Nanotechnology, particularly nanoemulsions (NEs), have gained increasing interest from researchers throughout the years. The small-sized droplet with a high surface area makes NEs important in many industries. In this review article, the components, properties, formation, and applications are summarized. The advantages and disadvantages are also described in this article. The formation of the nanosized emulsion can be divided into two types: high and low energy methods. In high energy methods, high-pressure homogenization, microfluidization, and ultrasonic emulsification are described thoroughly. Spontaneous emulsification, phase inversion temperature (PIT), phase inversion composition (PIC), and the less known D-phase emulsification (DPE) methods are emphasized in low energy methods. The applications of NEs are described in three main areas which are food, cosmetics, and drug delivery.

This research aims to provide insights into the biological efficacy of a newly formed hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (DES). A DES based on menthol was successfully synthesized with fatty acids. The DESs’ properties as enzyme activators were examined against a neat counterpart. The menthol:decanoic acid (1:1) combination showed improved thermal stability, strong catalytic activity, and reusability for up to four subsequent cycles under ideal conditions (pH 7.0, 40 °C for 2 h). The hydrophobic DES replaced hexane in ester synthesis, where RNL@DES5 showed better fatty acid conversion compared to neat RNL. This study demonstrated promising applications of hydrophobic DESs in non-aqueous organic reactions.

Fish by-product oil and lemon oil have potential applications as active ingredients in many industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food. However, the physicochemical properties, especially the poor stability, compromised the usage. Generally, nanoemulsions were used as an approach to stabilize the oils. This study employed an ultrasonication method to form oil-in-water nanoemulsion of lemon and fish by-product oils (NE-FLO). The formulation is produced at a fixed amount of 2 wt% fish by-product oil, 8 wt% lemon oil, 10 wt% surfactant, 27.7 wt% co-surfactants and 42 min of ultrasonication time. The size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential obtained were 44.40 nm, 0.077, and −5.02 mV, respectively. The biological properties, including antioxidant, antibacterial, cell cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory, showed outstanding performance. The antioxidant activity is comparable without any significant difference with ascorbic acid as standard and is superior to pure lemon oil. NE-FLO successfully inhibits seven Gram-positive and seven Gram-negative bacterial strains. NE-FLO’s anti-inflammatory activity is 99.72%, comparable to nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) as the standard. At a high concentration of 10,000 µg·mL⁻¹, NE-FLO is non-toxic to normal skin cells. These findings demonstrate that the NE-FLO produced in this study has significant potential for usage in various industries.

In this study, the Ficus deltoidea extract loaded nanostructured lipid carrier was prepared by using the melt emulsification homogenization method. Virgin coconut oil is used as liquid lipid, while glyceryl monostearate is the solid lipid. Particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, drug loading and morphology of the obtained nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) were measured. The size of the nanostructured lipid carrier incorporated with Ficus deltoidea (FDNLC) is 158.0 ± 1.3 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.15 ± 0.02. The zeta potential obtained is −42.3 ± 1.5 mV. The encapsulation efficiency and active ingredient loading capacity for FDNLC is 87.4% ± 1.3% and 8.5% ± 1.2%, respectively. The shape of FDNLC is almost spherical and the stability assessment showed that the obtained formulation is at least stable for 40 days. When compared with the positive controls, which are Trolox and ascorbic acid, FDNLC shows the highest antioxidant value. Cell proliferation activity study indicates that FDNLC is not toxic to cells, and FDNLC could potentially treat damage by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation.

Due to their religious obligations, Muslims strongly believe that halal food ingredients are crucial to protecting their health and faith. As a result, the halal food ingredient industry is growing very rapidly. This review focuses on the latest trends and advancements involving halal food ingredients. In this review, halal certification and the standards governing the production of halal ingredients are discussed. The latest technological developments for authenticating and tracking halal components are also brought up in this review. It addresses the impact of halal ingredient manufacturing on the environment, promotes social responsibility, and places emphasis on procuring ingredients sustainably and ethically. It also examines customer awareness and preferences and the marketing of halal food ingredient brands. In conclusion, this study analyses the current condition of halal food ingredients and emphasises the importance of continuous improvement and adaptation to fulfil the requirements set out by the customers. By navigating the market for halal food ingredients, those involved should ensure that Muslim customers everywhere have access to items that are authentic and in compliance with relevant standards.

Ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as multifunctional compounds with low volatility, high thermal stability, and tunable solvation capabilities, making them highly promising for biomedical applications. First explored in the late 1990s and early 2000s for enhancing the thermal stability of enzymes, antimicrobial agents, and controlled release systems, ILs have since gained significant attention in drug delivery, antimicrobial treatments, medical imaging, and biosensing. This review examines the diverse functions of ILs in contemporary therapeutics and diagnostics, highlighting their transformative capabilities in improving drug solubility, bioavailability, transdermal permeability, and pathogen inactivation. In drug delivery, ILs improve solubility of bioactive compounds, with several IL formulations achieving substantial solubility enhancements for poorly soluble drugs. Bio-ILs, in particular, show promise in enhancing drug delivery systems, such as improving transdermal permeability. ILs also exhibit significant antimicrobial and antiviral activity, offering new avenues for combating resistant pathogens. Despite their broad potential, challenges such as cytotoxicity, long-term metabolic effects, and the stability of ILs in physiological conditions persist. While much research has focused on their physicochemical properties, biological activity and in vivo studies are still underexplored. The future directions for ILs in biomedical applications include the development of bioengineered ILs and hybrid ILs, combining functional components like nanoparticles and polymers to create multifunctional materials. These ILs, derived from renewable resources, show great promise in personalized medicine and clinical applications. Further research is necessary to evaluate their pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and long-term safety to fully realize their biomedical potential. This study emphasizes the potential of ILs to transform therapeutic and diagnostic technologies by highlighting present shortcomings and offering pathways for clinical translation, while also debating the need for continuous research to fully utilize their biomedical capabilities.