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Stability, biocompatibility and antioxidant activity of PEG-modified liposomes containing resveratrol

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Abstract

The present investigation reports the development of PEG-modified liposomes for the delivery of naturally occurring resveratrol. PEG-modified liposomes were prepared by direct sonication of the phospholipid aqueous dispersion, in the presence of two PEG-surfactants. Small, spherical, unilamellar vesicles were produced, as demonstrated by light scattering, cryo-TEM, and SAXS. The aging of the vesicles was assessed by using the Turbiscan® technology, and their physical stability was evaluated in vitro in simulated body fluids, results showing that the key features of the liposomes were preserved. The biocompatibility of the formulations was demonstrated in an ex vivo model of hemolysis in human erythrocytes. Further, the incorporation of resveratrol in PEG-modified liposomes did not affect its intrinsic antioxidant activity, as DPPH radical was almost completely inhibited, and the vesicles were also able to ensure an optimal protection against oxidative stress in an ex vivo human erythrocytes-based model. Therefore, the proposed PEG-modified liposomes, which were prepared by a simple and reliable method, represent an interesting approach to safely deliver resveratrol, ensuring the preservation of the carrier structural integrity in the biological fluids, and the antioxidant efficacy of the polyphenol to be exploited against oxidative stress associated with cancer.

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... The scattering vector was calibrated by measuring the standard silver behenate. The scattering curves were recorded every 20 min up to 2 h, the appropriate background was subtracted, and the results were analyzed using a home-made fitting procedure based on a Gaussian description of the bilayers and using a Levenberg-Marquardt minimization scheme [24][25][26][27][28] that includes the pertinent smearing corrections. ...
... A deeper structural characterization was performed by means of SAXS analyses. The SAXS profiles of liposomes and PG-PEVs (Figures 3 and 4), together with the fits of the lamellar model, showed electronic density profiles typical of bilayers, as described in the literature [24,25,27,28]. The main parameters derived from the fits are reported in Table 7. sentative images of PG-PEVs are shown in Figure 2. ...
... A deeper structural characterization was performed by means of SAXS analyses. The SAXS profiles of liposomes and PG-PEVs (Figures 3 and 4), together with the fits of the lamellar model, showed electronic density profiles typical of bilayers, as described in the literature [24,25,27,28]. The main parameters derived from the fits are reported in Table 7. ...
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... Studies have shown that PEG-modified liposomes could maintain most of the dose in the blood (Panwar et al., 2010). For example, in the study of Caddeo et al. (2018), resveratrol is delivered via PEG-modified liposomes, and it was found that the stability and antioxidant effect of PEG-modified liposomes were superior to the conventional liposomes. Besides, PEG-modified liposomes can maintain structural stability and functional traits for 2 months at 4−8 • C, and it still showed the antioxidant activity of red blood cells after incubation at 37 • C for 4 h (Caddeo et al., 2018). ...
... For example, in the study of Caddeo et al. (2018), resveratrol is delivered via PEG-modified liposomes, and it was found that the stability and antioxidant effect of PEG-modified liposomes were superior to the conventional liposomes. Besides, PEG-modified liposomes can maintain structural stability and functional traits for 2 months at 4−8 • C, and it still showed the antioxidant activity of red blood cells after incubation at 37 • C for 4 h (Caddeo et al., 2018). PEG can also be combined with other trimmers to modify liposomes and give them special functions. ...
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... This phenomenon is due to the capability of some encapsulated compounds, particularly EOs to induce an extraordinary cohesion and packing among the apolar chains in the membrane bilayer of NLPs (Sebaaly et al. 2021). Also, some substances like polyethylene glycol (PEG), which are used on the surface of NLPs to induce a repulsive force and prevent particles from precipitation, have the capability to decrease the size of NLPs (Caddeo et al. 2018). ...
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... These vesicles are useful to safely deliver resveratrol. All of these are lipid polymers modified or used as an additive for their variety of applications (Caddeo et al., 2018). ...
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... As expected, both plain and RES liposomes exhibited a close to neutral zeta potential with −0.96 ± 1.26 mV and −5.65 ± 1.82 mV, respectively. The entrapment efficiency was found to be high with 89% of RES in liposomes; this is in agreement with our earlier findings [7,12,33] and literature [6,[34][35][36]. In previous studies, the RES release from the delivery system was thoroughly evaluated confirming a sustained RES release from both liposomal and liposomes-in-hydrogel formulations compared to the respective controls [12,33]. ...
