Taylor dispersion analysis and release studies of β-carotene-loaded PLGA nanoparticles and liposomes in simulated gastrointestinal fluids.

β-Carotene (βC), a natural carotenoid, is the most important and effective vitamin A precursor, known also for its antioxidant properties. However, its poor water solubility, chemical instability, and low bioavailability limit its effectiveness as an orally delivered functional nutrient. Nanoparticle encapsulation improves βC's bioaccessibility by enhancing its stability and solubility.

Oxidative Properties of Atmospheric Particles and their Biological Effects.

Particulate Matter (PM) is the most toxic component in polluted air causing over 6 million deaths per year worldwide according to World Health Organisation estimates. Due to the highly complex composition of PM in the atmosphere, with thousands of inorganic and especially organic components, it is unknown which particle sources are responsible for their toxicity. In recent years it emerged that overall oxidising particle properties might directly link particle composition with health effects.

Polymer Nano-Carrier-Mediated Gene Delivery: Visualizing and Quantifying DNA Encapsulation Using dSTORM.

The success of gene therapy hinges on the effective encapsulation, protection, and compression of genes. These processes deliver therapeutic genes into designated cells for genetic repair, cellular behavior modification, or therapeutic effect induction. However, quantifying the encapsulation efficiency of small molecules of interest like DNA or RNA into delivery carriers remains challenging.

Understanding Macrophage Interaction with Antimony-Doped Tin Oxide Plasmonic Nanoparticles.

Antimony-doped tin oxide nanoparticles (ATO NPs) have emerged as a promising tool in biomedical applications, namely robust photothermal effects upon near-infrared (NIR) light exposure, enabling controlled thermal dynamics to induce spatial cell death. This study investigated the interplay between ATO NPs and macrophages, understanding cellular uptake and cytokine release. ATO NPs demonstrated biocompatibility with no impact on macrophage viability and cytokine secretion.