An updated overview on nanonutraceuticals: focus on nanoprebiotics and nanoprobiotics

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 21; no. 7; p. 2285
• Main Authors: Durazzo, Alessandra, Nazhand, Amhirossein, Lucarini, Massimo, Atanasov, Atanas G., Souto, Eliana B., Novellino, Ettore, Capasso, Raffaele, Santini, Antonello
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 26.03.2020; MDPI AG
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria; Bioavailability; Dietary Supplements; Drug dosages; Fatty acids; Food; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Gastrointestinal system; Gastrointestinal tract; Gram-positive bacteria; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Lipids; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Nanofibers; Nanomaterials; nanonutraceuticals; Nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - chemistry; nanotechnologies; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology - methods; nutraceuticals; Pharmaceutical industry; Prebiotics; Prebiotics - administration & dosage; Probiotics; Probiotics - administration & dosage; Probiotics - metabolism; Probiotics - therapeutic use; Proteins; Regulation; Review; Science & Technology; synbiotics; nanonutraceuticals; nanotechnologies; prebiotics; synbiotics; nutraceuticals; probiotics
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072285

Over the last few years, the application of nanotechnology to nutraceuticals has been rapidly growing due to its ability to enhance the bioavailability of the loaded active ingredients, resulting in improved therapeutic/nutraceutical outcomes. The focus of this work is nanoprebiotics and nanoprobiotics, terms which stand for the loading of a set of compounds (e.g., prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics) in nanoparticles that work as absorption enhancers in the gastrointestinal tract. In this manuscript, the main features of prebiotics and probiotics are highlighted, together with the discussion of emerging applications of nanotechnologies in their formulation. Current research strategies are also discussed, in particular the promising use of nanofibers for the delivery of probiotics. Synbiotic-based nanoparticles represent an innovative trend within this area of interest. As only few experimental studies on nanoprebiotics and nanoprobiotics are available in the scientific literature, research on this prominent field is needed, covering effectiveness, bioavailability, and safety aspects. The authors acknowledge the support of the research project: Nutraceutica come supporto nutrizionale nel paziente oncologico, CUP: B83D18000140007. E. B. Souto acknowledges the sponsorship of the projects M-ERA-NET-0004/2015-PAIRED and UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund), receiving support from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation, Ministry of Science and Education (FCT/MEC) through national funds, and co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020.