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Chapter
As a result of their unique physical properties, biological membrane mimetics such as biopolymers are used in a broad range of scientific and technological applications. This comprehensive book covers new applications of biopolymers in the research and development of industrial scale nutraceutical and functional food grade products. All the major food biopolymers are included, from plant, animal and marine sources. Coverage also includes biopolymer-based drug delivery mechanisms intended for biological applications such as bio-detection of pathogens, fluorescent biological labels, and drug and gene delivery. This is the first interdisciplinary book to address this area specifically and is essential reading for those who produce the functional biopolymer materials as well as those who seek to incorporate them into appropriate nutraceutical, food and drug delivery products.
Chapter
Functional foods are increasingly preferred by consumers because in addition to nutritional intake, they provide remarkable health benefits. One of the strategies for food functionalization is the incorporation of bioactive compounds encapsulated in different colloidal delivery systems (CDSs) in food matrices. This chapter provides an overview of the principles and factors involved in the design of CDSs for food ingredients and nutraceuticals in order to increase the quality and health benefits of food. The correlation between the nutritional and sensory attributes of functional foods and the physicochemical and biological characteristics of bioactive compounds and encapsulating materials is based on the principles of the design concepts; Quality by Design (QbD) and Reverse Engineering Design (RED). The physicochemical characteristics of micro/nanoparticles and their influence on the functionality of biocomponents incorporated into food matrices and their impact on digestion, absorption and metabolism are also discussed. In addition, the main CDSs are described, such as lipid-based CDSs and polymeric CDSs used in food fortification.
Chapter
The stabilization of liposomes is an important aspect for maintaining the integrity of liposome structure. The stability of liposomes reduces in terms of uncontrollable fusion, undesirable payload loss, short shelf life, and unexpected mixing. Additionally, liposomes undergo physical as well as chemical degradation, causing low efficiency and quality of the formulation, and also the possibility of product degradation with undesirable side effects. Various factors influence the stability of liposomes, such as temperature, pH, surface charge, and lipid composition. To overcome this, various approaches have been implemented to stabilize them. This chapter describes various methods of liposome stabilization, such as surface modification, stabilizing membrane, changing lipid composition, and the addition of surfactants and nanoparticles. Furthermore, drying techniques such as freeze drying, spray drying, spray-freeze drying, electrohydrodynamic, and supercritical methods are also discussed for the preservation of liposomes.
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Nanoliposomes are ideal nanocarriers for encapsulated active compounds used in the food industry as they provide stability and controlled release. However, cholesterol may pose risks in large intake, which is the commonly-used nanoliposome stabilizers. In this study, resveratrol was used instead of cholesterol as a novel nanoliposome stabilizer to construct a resveratrol blank liposome (RBL) system. The RBL system was used to protect the bacteriocin CAMT6 to create bacteriocin-loaded nanoliposomes (BLLs). The RBLs and BLLs had favourable particle sizes (172.71 nm and 150.47 nm), polydispersity index (PDI) values (0.150 and 0.120) and zeta potentials (−41.54 mV and −43.53 mV, respectively). According to Differential scanning colourimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, resveratrol altered the structure of the phospholipid layer. The phospholipid layers of the RBLs and BLLs had higher mobility when resveratrol was used as a stabilizer instead of cholesterol. Structurally, resveratrol was inserted egg yolk lecithin to constitute an RBL. CAMT6 was loaded in BLLs with spherical and shell-core structures. The BLL encapsulation efficiency was 97.32% and exhibited three release phases, with the release rates reaching 62%. In experiments with milk, the BLLs effectively protected the anti-Listeria activity of CAMT6. In summary, resveratrol is a suitable nanoliposome stabilizer and the proposed RBL system is an excellent way to improve the stability of water-soluble preservatives, such as bacteriocins, in complex food environments.
Chapter
Polyphenols are secondary metabolites, naturally found in plants. They are typically known for their antioxidant activity and beneficial impact on health. Extraction of polyphenols from biological matrices is the first step toward their valorization. Many methods of separation (chromatography) are used to separate the polyphenols from the undesirable fraction of the extract. Moreover, the increasing interest in the isolation (e.g., ultrafiltration, nanofiltration) techniques for the purification of polyphenols is mainly due to their potential applications as natural antioxidants in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Many preservation methods (e.g., drying, encapsulation) are required to maintain their biological activities throughout the process. Finally, and after the recovery of polyphenols and their purification, colorimetric, chromatographic and spectrometric methods (LC-MS, GC-MS-MS) are used to identify and characterize polyphenols. This chapter discusses the methodologies used for separation, purification, analysis, and preservation of polyphenols.
