Nutraceuticals

Currently, liposomes (artificially synthesised vesicles) are widely used as carriers for a variety of molecules in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. In the clinical applications, for instance, they are employed to encapsulate a range of substances, such as antibiotics, proteins, genetic material, vitamins and anti-cancer drugs.

Aliophen-XP is a highly concentrated polyphenolic composition derived from Aliophen®, a patented formulation based on malt and hops (Patent No. 102017000096298). Developed to enhance the original formulation, Aliophen-XP is produced through a specialized process that removes components potentially interfering with the biological activity of the bioactive compounds naturally extracted from malt and hops.

Recently, nanoparticles and nanovesicles have been investigated as potential approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, in the Biotech sector an increasingly deeper penetration of new treatment models and biological drugs based on cellular, subcellular and vesicle therapies is expected. The patent is based on the production of Myelin-based nanoVesicles (MyVes) produced by microfluidics, starting from myelin extracted from brain tissue. These vesicles find two major fields of applications as potential drugs or as supplements/nutraceuticals.

In the last years, hop culture has spread throughout Italy, and the vegetative biomass disposal, after harvesting of cones, used for beer production, became a serious problem for hop growers. Hop plant contains in all parts, cones, shoots, leaves and roots, bioactive compounds, with proven and important antiviral, antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Environmental contamination is a prominent topic. Where the exposure to contaminants such as heavy metals (HMs) or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is greater, the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases, such as oncologic, is increased. Scientific evidence reports that some phytochemicals are able to interact with HMs and PAHs by interfering with their cellular metabolism, inhibiting their cytotoxic mechanisms or helping to reduce tissue concentrations.