In this study, the interaction between soy isoflavone genistein and asolectin liposomes was investigated by monitoring the effects of isoflavone on lipidic hydration, mobility, location and order. These properties were analyzed by the following techniques: horizontal attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (HATR-FTIR), low-field (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-field (31)P NMR, zeta potential, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The antioxidant and antitumoral activities of the genistein liposomal system were also studied. The genistein saturation concentration in ASO liposomes corresponded to 484 μM. HATR-FTIR results indicated that genistein influences the dynamics of the lipidic phosphate, choline, carbonyl and acyl chain methylenes groups. At the lipid polar head, HATR-FTIR and (31)P NMR results showed that the isoflavone reduces the hydration degree of the phosphate group, as well as its mobility. Genistein ordered the lipid interfacial carbonyl group, as evidenced by the HATR-FTIR bandwidth analysis. This ordering effect was also observed in the lipidic hydrophobic region, by HATR-FTIR, NMR, DSC and turbidity responses. At the saturation concentration, liposome-loaded genistein inhibits the lipid peroxidation induced by hydroxyl radical in 90.9%. ASO liposome-loaded genistein at 100 μM decreased C6 glioma cell viability by 57% after 72 h of treatment. Results showed an increase of the genistein in vitro activities after its incorporation in liposomes. The data described in this work will contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between genistein and a natural-source membrane and of its influence on isoflavone biological activities. Furthermore, the antitumoral results showed that genistein-based liposomes, which contain natural-sourced lipids, may be promising as a drug delivery system to be used in the glioma therapy.

The flavonoid quercetin (QU) is a naturally occurring compound with several biological activities. However, the oral bioavailability of this compound is very low due to the high pre-systemic metabolism in the colon and liver and its low water solubility. In this context, the development of QU-loaded nanocarriers (NEs) is a promising approach to improve the drug oral bioavailability. This study investigates the variation of the concentration of 12-hydroxystearic acid-polyethylene glycol copolymer, lecithin and castor oil (CO) as to increase the amount of QU encapsulated while maintaining physicochemical characteristics described in previous studies. To better understand the ability to load and release the drug, we investigated the molecular interactions between QU and NE. Lipid-based NEs were prepared using CO as oily phase and PEG 660-stearate and lecithin as surfactants. Hot solvent diffusion and phase inversion temperature were methods employed to produce NEs. The QU-NEs were investigated for physicochemical characteristics and in vitro drug release. Molecular interactions between QU and the NEs were monitored through the complementary infrared (Fourier transform infrared) and NMR. The results revealed that it was possible to incorporate higher amounts of QU in a lipid-based NE with a reduced size (20 nm). The system developed allow a sustained release of QU probably due to the shell formed by the surfactants around the NE and the flavonoid ordering effect in the emulsion hydrophobic regions, which may reduce the system permeability.

Embodying the contemporary concern for eco-friendly mobility alternatives, solar vehicles have been developed and perfected in an exponential rate for the last two decades; powered by the supports from industry and research centres and the realization of world-class race competitions. Given the engineering complexity embraced by such state-of-the-art emergent technology, design challenges have been constantly arising for a successful and efficient vehicle architecture, mainly involved by the need for lightweight and resistant materials, which has been so forth supplied by composites. The application of such materials has been addressed both to decrease the overall weight of the vehicle, providing an enhanced energy efficiency, and for manufacturing structural parts granting high resistance and safety. Thus, emphasizing the importance of a proper knowledge on the behaviour of composites, this work aims at reviewing studies upon some static and dynamic mechanical properties, focusing on low-energy impact, damage evolution and failure characterization, with glances at sustainability; comparing composite materials with different fibre reinforcements and narrowing such analysis to actual known applications in solar cars.

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