Design characterization and optimization of soft assemblies for benzyl isothiocyanate a poorly soluble nutraceutical

Abstract

The vegetables belonging to cruciferous family are well acknowledged through recorded history for their disease fighting potential. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), occurring in many dietary cruciferous vegetables, demonstrated interesting preventive activities against several chronic degenerative diseases. Motivated by the magnanimous functional attribute of BITC, the present thesis was an attempt to unravel the yet unexplored potential of BITC by the use of Nanotechnology. The work was focused on the design and fabrication of nanostructures for encapsulation of BITC followed by their characterization via numerous spectroscopic and microscopic techniques for determining their optical, thermal and morphological behavior. The various biocompatible nanostructured delivery systems were formulated with an aim for enhancing the solubility and stability of BITC and providing it a viable administrative route. The prepared nanostructures loaded with BITC were tested for their potential as antimicrobial agents and their ability to prevent/fight breast cancer. The findings demonstrate that the synthesized nanostructures can be successfully employed for overcoming the hindrances in the practical use of BITC. Overall, the studies indicate high translational potential of the developed delivery technologies explored during the current work from lab to clinic for enhancing the therapeutic performance of BITC. newline