 1) the integration of CLTX and cell membrane coating for drug delivery, 2) diselenide‐based trigger release for anti‐GBM therapy, and 3) the systemic delivery of Gboxin. This study also offers an example of the highly promising blood‐brain penetrable drug carriers for precise diagnosis and therapy of central nervous system diseases.

A Chlorotoxin‐Directed Diselenide‐Bridged Tumor‐Homing Persistent Luminescence Nanoprobes Mediating Inhibition of Oxidative Phosphorylation for Long‐Term Near‐Infrared Imaging and Therapy of Glioblastoma

Yi Wang

Papers

Multi-functional pH-sensitive active and intelligent packaging based on highly cross-linked zein for the monitoring of pork freshness.

Essential oil-loaded antimicrobial and antioxidant zein/poly(lactic acid) film as active food packaging

Neuroprotective Treatments for Ischemic Stroke: Opportunities for Nanotechnology

Improving Regulation of Polymeric Proanthocyanidins and Tea Polyphenols against Postprandial Hyperglycemia via Acid-Catalyzed Transformation.

A Chlorotoxin‐Directed Diselenide‐Bridged Tumor‐Homing Persistent Luminescence Nanoprobes Mediating Inhibition of Oxidative Phosphorylation for Long‐Term Near‐Infrared Imaging and Therapy of Glioblastoma