Nanotechnology and Food: Brief Overview of the Current Scenario

AbstractThe rapidly expanding sector of nanotechnologies has applications in every industrial sector. The production of food of animal origin recognizes several possibilities for technological development through the use of nanomaterials, at animal farming, food processing and product storage levels. Direct use of nanomaterials during these production stages, as well as the uptake from the environment, can lead to the presence of such materials in the final product. In this context analytical methods for the detection and characterization of nanomaterials in complex food matrices and toxicological data are strongly needed to assess the risk for consumers

Study of the Interactions with UV Light of Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, the Selective Inhibitors of the Cyclooxygenase-2: Photostability and Photosensitizing Properties in vitro

In the last years, skin photosensitization is appearing in the most sensitive subjects with a greater number of drugs (Antibiotics, Antifungals, Diuretics and Cardiovascular agents, NSAIDs and Antipsychotics) either applied directly on the skin or administered systemically, and results in the risk of tumors of the skin. It\u2019s likely that other drugs that induce moderate phototoxicity are not recognized as 'photosensitizers' since the induced cutaneous reactions are taken for mild sunburn or solar eczemas. The selective inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase-2 (CSIs), drugs entered recently the market, are here studied in terms of phototoxicity and photostability, since their chemical structure suggests their interactions with UV light. This reactivity could bring to changes of the molecule or to its activation, with induction of photosensitizing effects. Indeed, for the less recent Nimesulide, some phototoxic reactions have already been reported in humans. In fact, CSIs drugs are characterized by the presence of an aromatic structure with high degree of conjugation, of a sulphonamide moiety (similar to that of the Sulphonamides, the phototoxicity of which has been already demonstrated) and, in some of them, of a trifluoromethyl group highly unstable under irradiation (as in the case of Fluphenazine). The present study includes investigations on the photostability of PTPBS (4-[5-phenyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]benzenesulfonamide), and the evaluation of its phototoxic potential in vitro on cellular models and on isolated biomolecules

Fast and Sensitive Analysis of Short- and Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Foods of Animal Origin

The availability of sensitive analytical methods to detect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in food of animal origin is fundamental for monitoring programs to collect data useful for improving risk assessment strategies. The present study aimed to develop and validate a fast and sensitive method for determining short and long-chain PFASs in meat (bovine, fish, and swine muscle), bovine liver, hen eggs, and cow’s milk to be easily applicable in routine analysis of food. A QuEChERS extraction and clean-up method in combination with liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS) were used. The method resulted in good linearity (Pearson’s R > 0.99), low limits of detection (7.78–16.35 ng/kg, 8.26–34.01 ng/kg, 6.70–33.65 ng/kg, and 5.92–19.07 ng/kg for milk, liver, egg, and muscle, respectively), and appropriate limits of quantification (50 ng/kg for all compounds except for GenX and C6O4, where the limits of quantification were 100 ng/kg). Trueness and precision for all the tested levels met the acceptability criteria of 80–120% and ≤20%, respectively, regardless of the analyzed matrix. As to measurement uncertainty, it was <50% for all compound/matrix combinations. These results demonstrate the selectivity and sensitivity of the method for simultaneous trace detection and quantification of 14 PFASs in foods of animal origin, verified through the analysis of 63 food samples

State of art of nanotechnology applications in the meat chain: A qualitative synthesis

<p><b>Background</b>: Nanotechnology is a promising area in industry with a broad range of applications including in the agri-food sector. Several studies have investigated the potential benefits deriving from use of nanomaterials in the context of the whole food chain drawing scenarios of benefits but also potential for concerns. Among the agri-food sector, animal production has potential for nanomaterial application but also for safety concerns due to the possibility of nanomaterial accumulation along the farm-to-fork path.</p> <p><b>Scope and Approach</b>: The aim of this work was to define the state of the art of nanomaterial applications in the animal production sector by assessing data belonging to recently publishes studies. To do this, a qualitative synthesis approach was applied to build a fit-for-purpose framework and to summarise relevant themes in the context of effectiveness, feasibility and health concerns.</p> <p><b>Key findings and conclusions</b>: Nanomaterials have potential for use in a wide range of applications from feed production and farming to food packaging, including several detection tools designed for the benefit of consumer protection. The current high degree of variability in nanomaterials tested and in study designs impairs external validation of research results. Further research is required to clearly define which safe nanomaterial applications have the potential to reach the market.</p

Photoactivation of corticosteroids in UVB-exposed skin.

The photodegradation of flumethasone (FM) and fluocinolone acetonide (FC) was studied in solution and in the pig skin. Both glucocorticosteroids applied to the pig skin were unstable under UVB light. The photoproducts formed in the skin were the lumi-, photolumi- and andro-derivatives for FM, the same found in vitro. Instead, FC hydroperoxide formed in solution was not found in the skin: the reactivity and oxidative ability of this photoproduct towards biological substrates (lipids, proteins) seems the reason of the lack of its detection in the ex vivo model. In fact, it demonstrated to quickly oxidize amino acids and peptides, and to react with BSA both in the dark and under irradiation. Moreover, the presence in the irradiated pig skin of the FC andro-derivative, which usually forms in H-donating environment, seems consistent with the mechanism of Norrish I fragmentation followed by H-abstraction, likely from the surrounding biological substrates. These findings indicate that photoreactivity of these compounds may take place in the skin of patients exposing themselves to sunlight and is a warning about possible skin damage as a result of that. Furthermore, photolability of these drugs in the skin might cause loss of their therapeutic activity