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Phenolics are among the most studied compounds due to their beneficial implications in human health. The conventional methods applied in the extraction of these compounds include maceration, distillation, Soxhlet, among others, and the extraction capacity depends on several factors, such as the extraction solvent and respective concentration, time, and temperature. The incorporation of green chemistry in the development of more sustainable products and processes has promoted the use of new solvents that would replace conventional ones and the application of more eco-sustainable technologies (e.g., supercritical fluids, pulsed electric fields, and ultrasounds). Green solvents, coupled with conventional extraction methods, present excellent stability for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries because they are non-toxic, non-volatile, recyclable, biodegradable, and imply lower energy cost of synthesis. In this chapter, traditional and eco-sustainable methods based on solid–liquid extraction will be revised, as well as safety issues, life-cycle assessment, and economic aspects.
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Since the revolutionary discovery that phospholipids can form closed bilayered structures in aqueous systems, the study of liposomes has become a very interesting area of research. The versatility and amazing biocompatibility of liposomes has resulted in their wide-spread use in many scientific fields, and many of their applications, especially in medicine, have yielded breakthroughs in recent decades. Specifically, their easy preparation and various structural aspects have given rise to broadly usable methodologies to internalize different compounds, with either lipophilic or hydrophilic properties. The study of compounds with potential biotechnological application(s) is generally related to evaluation and risk assessment of the possible cytotoxic or therapeutic effects of the compound under study. In most cases, undesirable side-effects are associated with an interaction of the liposome with the cell membrane and/or its absorption and subsequent interaction with a cellular biomolecule. Liposomal carrier systems have an unprecedented potential for delivering bioactive substances to specific molecular targets due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability and low toxicity. Liposomes are therefore considered to be an invaluable asset in applied biotechnology studies due to their potential for interaction with both hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds. © 2015, International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB) and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
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The mucosa is the primary point of entry for pathogens making it an important vaccination site to produce a protective mucosal immune response. While the sublingual (SL) mucosa presents several barriers to vaccine penetration, its unique anatomy and physiology makes it one of the best options for mucosal vaccination. Efficient and directed delivery of adjuvants and antigens to appropriate immune mediators in the SL tissue will aid in development of effective SL vaccines against infectious diseases. Herein we demonstrate a robust immune response against influenza antigens co-delivered sublingually with engineered liposomes carrying the synthetic Toll-like receptor-4 agonist, CRX-601. Liposome modification with PEG copolymers (Pluronics), phospholipid-PEG conjugates and chitosan were evaluated for their ability to generate an immune response in a SL murine influenza vaccine model. Phospholipid-PEG conjugates were more effective than Pluronic copolymers in generating stable, surface neutral liposomes. SL vaccination with surface modified liposomes carrying CRX-601 adjuvant generated significant improvements in flu-specific responses compared with unmodified liposomes. Furthermore, the coating of modified liposomes with methylglycol chitosan produced the most effective flu-specific immune response. These results demonstrate efficient SL vaccine delivery utilizing a combination of a muco-adhesive and surface neutral liposomes to achieve a robust mucosal and systemic immune response.
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ABSTRACT Objective Quercetin, resveratrol and curcumin are plant derived natural products that are rapidly gaining popularity as supplements for a wide assortment of conditions including cardiovascular disease, cancer, asthma, diabetes, neurodegeneration, aging and stress. Unfortunately the therapeutic potential of these compounds is limited by their poor intestinal and intracellular bioavailability. Therefore this study sought to examine how combinations of quercetin, resveratrol, and curcumin, with and without piperine, 200 nM, affected an In Vitro permeability model using apical-to-basal permeability across intact caco-2 monolayers. Quercetin, resveratrol and curcumin were applied apically alone or in combination at 50 μM and measured in the basal chamber at 30 min. Results Resveratrol received the greatest enhancement in permeability when combined with other agents: quercetin (310%), curcumin (300%), quercetin and curcumin (323%, 350% with piperine). Curcumin also demonstrated increased permeability when combined with quercetin alone (147%) and both quercetin and resveratrol (188%), addition of piperine resulted in a 229% increase in permeability. Quercetin permeability was not significantly affected using any combination, but showed maximal permeability when combined with resveratrol and the lowest permeability when combined with resveratrol, curcumin and piperine together. Conclusion Combination of quercetin, resveratrol and curcumin may improve intestinal absorption of resveratrol and curcumin without affecting quercetin absorption. These data highlight the need for further research and suggest that developing combination therapies may improve intestinal absorption of these constituents. Our study also demonstrates that the apical-to-basal permeability across intact caco-2 monolayer model is a viable model to investigate absorption of natural compounds.
