Finding innovative solutions to improve the lives of people affected by trauma, bone disease, or aging continues to be a challenge worldwide. Tissue engineering is the most rapidly growing area in the domain of biomaterials. Cerium-containing MBG-derived biomaterials scaffolds were synthesized using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as a sacrificial template. The obtained scaffolds were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Ce4+/Ce3+ ratio in the scaffolds was estimated. In vitro testing revealed good cytocompatibility of the investigated scaffolds in mouse fibroblast cell line (NCTC clone L929). The results obtained regarding bioactivity, antibacterial activity, and controlled drug delivery functions recommend these scaffolds as potential candidates for bone tissue engineering applications.

In this study, flavonoids extracted from yellow onion skins and Lactobacillus casei were encapsulated in a combination of whey protein isolate, inulin and maltodextrin with an encapsulation efficiency of 84.82 ± 0.72% for flavonoids and 72.49 ± 0.11% for lactic acid bacteria. The obtained powder showed a flavonoid content of 89.49 ± 4.12 mg quercetin equivalents/g dry weight (DW) and an antioxidant activity of 39.27 ± 0.45 mM Trolox/g DW. The powder presented a significant antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential, with an inhibitory effect on α-amylase, lipase and lipoxygenase of 76.40 ± 2.30%, 82.58 ± 3.36% and 49.01 ± 0.62%, respectively. The results obtained for in vitro digestion showed that the coating materials have a protective effect on the flavonoids release. Cytotoxicity results indicated that the powder was cytocompatible up to a concentration of 500 μg/mL. The functional potential of the powder was tested by adding in a selected food matrix, highlighting a good stability of the phytochemicals, whereas an increase with 1 log cell forming unit (CFU)/g DW was observed after 21 days of storage. The obtained results are promising in the valorization of natural antioxidants in combination with lactic acid bacteria in order to develop multifunctional ingredients with value-added for food and pharmaceutics applications.

The marine algal ecosystem is characterized by a rich ecological biodiversity and can be considered as an unexploited resource for the discovery and isolation of novel bioactive compounds. In recent years, marine macroalgae have begun to be explored for their valuable composition in bioactive compounds and opportunity to obtain different nutraceuticals. In comparison with their terrestrial counterparts, Black Sea macroalgae are potentially good sources of bioactive compounds with specific and unique biological activities, insufficiently used. Macroalgae present in different marine environments contain several biologically active metabolites, including polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, sterols, proteins polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals. As a result, they have received huge interest given their promising potentialities in supporting antitumoral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiangiogenic, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective properties. An additional advantage of ulvans, fucoidans and carrageenans is the biocompatibility and limited or no toxicity. This therapeutic potential is a great natural treasure to be exploited for the development of novel drug delivery systems in both preventive and therapeutic approaches. This overview aims to provide an insight into current knowledge focused on specific bioactive compounds, which represent each class of macroalgae e.g., ulvans, fucoidans and carrageenans, respectively, as valuable potential players in the development of innovative drug delivery systems.

Tomato peels are used as a valuable material to extract lycopene-rich oleoresins by supercritical CO2 extraction. The extraction involves continuous circling of CO2 to the extractor after removing the solute in the separators, S40 and S45, where the solvent power of the CO2 is reduced by reducing pressure down to 20 MPa in S40 and 5 MPa in S45, respectively, leading to two extracts. Lycopene is found to be the major compound, representing 93% and 76% of the total carotenoids in S40 and S45 extracts, respectively. The two extracts are microencapsulated in whey protein concentrate and acacia gum by complex coacervation and freeze-drying, leading to corresponding P40 and P45 powders, with antioxidant activity of 8.57 ± 0.74 and 9.37 ± 0.48 mMol TEAC/g DW in P40 and P45, respectively. Different structural and morphological patterns are observed, with finer microparticles of 1–2 µm in P45. Both powders show dose and time-dependent antiproliferative activity. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration values are 100 µg/mL for P40 and 750 µg/mL for P45 sample, indicating a higher antiproliferative effect of P40 over P45 in HT-29 cell culture. The powders have an extended range of cytocompatibility, up to 1000 µg/mL, in L929 normal cells, stimulating the cell growth. Lycopene retention is tested, and values of 48% and 29% in P40 and P45 are found after 21 days at 25 °C, with the degradation rate in P45 significantly higher, due to the higher content of the surface lycopene, which favored its degradation.

Lonicera caerulaea L. and Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot fruits are frequently used for their health benefits as they are rich in bioactive compounds. They are recognized as a source of natural and valuable phytonutrients, which makes them a superfood. L. caerulea presents antioxidant activity three to five times higher than other berries which are more commonly consumed, such as blackberries or strawberries. In addition, their ascorbic acid level is the highest among fruits. The species A. melanocarpa is considered one of the richest known sources of antioxidants, surpassing currants, cranberries, blueberries, elderberries, and gooseberries, and contains one of the highest amounts of sorbitol. The non-edible leaves of genus Aronia became more extensively analyzed as a byproduct or waste material due to their high polyphenol, flavonoid, and phenolic acid content, along with a small amount of anthocyanins, which are used as ingredients in nutraceuticals, herbal teas, bio-cosmetics, cosmeceuticals, food and by the pharmaceutical industry. These plants are a rich source of vitamins, tocopherols, folic acid, and carotenoids. However, they remain outside of mainstream fruit consumption, being well known only to a small audience. This review aims to shed light on L. caerulaea and A. melanocarpa and their bioactive compounds as healthy superfoods with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic effects, and hepato-, cardio-, and neuro-protective potential. In this view, we hope to promote their cultivation and processing, increase their commercial availability, and also highlight the ability of these species to be used as potential nutraceutical sources, helpful for human health.