Supercritical fluid technologies offer a propitious method for drug discovery from natural sources. Such methods require relatively short processing times, produce extracts with little or no organic co-solvent, and are able to extract bioactive molecules whilst minimising degradation. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) provides a range of benefits, as well as offering routes to overcome some of the limitations that exist with the conventional methods of extraction. Unfortunately, SFE-based methods are not without their own shortcomings; two major ones being: (1) the high establishment cost; and (2) the selective solvent nature of CO₂, i.e., that CO₂ only dissolves small non-polar molecules, although this can be viewed as a positive outcome provided bioactive molecules are extracted during solvent-based SFE. This review provides an update of SFE methods for natural products and outlines the main operating parameters for extract recovery. Selected processing considerations are presented regarding supercritical fluids and the development and application of ultrasonic-assisted SFE methods, as well as providing some of the key aspects of SFE scalability.

Milk beverages derived from plant-based protein have attracted the interest of consumers and researchers as a health-promoting functional food. It can also be considered as a substitute for animal milk due to various allergy concerns associated with dairy milk. The plant-based emulsions are directed to prevent diet-related chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular, obesity and other disorders due to the presence of healthy long-chain unsaturated fatty acids as compared to bovine milk. Further, associations between nutritional contents (vitamins, minerals and low fat) and pharmacological properties of plant-based protein may have extra beneficial effects. The review aims to summarize the four different groups of plant sources (nuts, cereals, seeds and legumes) used for the preparation of plant-based milk beverages. In addition, it also provides a detailed review of the general characteristics and functional properties of these plant sources. Physicochemical composition, protein and fats quality, functional properties, effect of heat and high-pressure treatment is also provided in detail. It also covers fats digestibility, protein stability, protein solubility and digestibility. Furthermore, the effect of processing, possible comparative study and potential applications in healthcare have been discussed.

Introduction: Orally-administered antipsychotics are effective in the management of psychosis-related disorders although class or generation-specific adverse drug reactions (ADRs) significantly hinder clinical outcomes, driven by issues such as patient non-compliance. Direct nose-to-brain (N2B) delivery of antipsychotics via the olfactory epithelium could go some way in averting peripheral ADRs by maximizing cerebral drug concentrations, and reducing drug levels in the periphery. Moreover, the antipsychotic dose to attain a therapeutic effect could be reduced by the N2B approach, through avoidance of the entire gastrointestinal tract and first-pass metabolism. However, there exist physicochemical challenges related to psychotropic drugs, alongside biochemical barriers associated with targeting the olfactory region of the nasal cavity that impede direct, N2B drug delivery. Nanotechnological approaches present a viable strategy for the development of intranasal antipsychotic formulations where drug stability, mucosal absorption and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-bioavailability can be optimized, paving the way for N2B delivery. Areas covered: This review explores the unique anatomical features of the nasal cavity as a pathway for antipsychotic drug delivery to the brain. Nanocarrier-based approaches to encapsulate antipsychotics, and enhance stability, absorption and bioavailability are explored alongside methods to fabricate nanoparticles for brain drug delivery. The aim of this review is to determine current knowledge gaps for direct N2B psychotropic drug delivery, and identify clinically acceptable strategies to overcome them. Expert opinion: The olfactory epithelium located on the roof of the nasal cavity may be the most effective and direct administration route for antipsychotic delivery to the central nervous system (CNS), as systemic absorption is minimal. This research is novel and has the potential to revolutionize the mode of delivery of neurological medicines to the CNS in the future.