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Abstract Context: Resveratrol, a natural compound found in grapes, has potential chemotherapy effects but very low oral bioavailability in humans. Objective: To evaluate the solubility, pH stability profile, plasma protein binding (PPB) and stability in plasma for resveratrol. Methods: Solubility of resveratrol was measured in 10 common solvents at 25 °C using HPLC. The solution state pH stability of resveratrol was assessed in various United States Pharmacopeia buffers ranging from pH 2 to 10 for 24 h at 37 °C. Samples were analyzed up to 24 h. Human PPB was determined using ultracentrifugation technique. Standard solutions of drug were spiked to blank human plasma to yield final concentrations of 5, 12.5 or 25 μg/mL for determination. Finally, stability of resveratrol in human and rat plasma was also assessed at 37 °C. Aliquots of blank plasma were spiked with a standard drug concentration to yield final plasma concentration of 50 μg/mL. Samples were analyzed for resveratrol concentration up to 96 h. Results: Resveratrol has wide solubility ranging from 0.05 mg/mL in water to 374 mg/mL in polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400). Resveratrol is relatively stable above pH 6 and has maximum degradation at pH 9. The mean PPB of resveratrol is 98.3%. Resveratrol degrades in human and rat plasma in a first-order process with mean half lives of 54 and 25 h, respectively. Conclusion: Resveratrol is more soluble in alcohol and PEG-400 and stable in acidic pH. It binds highly to plasma proteins and degrades slower in human then rat plasma.
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Relatively little is known about the hepatotoxicity of pyrazinamide (PZA). PZA requires activation by amidase to form pyrazinoic acid (PA). Xanthine oxidase then hydroxylates PA to form 5-hydroxypyrazinoic acid (5-OH-PA). PZA can also be directly oxidized to form 5-OH-PZA. Before this study, it was unclear which metabolic pathway or PZA metabolites led to hepatotoxicity. This study determines whether PZA metabolites are responsible for PZA-induced hepatotoxicity. PZA metabolites were identified and cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells was assessed. Potential PZA and PA hepatotoxicity was then tested in rats. Urine specimens were collected from 153 tuberculosis (TB) patients, and the results were evaluated to confirm whether a correlation existed between PZA metabolite concentrations and hepatotoxicity. This led to the hypothesis that coadministration of amidase inhibitor (bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate [BNPP]) decreases or prevents PZA- and PZA metabolite-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. PA and 5-OH-PA are more toxic than PZA. Electron microscopy showed that PZA and PA treatment of rats significantly increases aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and galactose single-point (GSP) levels (P < 0.005). PA and 5-OH-PA levels are also significantly correlated with hepatotoxicity in the urine of TB patients (P < 0.005). Amidase inhibitor, BNPP, decreases PZA-induced, but not PA-induced, hepatotoxicity. This is the first report of a cell line, animal, and clinical trial confirming that the metabolite 5-OH-PA is responsible for PZA-induced hepatotoxicity.
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Based on the fact that quercetin (QUE) and resveratrol (RES) induce a synergic inhibition of the adipogenesis and increase apoptosis in adipocytes, and that sodium deoxycholate (SDC) has necrotic effects, the nanoencapsulation of QUE and RES into SDC-elastic liposomes is proposed as a new approach for dissolving the subcutaneous fat. The concentration of constituents and the effect of the drug incorporation into cyclodextrin inclusion complexes on the stability of QUE/RES-loaded liposomes were studied. The best liposomal formulation reduced the use of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol in 17.7% and 68.4%, respectively. Liposomes presented a mean diameter of 149nm with a polydispesion index of 0.3. The zeta potential of liposomes was slightly negative (-13.3mV) due to the presence of SDC in the phospholipid bilayer. Encapsulation efficiency of QUE and RES into liposomes was almost 97%. To summarize, QUE/RES-loaded elastic liposomes are stable and suitable for subcutaneous injection, thereby providing a new strategy for reducing subcutaneous fat.
