Edible insects have been proposed as a good source of different nutrients including protein. However, the nutritional value of edible insects could be affected by several factors that must be considered in order to enhance their potential application in food. In this work, the effect of feeding two different diets, alfalfa and maize green fodder, on the chemical composition of edible grasshopper (Sphenarium purpurascens) consumed in Mexico was assessed. The dry matter, crude protein content, amino acid profile, in vitro protein digestibility, crude fat, and insoluble fiber content differed significantly between grasshoppers fed with alfalfa and maize (p-value < 0.05). Grasshoppers fed with alfalfa showed an increment of 10% in essential amino acid index and biological value compared to grasshopper fed with maize green fodder. Our results demonstrate that the nutritional composition of edible grasshopper S. purpurascens can be modified through diet resulting in an increase in its nutritional value.

Bioactive peptides have gained the attention and interest of researchers and the industry for their therapeutic effects and high specificity, thus reducing the risks of side effects and making them an attractive alternatives in developing new biopharmaceuticals or cosmeceuticals. Nevertheless, their incorporation into formulations and administration presents challenges such as low stability under different storage conditions and gastrointestinal degradation after oral delivery. Likewise, the parenteral route is an invasive method that is painful and therefore reduces patient compliance. Topical delivery of bioactive peptides is a painless noninvasive alternative to reduce peptide degradation, exert local effects in the applied area, and improve patient compliance. In this review, we discuss the physicochemical properties of peptides and the mechanisms involved in their degradation. In addition, the most important aspects of skin structure and skin permeation routes, and the requirements for topical and transdermal drug delivery are also discussed in this article. Finally, nanocarrier development advances for the topical delivery of peptides (water-in-oil-in-water emulsions, microemulsions, nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, niosomes, and microneedles) and other strategies, such as metal complexation, cell-penetrating peptides, and synthetic modification, are also reviewed. All these topics consider the perspective of their effect to improve skin permeability to peptides and their stability over time during storage.