Red bell pepper extract rich in carotenoids was (RBPE) encapsulated with four different encapsulating agents: calcium caseinate (ECC), bovine gelatin (EBG), whey proteins isolate (EWPI), and concentrate (EWPC), aiming to investigate the most effective material to coat and enable the water dispersibility of pigments. Formulations were obtained by the oil in water (O/W) emulsification technique, followed by freeze-drying. Samples were analyzed by encapsulation efficiency, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dispersion stability, and CIELab. Nanoformulations showed a carotenoid encapsulation efficiency of 54.0% (ECC), 57.6% (EWPI), 56.6 % (EWPC), 64.0 % (EBG). Recovered carotenoid profiles from nanoformulations showed similarity to the RBPE, indicating the efficiency of the encapsulation process. Average particle sizes of approximately 109 nm (ECC), 71 nm (EWPI), 64 nm (EWPC), and 173 nm (EBG) were obtained. AFM revealed that all formulations exhibited spherical forms and a heterogeneous distribution profile. Regarding TGA, formulations presented similar thermal behaviors to and lower decomposition speeds than RBPE, suggesting improved thermal stability. Powder formulations were easily dispersed in water (8 mg/mL) and presented intense color and stability to sedimentation for 48 h. Results indicated that all formulations and the chosen technique efficiently increased carotenoid dispersibility in water, indicating their potential to be applied as natural food pigments.

This study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of nanoencapsulated extracellular vesicles (EV) derived from canine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating atopic dermatitis. It seeks to determine the efficacy of these EV in modulating cytokine responses, specifically targeting IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL13, and IL-31, which are crucial in the pathophysiology of cutaneous inflammatory disorders. Materials and Methods: MSCs were cultured from adipose tissue and induced to produce EVs. They were then isolated through ultracentrifugation, characterized for particle size and morphology, and encapsulated within calcium alginate nanogels. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in vitro using human keratinocyte cultures primed with IFN-gamma and treated with both free and nanoencapsulated EV. The expression of inflammatory cytokines was analyzed through RTq-PCR and protein ELISA Multiplex (Luminex®). Results: The study found that both free and nanoencapsulated EV significantly reduced the expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL6, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-31 in IFN-gamma primed keratinocytes. Nanoencapsulation with alginate notably enhanced the delivery efficiency, targeted release, and stability of the EV, leading to a more pronounced reduction in cytokine expression compared to free EV. Conclusion: Nanoencapsulated EV derived from canine MSCs demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory potential, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for atopic dermatitis and other inflammatory conditions. This approach not only preserves the bioactivity of EV but also improves their therapeutic applicability through enhanced delivery and stability. The findings underscore the potential of nanoencapsulation technology in advancing novel therapeutic strategies across human and veterinary medicine, highlighting the importance of cross-disciplinary research in developing effective healthcare solutions.

Microencapsulation is a widely studied cell therapy and tissue bioengineering technique, since it is capable of creating an immune-privileged site, protecting encapsulated cells from the host immune system. Several polymers have been tested, but sodium alginate is in widespread use for cell encapsulation applications, due to its low toxicity and easy manipulation. Different cell encapsulation methods have been described in the literature using pressure differences or electrostatic changes with high cost commercial devices (about 30,000 US dollars). Herein, a low-cost device (about 100 US dollars) that can be created by commercial syringes or 3D printer devices has been developed. The capsules, whose diameter is around 500 µm and can decrease or increase according to the pressure applied to the system, is able to maintain cells viable and functional. The hydrogel porosity of the capsule indicates that the immune system is not capable of destroying host cells, demonstrating that new studies can be developed for cell therapy at low cost with microencapsulation production. This device may aid pre-clinical and clinical projects in low- and middle-income countries and is lined up with open source equipment devices.