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Pharmacokinetics of trans-resveratrol in its aglycone (RES(AGL)) and glucuronide (RES(GLU)) forms were studied following intravenous (15 mg/kg i.v.) and oral (50 mg/kg p.o.) administration of trans-resveratrol in a solution of beta-cyclodextrin to intact rats. In addition, the enterohepatic recirculation of RES(AGL) and RES(GLU) was assessed in a linked-rat model. Multiple plasma and urine samples were collected and concentrations of RES(AGL) and RES(GLU) were determined using an electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method. After i.v. administration, plasma concentrations of RES(AGL) declined with a rapid elimination half-life (T(1/2), 0.13 h), followed by sudden increases in plasma concentrations 4 to 8 h after drug administration. These plasma concentrations resulted in a significant prolongation of the terminal elimination half-life of RES(AGL) (T(1/2TER), 1.31 h). RES(AGL) and RES(GLU) also displayed sudden increases in plasma concentrations 4 to 8 h after oral administration, with T(1/2TER) of 1.48 and 1.58 h, respectively. RES(AGL) bioavailability was 38% and its exposure was approximately 46-fold lower than that of RES(GLU) (AUC(inf), 7.1 versus 324.7 micromol.h/l). Enterohepatic recirculation was confirmed in the linked-rat model since significant plasma concentrations of RES(AGL) and RES(GLU) were observed in bile-recipient rats at 4 to 8 h. The percentages of the exposures of RES(AGL) and RES(GLU) that were due to enterohepatic recirculation were 24.7 and 24.0%, respectively. The fraction of drug excreted in the urine over a period of 12 h was negligible. These results confirm that RES(AGL) is bioavailable and undergoes extensive first-pass glucuronidation, and that enterohepatic recirculation contributes significantly to the exposure of RES(AGL) and RES(GLU) in rats.
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In the present work, quercetin and resveratrol, natural polyphenols with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, were co-loaded in polymer-associated liposomes conceived for oral delivery, by exploiting the potential of pH-sensitive succinyl-chitosan. Chitosan was succinylated, characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and Gel Permeation Chromatography, and used to form a protective shell on the surface of liposomes. The physico-chemical properties of the succinyl-chitosan liposomes were assessed by light scattering, zeta potential, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and small angle X-ray scattering. Small, spherical, uni- and bilamellar vesicles were produced. The succinyl-chitosan shell increased not only the physical stability of the vesicular system, as demonstrated by accelerated stability tests, but also the release of the polyphenols to a greater extent at pH 7.0, mimicking the intestinal environment.
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The present investigation reports the development of liposomes for the co-delivery of naturally occurring polyphenols, namely quercetin and resveratrol. Small, spherical, uni/bilamellar vesicles were produced, as demonstrated by light scattering, cryo-TEM, SAXS. The incorporation of quercetin and resveratrol in liposomes did not affect their intrinsic antioxidant activity, as DPPH radical was almost completely inhibited. The cellular uptake of the polyphenols was higher when they were formulated in liposomes, and especially when co-loaded rather than as single agents, which resulted in a superior ability to scavenge ROS in fibroblasts. The in vivo efficacy of the polyphenols in liposomes was assessed in a mouse model of skin lesion. The topical administration of liposomes led to a remarkable amelioration of the tissue damage, with a significant reduction of oedema and leukocyte infiltration. Therefore, the proposed approach based on polyphenol vesicular formulation may be of value in the treatment of inflammation/oxidative stress associated with pre-cancerous/cancerous skin lesions.
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Polymeric and hybrid aqueous-core nanocapsules were prepared using a low energy organic-solvent free procedure as innovative nanodevices for the ophthalmic delivery of melatonin. In order to evaluate how different cationic lipids could affect the main properties of the nanodevices, we focused our attention on mean particles size, surface charge, shape and stability (the “4S”). The results of our study confirmed the hypothesis that the coating material differently affects the overall nanoparticles properties, above all in terms of morphology: in particular, the cationic lipid dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide allows the formation of very stable well-defined nanocapsules with non-spherical shape with sustained and prolonged drug release, thus representing a great advantage in ophthalmic application.
