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Soymilk, due to its high-quality protein and isoflavones content, is widely consumed worldwide. Unfortunately, soymilk lacks the powerful antioxidant vitamin E. Encapsulation of vitamin E and isoflavones in soymilk powder is advantageous for malnourished consumers to meet the recommendation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different encapsulation techniques and encapsulating materials on the storage stability and bioaccessibility of vitamin E and isoflavones in soymilk powder. Freeze-drying and spray-drying methods were applied with various encapsulating materials prepared from different ratios of maltodextrin to Acacia gum (100:0, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, and 0:100). The results indicated that a 40:60 ratio of maltodextrin and Acacia gum provided the highest stability for 24 h of soymilk emulsion under the studied conditions. The shelf-life prediction of soymilk powder increased by more than two weeks when stored at 0 °C compared to the storage at ambient temperature. Spray-drying and freeze-drying techniques effectively encapsulate vitamin E and isoflavones within core microcapsules. Especially, freeze-drying process helps to prevent degradation during storage and allows for controlled release of the bioactive compounds during in-vitro digestion. Encapsulation efficiency of isoflavones and vitamin E for all formulation ranged from 80.9 ± 0.01% to 83.5 ± 0.20%, respectively. The highest vitamin E and isoflavones bioaccessibility of encapsulated product increased by up to 4.4-fold and 1.7-fold in the 60:40 formulations. Consuming 20 g of encapsulated vitamin E and 170 g of encapsulated isoflavones daily would be sufficient to meet the recommended intake.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that can protect the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the membrane from oxidation, regulate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and modulate signal transduction. Immunomodulatory effects of vitamin E have been observed in animal and human models under normal and disease conditions. With advances in understating of the development, function, and regulation of dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, T cells, and B cells, recent studies have focused on vitamin E’s effects on specific immune cells. This review will summarize the immunological changes observed with vitamin E intervention in animals and humans, and then describe the cell-specific effects of vitamin E in order to understand the mechanisms of immunomodulation and implications of vitamin E for immunological diseases.

In cystic fibrosis (CF), pancreatic insufficiency and a diminished bile acid pool cause malabsorption of important nutrients and dietary components leading to deficiency, poor nutritional status, and oxidative stress. Of particular significance is the malabsorption of fat-soluble nutrients and antioxidants, which are important for normal immune and neurologic function. Patients with CF often are deficient in these compounds despite supplementation with the current standard of care therapy. The objective was to compare the pharmacokinetic profile of this water-soluble vitamin E formulation (Aqua-E) with an oil-based softgel formulation in a malabsorbing patient population. Patients with CF who had documented malabsorption were recruited for participation in this pharmacokinetic study. Patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria discontinued vitamin E supplementation, except for that in a multivitamin, for 7 to 21 days before the day of dosing. Patients were randomized to a single dose of 20 ml of Aqua-E or three oil-based softgels, which contained equivalent amounts of tocopherols. Blood was drawn from patients at time 0, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 168 hr and analyzed for tocopherols. Eight patients were enrolled in the study and randomized to Aqua-E or softgels. The primary outcome, the absorption of gamma-tocopherol in Aqua-E (AUC=115 micro g/ml(*)hr), was significantly greater than that of oil-based softgels (AUC=25.3 micro g/ml(*)hr; P=0.013). Total-tocopherols (alpha+gamma+delta) in Aqua-E (AUC=294 micro g/ml(*)hr) showed a strong trend toward increased absorption compared with that of oil-based softgels (AUC=117 micro g/ml(*)hr; P=0.09). In conclusion, this novel, water-soluble formulation showed a marked and statistically significant increase in absorption of gamma-tocopherol in malabsorbing patients with CF compared with an oil-based formulation.

