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Iron fortification in food is considered as an important way to prevent and treat iron deficiency. However, adding iron in food can affect flavor, color, and oxidation of fat components. Encapsulation of iron can solve the drawbacks of taste, color, and reactivity of iron in oral iron consumption without adverse effect on food quality. The aim of this work was to nanoencapsulate iron into pectin (Pec) nanoparticles (NP) by ion gelation method to prevent undesirable sensorial changes in foods and improve bioavailability of iron. The effect of different parameters including pectin concentration (Pec Con), FeSO4 concentration (Fe Con), and volumetric ratio of Fe solution to Pec solution on iron loaded Pec nanoparticles (IP NP) size was investigated. Morphology, size, surface charge, and physicochemical features of the optimized particles were characterized. The iron released from IP NP was studied, and the mathematical model of release was extracted. Pec Con exhibited a direct effect on particle size. The optimized IP NP (Pec solution 0.1% (w/w), Fe solution 0.05% (w/w), and Pec/Fe: 2) had a hydrodynamic diameter of 417 nm with zeta potential of −11.7 mV and polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.13, with a nearly spherical morphology. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) represented the mean size of 58 nm. Iron loading was about 7.5 ± 1.5%. FTIR results confirmed the interaction of iron ions with the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of Pec. The results of differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) indicated the interaction of Pec with iron. The release profile of iron in all pH of 2, 6, and 7.4 showed a burst release at the beginning and then a sustained release occurred. In all three pH values, the mathematical model of release was Korsmeyer-Peppas with the highest R2 value. Therefore, encapsulation of iron using pectin have a high potential to make nanoparticles with appropriate properties, which can be helpful for iron fortification of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory responses play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) and developing new approaches to establish an anti-inflammatory environment for the promotion of neuroregeneration holds promise as a potential approach. In this study, our aim was to investigate the potential of combining an acellular spinal cord scaffold (ASCS) with quercetin-loaded bovine serum albumin (Qu/BSA) nanoparticles (NPs) for the treatment of SCI. The ASCS was prepared using physical and chemical methods, while the Qu/BSA NPs were prepared through a desolvation technique. The NPs exhibited favorable characteristics, including a mean size of 203 nm, a zeta potential of –38, and an encapsulation efficiency of 96%. Microscopic evaluation confirmed the successful distribution of NPs on the walls of ASCS. Animal studies revealed that Qu/BSA NPs group exhibited a significant decrease in NLRP3, ASC, and Casp1 gene expression compared to the SCI group (p < 0.0001). The findings indicated a significant decrease in the NLRP3, ASC, and Casp1 protein level between the Qu/BSA/ASCS group and the SCI group (p < 0.0001). Moreover, treatment with ASCS containing either blank BSA (B/BSA) NPs or Qu/BSA NPs effectively promoted functional recovery via increasing the amount of nestin- and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells in the site of injury. Notably, Qu/BSA/ASCS exhibited superior outcomes compared to B/BSA/ASCS. Overall, the combination of ASCS with the Qu delivery system presents a promising therapeutic approach for SCI by inhibiting inflammatory responses and promoting neuroregeneration, leading to the restoration of motor function in animals. This study demonstrates the potential of utilizing biomaterials and NPs to enhance the effectiveness of SCI treatment.Note: Graphic abstract was designed with Biorender (https://biorender.com/).Graphical abstract: Inflammatory responses play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) and developing new approaches to establish an anti-inflammatory environment for the promotion of neuroregeneration holds promise as a potential approach. In this study, our aim was to investigate the potential of combining an acellular spinal cord scaffold (ASCS) with quercetin-loaded bovine serum albumin (Qu/BSA) nanoparticles (NPs) for the treatment of SCI. The ASCS was prepared using physical and chemical methods, while the Qu/BSA NPs were prepared through a desolvation technique. The NPs exhibited favorable characteristics, including a mean size of 203 nm, a zeta potential of –38, and an encapsulation efficiency of 96%. Microscopic evaluation confirmed the successful distribution of NPs on the walls of ASCS. Animal studies revealed that Qu/BSA NPs group exhibited a significant decrease in NLRP3, ASC, and Casp1 gene expression compared to the SCI group (p < 0.0001). The findings indicated a significant decrease in the NLRP3, ASC, and Casp1 protein level between the Qu/BSA/ASCS group and the SCI group (p < 0.0001). Moreover, treatment with ASCS containing either blank BSA (B/BSA) NPs or Qu/BSA NPs effectively promoted functional recovery via increasing the amount of nestin- and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells in the site of injury. Notably, Qu/BSA/ASCS exhibited superior outcomes compared to B/BSA/ASCS. Overall, the combination of ASCS with the Qu delivery system presents a promising therapeutic approach for SCI by inhibiting inflammatory responses and promoting neuroregeneration, leading to the restoration of motor function in animals. This study demonstrates the potential of utilizing biomaterials and NPs to enhance the effectiveness of SCI treatment.Note: Graphic abstract was designed with Biorender (https://biorender.com/). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]