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Recently trans-resveratrol (trans-RSV) has received great attention due to its prophylactic and therapeutic properties. Its limited bioavailability provides compelling evidence of the need for more suitable formulations in order to attain better clinical effectiveness. Some physicochemical properties of trans-RSV are still unknown or research findings are contradictory. Therefore, this paper presents newly determined trans-RSV solubility and stability at various pH and temperatures, and the importance of such data for the studies of novel trans-RSV-loaded nanofibers. In acidic pH trans-RSV was stable, whereas its degradation started to increase exponentially above pH 6.8. Consequently, it is worthwhile to note that special consideration has to be dedicated to long dissolution testing or biological assays on cell lines in order to obtain relevant data. Measurements were done by validated UV/VIS spectroscopy, HPLC, and newly developed UPLC methods. Specificity was confirmed for HPLC and UPLC method, whereas UV/VIS spectroscopy resulted in false higher trans-RSV concentrations in conditions under which it was not stable (alkaline pH, light, increased temperature). The study is of interest because it draws attention to the importance of careful selected experimental conditions, their influence on the trans-RSV stability and the implications this has for formulation development, storage, and maintenance of therapeutic doses. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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Pluronic copolymer L61 was found to possess a stealth function for liposomal drug delivery, comparing favorably to PEG. The liposomes modified with 0.1% L61 (w/w) were long-circulating, and preferentially accumulated in the tumor site. The paclitaxel-loaded L61-liposomes with a single injection dose could successfully arrest the tumor growth, lasting for five days, and displayed better treatment outcomes compared to the non-modified liposomes and even the PEGylated liposomes.
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There has been interest in the use of trans-resveratrol as a natural preventative agent for improving health and alleviating a range of diseases. However, resveratrol has low bioavailability, and this has been associated with its poor water solubility, its low stability against environmental stress, and its inability to reach a target site in the body to exert the desired health effect. Encapsulation offers a potential approach for enhancing the solubility of resveratrol, stabilizing it against trans-to-cis isomerization, and improving its bioavailability. A range of encapsulant materials, formulations, and technologies have been examined for enhancing the delivery of resveratrol. Research on the efficacy of encapsulated resveratrol formulations and relevant doses for specific applications is required before recommendations may be made for the use of these formulations for human health outcomes.
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d-α-Tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (simply TPGS or Vitamin E TPGS) is formed by the esterification of Vitamin E succinate with polyethylene glycol 1000. As novel nonionic surfactant, it exhibits amphipathic properties and can form stable micelles in aqueous vehicles at concentration as low as 0.02wt%. It has been widely investigated for its emulsifying, dispersing, gelling, and solubilizing effects on poorly water-soluble drugs. It can also act as a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor and has been served as an excipient for overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR) and for increasing the oral bioavailability of many anticancer drugs. Since TPGS has been approved by FDA as a safe pharmaceutic adjuvant, many TPGS-based drug delivery systems (DDS) have been developed. In this review, we discuss TPGS properties as a P-gp inhibitor, solubilizer/absorption and permeation enhancer in drug delivery and TPGS-related formulations such as nanocrystals, nanosuspensions, tablets/solid dispersions, adjuvant in vaccine systems, nutrition supplement, plasticizer of film, anticancer reagent and so on. This review will greatly impact and bring out new insights in the use of TPGS in DDS.
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We studied mixtures of emulsion droplets and solid particles in order to determine the possibility of specific interaction between both types of systems. The solid particles were polystyrene with grafted methylpoly(ethylene oxide) of average 2000 molecular weight. This latex form stable suspensions. This latex was prepared by dispersion polymerization and produced particles with a radius of 315 nm and low polydispersity. The emulsion was prepared by shearing a mixture of hexadecane and water and using a polymeric surfactant. Synperonic L92, as emulsifier. The Z-average droplet radius was 280 nm. Latex and emulsion were mixed by using low shear rates, and the theological properties of the mixtures were measured, as well as theological properties of the pure systems. The oscillatory behaviors of the emulsion and the suspension are similar at low volume fractions, where the emulsion droplets seem to behave as hard spheres. No specific interaction could be detected, meaning that latex-latex, emulsion-emulsion, and latex-emulsion interactions are of the same type. In steady state measurements some dependence of phi(max) (maximum volume of packing) with volume fraction and shear rate was detected for the emulsion systems. This dependence shows the influence of the deformability of the droplets. At high volume fractions, the theological behaviors of the emulsion and the suspension are very different, in both steady state and dynamic measurements. The elastic modulus in the linear region depends on the volume fraction in an exponential fashion for solid particles while the dependence is linear for the deformable particles. The mixtures show intermediate behavior, and their elasticity is well represented by a simple model in which the emulsion and the suspension elastic modulus are used in series with the appropriate weights. A dependence of the critical strain (the strain above which the theological parameters start to depend on the strain) with volume fraction has been found. The critical strain decreases with volume fraction and goes to a minimum around phi(max).