Vitamin E belongs to the family of lipid-soluble vitamins and can be divided into two groups, tocopherols and tocotrienols, with four isomers (alpha, beta, gamma and delta). Although vitamin E is widely known as a potent antioxidant, studies have also revealed that vitamin E possesses anti-inflammatory properties. These crucial properties of vitamin E are beneficial in various aspects of health, especially in neuroprotection and cardiovascular, skin and bone health. However, the poor bioavailability of vitamin E, especially tocotrienols, remains a great limitation for clinical applications. Recently, nanoformulations that include nanovesicles, solid-lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, and polymeric nanoparticles have shown promising outcomes in improving the efficacy and bioavailability of vitamin E. This review focuses on the pharmacological properties and pharmacokinetics of vitamin E and current advances in vitamin E nanoformulations for future clinical applications. The limitations and future recommendations are also discussed in this review.

ABSTRACT Purpose To investigate the effects of the particle size and surface coating on the cellular uptake of the polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery across the physiological drug barrier with emphasis on the gastrointestinal (GI) barrier for oral chemotherapy and the blood–brain barrier (BBB) for imaging and therapy of brain cancer. Methods Various sizes of commercial fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs) ( viz 20 50, 100, 200 and 500 nm) were modified with the d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1,000 succinate (vitamin E TPGS or TPGS). The size, surface charge and surface morphology of PS NPs before and after TPGS modification were characterized. The Caco-2 and MDCK cells were employed as an in vitro model of the GI barrier for oral and the BBB for drug delivery into the central nerve system respectively. The distribution of fluorescent NPs after i.v. administration to rats was analyzed by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results The in vitro investigation showed enhanced cellular uptake efficiency for PS NPs in both of Caco-2 and MDCK cells after TPGS surface coating. In vivo investigation showed that the particle size and surface coating are the two parameters which can dramatically influence the NPs biodistribution after intravenous administration. The TPGS coated NPs of smaller size (< 200 nm) can escape from recognition by the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and thus prolong the half-life of the NPs in the blood system. Conclusions TPGS-coated PS NPs of 100 and 200 nm sizes have potential to deliver the drug across the GI barrier and the BBB.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of nano-selenium (Nano Se) or/and vitamin E (VE) on growth performance, blood health, intestinal histomorphology, oxidative status, and immune-related gene expression of Nile tilapia. Nano Se or/and VE at a rate of 0, 1 mg Nano Se/kg, 100 mg VE/kg, and 1 mg Nano Se/kg + 100 mg VE diet were fed to fish for 8 weeks. FBW was significantly ( P < 0.05) increased in fish fed with Nano Se and VE, while fish fed with Nano Se or Nano Se and VE diets displayed significantly ( P < 0.05) higher WG and SGR than the other groups. The lowest FCR was significantly ( P < 0.05) detected in fish fed with Nano Se and VE, while the highest value was observed in fish VE diet. The intestinal morphometry (villi length and width) of fish fed with Nano Se or/and VE reported significantly ( P < 0.05) the highest values with high number of goblet cells. Blood hematology and biochemistry parameters of fish fed with Nano Se or/and VE showed normal values with insignificant differences except for the blood total protein increased in fish fed with Nano Se or/and VE ( P < 0.05). Dietary Nano Se or Nano Se and VE significantly ( P < 0.05) increased the GPX, SOD, CAT, NBT, lysozyme, and phagocytosis values with decreased MDA. Liver and spleen TNF-α and IL-1β expressions were significantly ( P < 0.05) upregulated in fish fed on Nano Se or Nano Se and VE. Thus, Nano Se or/and VE can be used effectively in tilapia diets for improving the growth, intestinal health, blood health, oxidative status, and immune-related gene expression.

This study aimed to determine the effect of the drying method (freeze-drying, air-drying), storage period (12 months), and storage conditions (2–4 °C, 18–22 °C) applied to two legume species: green beans and green peas. The raw and dried materials were determined for selected physical parameters typical of dried vegetables, contents of bioactive components (vitamin C and E, total chlorophyll, total carotenoids, β-carotene, and total polyphenols), antioxidative activity against the DPPH radical, and sensory attributes (overall quality and profiles of color, texture, and palatability). Green beans had a significantly higher content of bioactive components compared to peas. Freeze-drying and cold storage conditions facilitated better retention of these compounds, i.e., by 9–39% and 3–11%, respectively. After 12 months of storage, higher retention of bioactive components, except for total chlorophyll, was determined in peas regardless of the drying method, i.e., by 38–75% in the freeze-dried product and 30–77% in the air-dried product, compared to the raw material.

