Currently bioactive compounds are required in the design and production of

Currently bioactive compounds are required in the design and production of functional foods with the aim of improving the health status of consumers all around the world. properties. Encapsulation of these fatty acids could create a barrier against reaction with harmful environmental factors. Currently fortification of foods containing bioactive omega-3 fatty acids has found great application in the food industries of different countries. Previous studies have Tarafenacin suggested that nano-encapsulation has significant effects on the stability of physical and chemical properties of bioactive compounds. Considering the functional role of omega-3 fatty acids this study has provided a literature review on applications of nanoliposomal delivery systems for encapsulation of these bioactive compounds. Keywords: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Stabilization Nanoliposome Bioactive 1 Introduction Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) with multiple double bonds exist in the form of α-linolenic acid eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. In recent decades clinical studies have verified that increasing the content of fatty acids in diet could be effective on the lipoprotein-lipid index. Since 1970 various studies have been conducted to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acids derivatives on preventing diseases especially cardiovascular diseases so that manufacturers have been encouraged to formulate dietary supplements from these compounds using different methods including encapsulation. Various studies conducted in different communities suggest that daily intake of 1 1 g fish oil (containing about 840 mg DHA+EPA) could significantly decrease rates of sudden death in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Therefore using this supplement is recommended for use alongside anticoagulant drugs in such cases (1-3). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of America does not recommend acquiring these fatty acids through only fish consumption because of seafood containing compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) mercury and other contaminants. In addition the FDA has approved the use of Lovasa (Omacor) which contains EPA and DHA as a medicinal supplement of omega-3 fatty acids because of its efficacy in preventing cardiovascular diseases in patients with high Tarafenacin triglyceride (4-6). The unsaturated nature of omega-3 fatty acids results in their susceptibility to oxidation under environmental conditions. Hydroperoxides are products generated from the primary oxidation of EPA and DHA followed by degradation into secondary oxidation compounds including volatile aldehyde compounds. By encapsulation of these fatty acids a barrier can be created to prevent reaction of these compounds with oxidative factors. When designing capsules some factors should be considered when recognizing the target cell and stability against pH changes of digestive system through adding chemical compounds or other protective groups. As delivery systems current liposomes include a wide range of bioactive compounds with Rabbit Polyclonal to FGFR1 (phospho-Tyr766). different applications in food Tarafenacin pharmaceutical and agricultural industries (7-9). Liposomes are made of natural lipids; therefore they are Tarafenacin non-toxic and do not stimulate the immune system in addition to being biodegradable. Other benefits of liposomes include solubility capacity for controlled directed and purposeful release of hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds and ease of permeation and transmission through membranes. Liposomes applications include acting as suitable carriers of different bioactive molecules in all the nanomedicine platforms and liposomes have generated a great deal of recent interest. There are several formulations approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for disease treatment (10-13). Nanoliposomes can be defined as lipid bilayers assemblies encompassing the aqueous compartment within the nano-sized range. Nanoliposomes have been tried for various applications as drug or gene delivery for treatment of diseases. Various methods typically used to fabricate liposomes include the thin layer film hydration method the ethanol injection method and the detergent removal method as well as the heating method the reverse phase evaporation method and homogenization (13 14 Recently conducted studies suggest that the methods used to.