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In this work, resveratrol (Res) was incorporated into chitosan microspheres for controlled release and stabilisation. The microspheres were prepared by emulsion chemical cross-linking method, and vanillin was used as the novel cross-linker. The microspheres showed a smooth surface with irregular small particles and internal voids with a size distribution between 53 and 311 μm. Interpenetrating network cross-linking mechanisms might account for the Schiff base reaction between chitosan and vanillin. The encapsulation efficiency of Res within microspheres was up to 93.68%. Res contained within microspheres was protected from light and heat compared with the free Res. In addition, release behaviours were governed by two distinct stages and dependent on pH of release media. Diffusion, swelling and erosion mechanisms might coexist for the full controlled release and Higuchi was the most suitable model for the whole release procedure. Thus, controlled release and stabilization of Res were achieved through incorporation of Res into cross-linked chitosan microspheres by vanillin.
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D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (Vitamin E TPGS, or simply TPGS) is a water-soluble derivative of natural Vitamin E, which is formed by esterification of Vitamin E succinate with polyethylene glycol (PEG). As such, it has advantages of PEG and Vitamin E in application of various nanocarriers for drug delivery, including extending the half-life of the drug in plasma and enhancing the cellular uptake of the drug. TPGS has an amphiphilic structure of lipophilic alkyl tail and hydrophilic polar head with a hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) value of 13.2 and a relatively low critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 0.02% w/w, which make it to be an ideal molecular biomaterial in developing various drug delivery systems, including prodrugs, micelles, liposomes and nanoparticles, which would be able to realize sustained, controlled and targeted drug delivery as well as to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR) and to promote oral drug delivery as an inhibitor of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). In this review, we briefly discuss its physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties and its wide applications in composition of the various nanocarriers for drug delivery, which we call TPGS-based drug delivery systems.
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Lanthanum (La), a rare earth element with anticoagulative and antiphlogistic function, was added into the medical grade 316L stainless steel in order to improve its biocompatibility. The corrosion resistance of the La added 316L steel in two different simulated body fluids, simulated blood plasma and Hank's solution, was evaluated. The result showed that the addition of La in the steel could largely affect the corrosion behavior of the steel. The steel with 0.01% La showed the widest passive region and the best resistance to pitting attack, within the addition range of La from 0.01% to 0.08%. The corrosion resistance improvement of La added 316L stainless steel is probably due to the effect of La on the purification of the steel, the modification of inclusions, and the passive film formation in the simulated body fluids.
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This study aimed at the investigation of the impact of aqueous solubility and dose manipulation on the pharmacokinetics of resveratrol. Water soluble intravenous and oral formulations of resveratrol were prepared with hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) and randomly methylated-beta-cyclodextrin (RM-beta-CD), respectively. Sodium salt and suspension of resveratrol in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were used as the reference intravenous and oral formulations, respectively. The pharmacokinetics of resveratrol was assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats. Plasma resveratrol concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Both HP-beta-CD and RM-beta-CD enhanced the aqueous solubility of resveratrol. After intravenous administration, rapid elimination of resveratrol was observed at all tested doses (5, 10, and 25 mg kg(-1)) regardless of formulation types; with non-linear elimination occurring at the dose of 25 mg kg(-1). RM-beta-CD significantly increased the maximal plasma concentration of orally administered resveratrol, but, it did not increase the oral bioavailability in comparison with the CMC suspension. Furthermore, the oral bioavailability remained unchanged among all tested doses (15, 25, and 50 mg kg(-1)). Aqueous solubility barrier might affect the speed but not the extent of resveratrol absorption. Further, dose manipulation (up to 50 mg kg(-1)) did not have a significant impact on the oral bioavailability of resveratrol.
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To develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model which allowed the simultaneous modeling of trans-resveratrol and its glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered i.v. and p.o. with 2, 10 and 20 mg·kg(-1) of trans-resveratrol. Blood was collected at different times during 24 h. An integrated PK model was developed using a sequential analysis, with non-linear mixed effect modeling (NONMEM). A prediction-corrected visual predictive check (pcVPC) was used to assess model performance. The model predictive capability was also evaluated with simulations after the i.v. administration of 15 mg·kg(-1) that were compared with an external data set. Disposition PK of trans-resveratrol and its metabolites was best described by a three-linked two-compartment model. Clearance of trans-resveratrol by conversion to its conjugates occurred by a first-order process, whereas both metabolites were eliminated by parallel first-order and Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The pcVPC confirmed the model stability and precision. The final model was successfully applied to the external data set showing its robustness. A robust population PK model has been built for trans-resveratrol and its glucuronide and sulfate conjugates that adequately predict plasmatic concentrations.