Wound management is a critical aspect of healthcare, necessitating effective and innovative wound dressing materials. Many existing wound dressings lack effectiveness and exhibit limitations, including poor antimicrobial activity, toxicity, inadequate moisture regulation, and weak mechanical performance. The aim of this study is to develop a natural-based nanofibrous structure that possesses desirable characteristics for use as a wound dressing. The chemical analysis confirmed the successful creation of Zein (Ze) (25% w/v) /gelatin (Gel) (10% w/v) /chitosan (CS) (2% w/v) /Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (10% w/v) nanofibrous scaffolds loaded with vitamin E tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (Vit E). The swelling percentages of nanofiber (NF), NF + Vit E, cross-linked nanofiber (CNF), and CNF + Vit E were 49%, 110%, 410%, and 676%, respectively; and the degradation rates of NF, NF + Vit E, CNF, and CNF + Vit E were 29.57 ± 5.06%, 33.78 ± 7.8%, 14.03 ± 7.52%, 43 ± 6.27%, respectively. The antibacterial properties demonstrated that CNF impregnated with antibiotics reduced Escherichia coli (E. coli) counts by approximately 27–28% and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) counts by about 34–35% compared to negative control. In conclusion, cross-linked Ze/Gel/CS/PVA nanofibrous scaffolds loaded with Vit E have potential as suitable wound dressing materials because environmentally friendly materials contribute to sustainable wound care and controlled degradation ensures wound dressings breakdown harmlessly.

Lipids and proteins are organized in cellular membranes in clusters, often called ‘lipid rafts’. Although raft-constituent ordered lipid domains are thought to be energetically unfavourable for membrane fusion, rafts have long been implicated in many biological fusion processes. For the case of HIV gp41-mediated membrane fusion, this apparent contradiction can be resolved by recognizing that the interfaces between ordered and disordered lipid domains are the predominant sites of fusion. Here we show that line tension at lipid domain boundaries contributes significant energy to drive gp41-fusion peptide-mediated fusion. This energy, which depends on the hydrophobic mismatch between ordered and disordered lipid domains, may contribute tens of k B T to fusion, that is, it is comparable to the energy required to form a lipid stalk intermediate. Line-active compounds such as vitamin E lower line tension in inhomogeneous membranes, thereby inhibit membrane fusion, and thus may be useful natural viral entry inhibitors. HIV preferentially fuses with lipid membranes at the interface between ordered and disordered domains, but the mechanistic basis for this observation is not known. Here Yang et al . show that line tension at the lipid boundary contributes considerable energy to drive gp41 fusion peptide-mediated fusion.

Systemic vitamin E metabolites have been proposed as signaling molecules, but their physiological role is unknown. Here we show, by library screening of potential human vitamin E metabolites, that long-chain ω-carboxylates are potent allosteric inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase, a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of chemoattractant and vasoactive leukotrienes. 13-((2 R )-6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-yl)-2,6,10-trimethyltridecanoic acid (α-T-13′-COOH) can be synthesized from α-tocopherol in a human liver-on-chip, and is detected in human and mouse plasma at concentrations (8–49 nM) that inhibit 5-lipoxygenase in human leukocytes. α-T-13′-COOH accumulates in immune cells and inflamed murine exudates, selectively inhibits the biosynthesis of 5-lipoxygenase-derived lipid mediators in vitro and in vivo, and efficiently suppresses inflammation and bronchial hyper-reactivity in mouse models of peritonitis and asthma. Together, our data suggest that the immune regulatory and anti-inflammatory functions of α-tocopherol depend on its endogenous metabolite α-T-13′-COOH, potentially through inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase in immune cells. Vitamin E metabolites are proposed to have signalling capacity, but how they may regulate immune responses is still unclear. Here the authors show that a vitamin E metabolite, α-T-13′-COOH, can inhibit 5-lipoxygenase and thereby suppress the synthesis of lipid mediators of immune activation and inflammatory responses.