Nanoliposomes and Tocosomes as Multifunctional Nanocarriers for the Encapsulation of Nutraceutical and Dietary Molecules

Nanoscale lipid bilayers, or nanoliposomes, are generally spherical vesicles formed by the dispersion of phospholipid molecules in a water-based medium by energy input. The other nanoscale object discussed in this entry, i.e., tocosome, is a recently introduced bioactive carrier made mainly from tocopheryl phosphates. Due to their bi-compartmental structure, which consists of lipidic and aqueous compartments, these nanocarriers are capable of carrying hydrophilic and hydrophobic material separately or simultaneously. Nanoliposomes and tocosomes are able to provide protection and release of sensitive food-grade bioactive materials in a sustained manner. They are being utilized for the encapsulation of different types of bioactive materials (such as drugs, vaccines, antimicrobials, antioxidants, minerals and preservatives), for the enrichment and fortification of different food and nutraceutical formulations and manufacturing of functional products. However, a number of issues unique to the nutraceutical and food industry must first be resolved before these applications can completely become a reality. Considering the potentials and promises of these colloidal carrier systems, the present article reviews various aspects of nanoliposomes, in comparison with tocosomes, including the ingredients used in their manufacture, formation mechanisms and issues pertaining to their application in the formulation of health promoting dietary supplements and functional food products

Antimicrobial applications of nanoliposome encapsulated silver nanoparticles: a potential strategy to overcome bacterial resistance

Bacterial infections result in hundreds of million cases of severe illness annually worldwide. Rapidly increasing drug resistance of pathogens further aggravates this threat to human health and warrants the search for effective broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. Silver metal has a long history of application in human medicine and healthcare. In ancient times, silver was employed as a disinfectant for water purification and storage while it is still being used as an antimicrobial ingredient in some nanotechnology-based products. Encapsulation of antimicrobial substances such as silver nanoparticles in nanoliposomes could provide protection and targeting for the encapsulated or entrapped material. Nanoliposomes are biocompatible and biodegradable drug delivery systems with the ability to encapsulate both lipid-soluble and water-soluble compounds, as well as metal ions. Furthermore, nanoliposomes have been shown to be able to deliver encapsulated agents to target bacteria in vitro as well as in vivo. In this review, we present the use of nanoliposome-encapsulated silver nanoparticles as an efficient system for antibacterial applications