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Natural bioactive compounds have been studied for a long time for their chemopreventive and therapeutic potential in several chronic inflammatory diseases, including cancer. However, their physicochemical properties generally result in poor chemical stability and lack of in vivo bioavailability. Very few human clinical trials have addressed absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of these compounds in relation to efficacy. This limits the use of these valuable natural compounds in the clinic.
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The morphology and stability of small unilamellar egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EggPC) liposomes modified with the Pluronic copolymer (poly (oxyethylene)-poly (oxypropylene)-poly (oxyethylene) (PEO-PPO-PEO)) with different compositions on mica surface have been investigated using atomic force microscopy. Morphology studies reveal significant morphological changes of liposomes upon incorporating the Pluronic copolymer. Bilayers are observed for Pluronic with small hydrophilic (PEO) chain lengths such as L81 [(PEO)2(PPO)40(PEO)2] and L121 [(PEO)4(PPO)60(PEO)4]; bilayer and vesicle coexistence is observed for P85 [(PEO)26(PPO)39.5(PEO)26] and F87 [(PEO)61.1(PPO)39.7(PEO)61.1]; and stable vesicles are observed for F88 [(PEO)103.5(PPO)39.2(PEO)103.5], F127 [(PEO)100(PPO)65(PEO)100], and F108 [(PEO)132.6(PPO)50.3(PEO)132.6]. The micromechanical properties of Pluronic-modified EggPC vesicles were studied by analyzing AFM approaching force curve. The bending modulus (k(c)) of the Pluronic-modified EggPC vesicles increased several-fold compared with that of the pure EggPC vesicles. The significant difference is due to the enhanced rigidity of the EggPC vesicles as a result of the incorporation of PPO molecules and PEO chains. Based on the analysis of onset point by AFM and diameters of vesicles by light scattering, it was concluded that the favorable model to describe the polymer-bilayer interaction is the membrane-spanning model.
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A cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay for quantifying the antioxidant activity of phytochemicals, food extracts, and dietary supplements has been developed. Dichlorofluorescin is a probe that is trapped within cells and is easily oxidized to fluorescent dichlorofluorescein (DCF). The method measures the ability of compounds to prevent the formation of DCF by 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (ABAP)-generated peroxyl radicals in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. The decrease in cellular fluorescence when compared to the control cells indicates the antioxidant capacity of the compounds. The antioxidant activities of selected phytochemicals and fruit extracts were evaluated using the CAA assay, and the results were expressed in micromoles of quercetin equivalents per 100 micromol of phytochemical or micromoles of quercetin equivalents per 100 g of fresh fruit. Quercetin had the highest CAA value, followed by kaempferol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), myricetin, and luteolin among the pure compounds tested. Among the selected fruits tested, blueberry had the highest CAA value, followed by cranberry > apple = red grape > green grape. The CAA assay is a more biologically relevant method than the popular chemistry antioxidant activity assays because it accounts for some aspects of uptake, metabolism, and location of antioxidant compounds within cells.
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We and a Dutch group reported that "empty" PEGylated liposomes (approximately 100 nm) lose their long-circulating characteristic when they are administrated twice in the same animal with certain intervals (referred to as the accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon). Very recently, we showed that anti-PEG IgM, induced by the first dose of "empty" PEGylated liposomes, is responsible for inducing the phenomenon, based on the observation that IgM thus produced selectively binds to the surface of subsequently injected PEGylated liposomes, leading to substantial complement activation. It is generally believed that nanocarriers coated with a polymer, such as PEG, have no or lower immunogenicity. However, the results indicated evidence that unexpected immune responses occur even to such polymer-coated liposomes. Such immunogenicity of "empty" liposomes presents a serious concern in the development of liposomal formulations and their use in the clinic. In addition, through series of our studies, it was demonstrated that the magnitude of the ABC phenomenon depends on the physicochemical property of injected liposomes as a first dose, time interval between injection, lipid dose and drug-encapsulation.
  • C Caddeo
C. Caddeo et al. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 538 (2018) 40-47