Folic acid Standard (98%)

The development of nanocomposites has swiftly changed the horizon of drug delivery systems in defining a new platform. Major understanding of the interaction of nanocomposites with cells and how the interaction influences intracellular uptake is an important aspect to study in order to ensure successful utilisation of the nanocomposites. Studies have suggested that the nanocomposites' ability to permeate into biological cells is attributable to their well-defined physicochemical properties with nanoscale size, which is relevant to the nanoscale components of biology and cellular organelles. The functionalized graphene oxide coated with polyethylene glycol, loaded with protocatechuic acid and folic acid (GOP-PCA-FA) nanocomposite intracellular uptake was analysed using transmission electron microscope. The accumulation of fluorescent-labelled nanocomposites in the HepG2 cell was also analysed using a fluorescent microscope. In vitro cellular uptake showed that there was uptake of the drug from 24 h into the cells and the release study using fluorescently tagged nanocomposite demonstrated that release and accumulation were observed at 24 h and 48 h. Moreover, the migration ability of tumor cells is a key step in tumor progression which was observed 48 h after treatment. The GOP serves as a potential nanocarrier system which is capable of improving the therapeutic efficacy of drugs and biomolecules in medical as well as pharmaceutical applications through the enhanced intracellular release and accumulation of the encapsulated drugs. Nonetheless, it is essential to analyse the translocation of our newly developed GOP-PCA-FA, and its efficiency for drug delivery, effective cellular uptake, and abundant intracellular accumulation would be compromised by possible untoward side effects.

BACKGROUND The supplementation of folic acid in food is essential in the human diet. The present study aimed to encapsulate folic acid at different concentrations (5, 10 and 15% (w/w) on a dry basis) in potato starch nanofibers produced through electrospinning. The starch/folic acid nanofibers were evaluated through morphology, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, thermal properties, encapsulation efficiency (EE) andin vitrosimulation of the human digestion. The nanofibers were also evaluated based on the folic acid content after thermal treatment (100 and 180 degrees C) and UVA irradiation (1 and 24 h). RESULTS Folic acid incorporation influenced the morphology of the nanofibers to display a homogeneous and beadless morphology for nanofibers containing 15% folic acid compared with the other nanofibers (0, 5 and 10% folic acid). The mean diameter varied from 75 to 81 nm. Folic acid characteristic bands and peaks were not found in the nanofiber FTIR spectra and thermograms, respectively. The EE was 73, 87 and 95% for nanofibers with 5, 10 and 15% folic acid, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The starch nanofibers protected folic acid from high temperature and UVA irradiation and duringin vitrodigestion, showing a release of the vitamin at the end of the simulation (intestinal conditions). The supplementation of folic acid in foods can be effectively achieved by its encapsulation into starch nanofibers, to ensure its protection and controlled release. (c) 2020 Society of Chemical Industry