Beyond a food container: Enhancing the relationship between ultra-processed sustainable food products and consumers through multisensory packaging experience

Consumers encounter many food choices in the supermarket, including ultra-processed food. Observing in the context and reflecting on the daily interactions, these products often present with product identities visually, and the food does not transparently show on the packaging. Consumers can see images of dishes, contextual visuals, labels, product claims, rendering pictures, ingredient depictions, and various product representations in many styles on the packaging of different ultra-processed food. The lack of transparency reduces the intuitive communication of the food’s authentic attributes. More challenges are shown in the context, including consumers’ habitual decision-making, bias brought by labels and product claims, and market trends of relying on visual representations. These are insights revealed from literature research, observations, and context analysis. In the spectrum of ultra-processed food products, sustainable food is relatively new, with large growth potential compared to other well-established ultra-processed food categories. The mentioned challenges add potential obstacles to sustainable food in effectively communicating its unique food identities and values. Recognizing these challenges, the project focuses on ultra-processed sustainable food, as this category faces less effectiveness in communicating food attributes and values and can improve on establishing a stronger connection with consumers.To foster the relationship between consumers and ultra-processed sustainable food, the project leverages multisensory packaging design as an opportunity to enhance the experience in a future context. The project developed the idea through multiple design exploration sections combining multisensory design and traditional design methods to implement the vision. During the explorations, the concept development is based on deconstructed food-related messages (e.g., food textures, tastes, associations, and values), transforming them into design elements (e.g., packaging materials, patterns, structures, and shapes) that can be effectively conveyed through sensory stimulations. Interactions are involved along the process to ensure the harmonies, intuitiveness, and other main qualities for the holistic experience. The final results of the multisensory packaging design apply to a meat alternative and a dairy alternative product. The innovation transformations in the packaging design empower consumers to uncover food messages through various sensory modalities. Furthermore, the concept showcases the distinct values of sustainable food. The final concept demonstrates a multisensory packaging experience that utilizes design elements in message delivery in a cohesive, meaningful, and immersive way.Design for Interactio

Bone infection site targeting nanoparticle-antibiotics delivery vehicle to enhance treatment efficacy of orthopedic implant related infection

Orthopedic implants account for 99% of orthopedic surgeries, however, orthopedic implant-related infection is one of the most serious complications owing to the potential for limb-threatening sequelae and mortality. Current antibiotic treatments still lack the capacity to target bone infection sites, thereby resulting in unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. Here, the bone infection site targeting efficacy of D6 and UBI29-41 peptides was investigated, and bone-and-bacteria dual-targeted nanoparticles (NPs) with D6 and UBI29-41 peptides were first fabricated to target bone infection site and control the release of vancomycin in bone infection site. The results of this study demonstrated that the bone-and-bacteria dual-targeted mesoporous silica NPs exhibit excellent bone and bacteria targeting efficacy, excellent biocompatibility and effective antibacterial properties in vitro. Furthermore, in a rat model of orthopedic implant-related infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the growth of bacteria was evidently inhibited without cytotoxicity, thus realizing the early treatment of implant-related infection. Hence, the bone-and-bacteria dual-targeted molecule-modified NPs may target bacteria-infected bone sites and act as ideal candidates for the therapy of orthopedic implant-related infections

Copper–Zinc‐Doped Bilayer Bioactive Glasses Loaded Hydrogel with Spatiotemporal Immunomodulation Supports MRSA‐Infected Wound Healing

Abstract Developing biomaterials with antimicrobial and wound‐healing activities for the treatment of wound infections remains challenging. Macrophages play non‐negligible roles in healing infection‐related wounds. In this study, a new sequential immunomodulatory approach is proposed to promote effective and rapid wound healing using a novel hybrid hydrogel dressing based on the immune characteristics of bacteria‐associated wounds. The hydrogel dressing substrate is derived from a porcine dermal extracellular matrix (PADM) and loaded with a new class of bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGns) doped with copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) ions (Cu–Zn BGns). This hybrid hydrogel demonstrates a controlled release of Cu2+ and Zn2+ and sequentially regulates the phenotypic transition of macrophages from M1 to M2 by alternately activating nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain (NOD) and inhibiting mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathways. Additionally, its dual‐temporal bidirectional immunomodulatory function facilitates enhanced antibacterial activity and wound healing. Hence, this novel hydrogel is capable of safely and efficiently accelerating wound healing during infections. As such, the design strategy provides a new direction for exploring novel immunomodulatory biomaterials to address current clinical challenges related to the treatment of wound infections

Additional file 1 of Multifunctional biomimetic hydrogel dressing provides anti-infection treatment and improves immunotherapy by reprogramming the infection-related wound microenvironment

Supplementary Material