Liposomes have been utilized as a drug delivery system to increase the bioavailability of drugs and to control the rate of drug release at the target site of action. However, the occurrence of self-aggregation, coalescence, flocculation and the precipitation of aqueous liposomes during formulation or storage can cause degradation of the vesicle structure, leading to the decomposition of liposomes. To increase the stability of liposomes, post-processing techniques have been applied as an additional process to liposomes after formulation to remove water and generate dry liposome particles with a higher stability and greater accessibility for drug administration in comparison with aqueous liposomes. This review covers the effect of these techniques including freeze drying, spray drying and spray freeze drying on the stability, physicochemical properties and drug encapsulation efficiency of dry liposomes. The parameters affecting the properties of liposomes during the drying process are also highlighted in this review. In addition, the impact of using a protective agent to overcome such limitations of each process is thoroughly discussed through various studies.

Recently, carbon dots (CDs) have been actively studied and reported for their various properties. In particular, the specific characteristics of carbon dots have been considered as a possible technique for cancer diagnosis and therapy. This is also a cutting-edge technology that offers fresh ideas for treating various disorders. Though carbon dots are still in their infancy and have not yet shown their value to society, their discovery has already resulted in some noteworthy advancements. The application of CDs indicates conversion in natural imaging. Photography using CDs has demonstrated extraordinary appropriateness in bio-imaging, the discovery of novel drugs, the delivery of targeted genes, bio-sensing, photodynamic therapy, and diagnosis. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of CDs, including their benefits, characteristics, applications, and mode of action. In this overview, many CD design strategies will be highlighted. In addition, we will discuss numerous studies on cytotoxic testing to demonstrate the safety of CDs. The current study will address the production method, mechanism, ongoing research, and application of CDs in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Alginate-based antibacterial biocomposite films were prepared by incorporating with cinnamon essential oil nanoemulsions (CEO-NE). CEO-NE was first prepared by mixing and homogenizing the oil phase and aqueous phase containing polysorbate 80 (Tween 80), using a probe-type ultrasonication equipment. The biocomposite films were then prepared by incorporating the CEO-NE to an aqueous solution of alginate and glycerol, homogenizing, casting, and drying. The mean droplet size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index of the CEO-NE were 92.2 nm, −15.58 mV, and 0.25, respectively. Young’s modulus of the CEO-NE/alginate biocomposite films was significantly increased with an increasing concentration of CEO-NE, while their elongation at break was significantly decreased. However, the tensile strength of the CEO-NE/alginate biocomposite films was not significantly changed. The maximum tensile strength and elongation at break of the biocomposite films were 15.63 MPa and 23.67%, respectively, corresponding to the biocomposite films containing 20% CEO-NE. The biocomposite films containing 20% CEO-NE also showed strong antibacterial effects against Salmonella typhimurium , Bacillus cereus , Escherichia coli , and Staphylococcus aureus , achieving inhibition zones from 29.7 to 53.0 mm. These results show the potential of the CEO-NE/alginate biocomposite films as antibacterial packaging for extending the shelf life of fresh foods.