Iran produces nanocarrier of nutritive compound with anticancer properties

Iranian researchers succeeded in the production of hesperetin nanocarriers by using ultrasound waves through up-to-down mechanical methods. In addition to being eatable, the nanocarriers enjoy a high potential to be produced at industrial scale. The produced nanocarriers increased the stability of hesperetin and improved its undesirable properties. Hesperetin is a nutritive compound with high anti-oxidant properties, which has anticancer effects and decreases blood pressure. In this research, lipid nanocarriers containing hesperetin were produced through mechanical methods by using biocompatible compounds, and some of their properties, including the size, surface charge, thermal, crystalline, and chemical characteristics were investigated through various experiments. The release of hesperetin was also investigated in stomach and intestine conditions to determine how much the produced carriers would protect hesperetin against undesirable acidic environmental media. Dr. Milad Fathi, one of the researchers, elaborated on the characteristics of the research, and said, “There are two major problems in the application of nanotechnology in food industry. The first one is the food safety and necessity to pay attention to the application of biodegradable materials without causing allergy. The second one is the possibility to produce at industrial scale. The project was carried out in a way that nutritive nanomaterials were completely eatable. On the other hand, the used method has the ability to be produced at industrial scale.” Results of the research have been published in details in Food and Bioprocess Technology, vol. 6, issue 6, 2013, pp. 1464-1475. The article shows the application of the product in food industry. The results of the research can also be used for the protection and controlled release of sensitive drugs.