In vitro phototoxicity of phenothiazines: Involvement of stable UVA photolysis products formed in aqueous medium

This paper reports the results of an in vitro evaluation of the phototoxic potential of stable photoproducts formed by UVA photolysis of three phenothiazines, perphenazine, fluphenazine, and thioridazine, in a water environment. Perphenazine gave a single product due to dechlorination. From thioridazine, the two major products formed; the endocyclic sulfoxide and the endocyclic N-oxide in which the 2-SCH3 substituent was replaced by a hydroxy group were tested. From fluphenazine, two products have been examined as follows: an exocyclic N-piperazine oxide and a carboxylic acid arising from hydrolysis of the 2-CF3 group. The phototoxicity of the isolated photoproducts has been studied in order to determine their possible involvement in the photosensitizing effects exhibited by the parent drugs, using hemolysis and 3T3 fibroblasts viability as in vitro assays. As fluphenazine, perphenazine, and thioridazine did, some photoproducts proved phototoxic. In particular, the perphenazine dechlorinated photoproduct and the thioridazine N-oxide were found to exert phototoxic properties similar to the parent compounds. Therefore, our data suggest that some phenothiazine photoproducts may play a role in the mechanism of photosensitivity of these drugs. Because some of these photoproducts correspond to metabolic products of phenothiazines found in humans, it cannot be ruled out that metabolites of phenothiazines can be phototoxic in vivo

UVB photolysis of betamethasone and its esters: Characterization of photoproducts in solution, in pig skin and in drug formulations

The stability of the synthetic glucocorticosteroid betamethasone under UVB light was studied both in vitro (water and methanol solution and in topical and injectable commercial formulations) and ex vivo (pig skin). From irradiated methanol solutions three main photoproducts were isolated by HPLC and TLC and characterized by NMR/MS analyses. The modifications involve parts of the molecule peculiar for the therapeutic activity, that is, rearrangement of ring A ("lumi"- and "photolumiderivatives"), and Norrish Type I fragmentation of the ketolic chain ("androderivative"). Two clinically used esters of betamethasone were also studied, namely the 17-valerate and 21-phosphate, and their photoproducts identified. The HPLC method developed for the photolysis studies in solution was also applied to the analysis of commercial formulations. In a cream and a solution for parenteral use, betamethasone highly decomposed under UVB irradiation, even in the presence of the bactericidal agents chlorocresol and phenol, which are able to absorb part of the incoming radiation. As a model for the UV exposed skin to which the drug is applied, ex vivo pig skin was used; not only the yield of photodegradation was evaluated, but the photoproducts were also identified. A test on THP-1 cells demonstrated the loss of anti-inflammatory activity of betamethasone, when modified by UVB light

In vitro and ex vivo photostability studies on Flumethasone and Fluocinolone acetonide

Flumethasone and Fluocinolone acetonide are synthetic corticosteroids used topically for the short-term treatment of various inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema, eye, nose, and ear infections, stomatitis and psoriasis. As other 11\uf062-hydroxy corticosteroids, they have shown to be sensitive to light. Previous studies have demonstrated their reactivity under UV light (UVB>UVA) both in organic and aqueous solvents and their main photoproducts have been isolated and characterized. For this high instability to UV irradiation, these drugs may lose their therapeutic activity. Indeed, their packaging instructions always indicate to protect them from light during storage. Moreover, the same problem may arise when patients are exposed to solar radiation. In order to verify the instability of these molecules when applied on the skin under UV light, the photodegradation of the two drugs is studied both in vitro (aqueous solution and commercial formulation) and in the pig skin; this ex vivo model, very close to the human skin, was used to study the fate of drugs in this organ when exposed to light. Both the glucocorticosteroids applied on the pig skin showed high photoinstability under UVB irradiation (up to 40 % for Flumethasone and to 30 % for Fluocinolone acetonide, under 10J/cm2 of UVB). The photoproducts formed in the skin were the same found in vitro, except for the hydroperoxide of Fluocinolone. The very high reactivity of this photoproduct towards biological substrates (i.e. proteins and lipids) could be the reason of the lack of its detection

Betamethasone phototoxicity: in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo studies

Betamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticosteroid present in numerous systemic and topical commercial formulations for the treatment of rheumatic diseases and skin disorders. The drug is highly unstable under UV light (UVB > UVA) and it has demonstrated moderate photosensitizing activity in patients exposed to solar radiation. Since this drug is taken to treat cutaneous diseases, it\u2019s likely that its induced photosensitization reactions are not always recognized as they are taken for mild sunburn or solar eczemas as well. Three methods (in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo) were used to test drug phototoxicity. The in vitro phototoxicity was determined by exposing Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts to UVB radiation in the presence of 100 \ub5M drug. The results showed that dark incubation and low UVB dose (0.4 J/cm2) did not affect cell viability. On the contrary, upon exposure to this low UVB dose, Betamethasone was able to induce a decrease of cell viability (30%). In vivo phototoxicity was assayed by means of skin erythema induction in albino guinea pig skin. The drug (200 \uf06dg) induced skin erythema both when applied as a methanol solution (+/--) and as a commercial formulation (cream containing 0.1% Betamethasone) (++/-). An ex vivo model, epidermis and dermis from isolated pig skin, was also employed. By working both with intact skin and with isolated epidermal cells, it has been possible to determine the extent of intact drug recovery and the cell viability after drug phototreatment. The three methods used gave comparable results and therefore in vitro and ex vivo tests may be an alternative to in vivo phototoxicity studies. From our results, Betamethasone can be considered a photosensitizing drug