The effects of intermolecular interactions on the physical properties of organogels in edible oils.

The microstructure of organogels based on monoglycerides of fatty acids (MAGs) and policosanol and on different edible oils was investigated by using different techniques (calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, rheology, polarized light microscopy) towards a better understanding and control of the oil gelation phenomena. Dynamic moduli were related via a fractal model to microstructural information such as solid content and fractal dimension. Infrared spectroscopy evidenced that network structure in MAGs gel is mainly due to hydrogen bonding, whereas in policosanol system is mainly given by van der Waals interactions.

The innovative "Bio-Oil Spread" prevents metabolic disorders and mediates preconditioning-like cardioprotection in rats.

Background And Aims: Obesity is often associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. The food industry and the associated research activities focus on formulating products that are a perfect mix between an adequate fat content and health. We evaluated whether a diet enriched with Bio-Oil Spread (SD), an olive oil-based innovative food, is cardioprotective in the presence of high-fat diet (HFD)-dependent obesity.

Olive oil and hyperthermal water bigels for cosmetic uses.

Bigels are biphasic systems produced with an organogel (or oleogel) and a hydrogel mixed together at high shear rates. These systems are promising for different uses, among them the formulation of new cosmetic matrices for cosmetic agents delivery is under investigation. In the present paper, a common cosmetic formulation for skin care was enriched with increasing fractions of monoglycerides of fatty acids/olive oil organogels, in order to understand the rheology and the microstructure of these systems.

Drug compartmentalization as strategy to improve the physico-chemical properties of diclofenac sodium loaded niosomes for topical applications.

The objective of this research was to study the effect of diclofenac sodium compartmentalization on the physico-chemical properties (such as size, drug entrapment efficiency and percutaneous permeation across rabbit skin) of niosomal vesicles used as carriers. Niosomes were prepared starting from nonionic commercial surfactants belonging to the class of Polysorbates and Pluronics: mixtures of Span 60/F127 and Tween 60/F127 at different ratios were used to obtain vesicles and all formulations were compared in terms of dimensions, morphology, polydispersity index and entrapment efficiency. Moreover, the enhancing effect of niosomes on the ex vivo percutaneous penetration of diclofenac sodium was investigated using Franz-type diffusion chambers and compared to that obtained by using the corresponding drug solution.

Oxidation of human red blood cells by a free radical initiator: effects on rheological properties.

The main aim of this study was the investigation of the rheological properties of Red Blood Cells (RBCs) obtained from subjects admitted to blood donors, associated with the lipid profile of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), Triglyceride (TG) and Total Cholesterol (TOT-C). The deformability index of RBCs was determined by using a Dynamic Stress Rheometer (DSR-500) under oxidative injury induced by 2.2'-azo-bis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH).