Quercetin is a hydrophobic flavonoid with high antioxidant activity. However, for biological applications, the bioavailability of quercetin is low due to physiological barriers. For this reason, an alternative is the protection of quercetin in matrices of biopolymers as zein. The objective of this work was to prepare and characterize quercetin‐loaded zein nanoparticles by electrospraying and its study of in vitro bioavailability. The physicochemical parameters such as viscosity, density, and electrical conductivity of zein solutions showed a dependence of the ethanol concentration. In addition, rheological parameters demonstrated that solutions of zein in aqueous ethanol present Newtonian behavior, rebounding in the formation of nanoparticles by electrospraying, providing spherical, homogeneous, and compact morphologies, mainly at a concentration of 80% (v/v) of ethanol and of 5% (w/v) of zein. The size and shape of quercetin‐loaded zein nanoparticles were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), observing that it was entrapped, distributed throughout the nanoparticle of zein. Analysis by Fourier transform‐infrared (FT‐IR) of zein nanoparticles loaded with quercetin revealed interactions via hydrogen bonds. The efficacy of zein nanoparticles to entrap quercetin was particularly high for all quercetin concentration evaluated in this work (87.9 ± 1.5% to 93.0 ± 2.6%). The in vitro gastrointestinal release of trapped quercetin after 240 min was 79.1%, while that for free quercetin was 99.2%. The in vitro bioavailability was higher for trapped quercetin (5.9%) compared to free quercetin (1.9%), than of gastrointestinal digestion. It is concluded, that the electrospraying technique made possible the obtention of quercitin‐loaded zein nanoparticles increasing their bioavailability. Practical Application This type of nanosystems can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industry. Quercetin‐loaded zein nanoparticles for its improvement compared to free quercetin can be used to decrease the prevalence of chronic degenerative diseases by increasing of the bioavailability of quercetin in the bloodstream. Other application can be as an antioxidant system in functional foods or oils to increase shelf life.

<abstract> <p>Diabetes mellitus (DM) has a high incidence of comorbidities among patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The elevated prevalence of DM in the world population makes it a significant risk factor because diabetic individuals appear to be prone to clinical complications and have increased mortality rates. Here, we review the possible underlying mechanisms involved in DM that led to worse outcomes in COVID-19. The impacts of hyperglycemia side effects, secondary comorbidities, weakened innate and adaptive immunity, chronic inflammation, and poor nutritional status, commonly present in DM, are discussed. The role of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor and its polymorphic variations on higher binding affinity to facilitate viral uptake in people with DM were also considered. Clinical differences between individuals with type 1 DM and type 2 DM affected by COVID-19 and the potential diabetogenic effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection were addressed.</p> </abstract>

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Considering the FAO perspectives for agriculture towards 2030 many natural sources will be no longer profitable for the synthesis of many biomaterials; however, triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) is a cereal crop synthetized to withstand marginal agricultural conditions, used primarily as fodder throughout the world. The synthesis of a novel anionic hydrogel with pH stimulus-response was developed based on Eronga triticale starch as sustainable biomass, using citrate (pKa~3.1, 4.7 and 6.4) as crosslinking agent. By scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, starch granules exhibited size and semi-crystallinity A-type. The presence of the anionic sensing group (COOH) was verified by infrared spectroscopy, and by a thermal analysis the hydrogels exhibited four endothermic curves (115-393°C, ~1.4-38 kJ/mol activation energy). The rheological analysis showed viscoelastic tendency (G’>G’’) and good stability (Tan δ<1) in the frequency, time, and strain sweeps. Gastrointestinal pH sensitivity (~2-7.8) was verified (α≤0.01) following Fick’s diffusive parameters, which resulted in a tendency to gradually release bovine albumin with the increase of pH~3-7.8 by anomalous and case-II diffusion with greater release at pH~7.8/3.5h (80-96%). The hydrogel showed good physical and diffusion performance, however, we aim to expand the biomaterials area using triticale starch due to its limited investigations, low-cost and green modification.