A Comparison Investigation of Coix Seed Oil Liposomes Prepared by Five Different Methods

Progress of nanopreparation technology applied to volatile oil drug delivery systems

Traditional Chinese medicine volatile oil has a long history and possesses extensive pharmacological activity. However, volatile oils have characteristics such as strong volatility, poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and poor targeting, which limit their application. The use of volatile oil nano drug delivery systems can effectively improve the drawbacks of volatile oils, enhance their bioavailability and chemical stability, and reduce their volatility and toxicity. This article first introduces the limitations of the components of traditional Chinese medicine volatile oils, discusses the main classifications and latest developments of volatile oil nano formulations, and briefly describes the preparation methods of traditional Chinese medicine volatile oil nano formulations. Secondly, the limitations of nano formulation technology are discussed, along with future challenges and prospects. A deeper understanding of the role of nanotechnology in traditional Chinese medicine volatile oils will contribute to the modernization of volatile oils and broaden their application value.

Co-delivery of minoxidil and tocopherol acetate ethosomes to reshape the hair Follicular Microenvironment and promote hair regeneration in androgenetic alopecia

The most prevalent kind of hair loss is androgenic alopecia (AGA), which is characterized by hair follicle miniaturization and microenvironment dysfunction. Although topical Minoxidil (MXD) was considered to be a safe and effective treatment for AGA, excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lower sulfotransferase activity in the hair follicular microenvironment led to an unsatisfactory treatment of AGA. Here, we developed the ethosome (MTE) load of minoxidil and tocopherol acetate to improve the therapeutic effect of MXD on androgenic alopecia. It could regulate the microenvironment around hair follicles, promote the telogen-to-anagen transition of hair follicles, and boost hair regeneration, thus achieving a synergistic effect of 1 + 1 > 2. The results proved that MTE showed excellent stability, biosafety, and good dermal and follicular permeability in vitro. The hair regeneration ability of AGA model mice showed that the co-delivery ethosome might regulate the microenvironment around the hair follicles and improve hair regeneration in comparison to the commercial minoxidil tincture alone. As a result, the strategy provided a promising new strategy for the treatment of AGA.

Multifunctional osthole liposomes and brain targeting functionality with potential applications in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Osthole (Ost) is a coumarin compound and a potential drug for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the effectiveness of Ost is limited by solubility, bioavailability, and low permeability of the blood-brain barrier. In this study, we constructed Ost liposomes with modified CXCR4 on the surface (CXCR4-Ost-Lips), and investigated the intracellular distribution of liposomes in APP-SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, the neuroprotective effect of CXCR4-Ost-Lips was examined in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that CXCR4-Ost-Lips increased intracellular uptake by APP-SH-SY5Y cells and exerted a cytoprotective effect in vitro. The results of Ost brain distribution showed that CXCR4-Ost-Lips prolonged the cycle time of mice and increased the accumulation of Ost in the brain. In addition, CXCR4-Ost-Lips enhanced the effect of Ost in relieving AD-related pathologies. These results indicate that CXCR4-modified liposomes are a potential Ost carrier to treat AD.

Development of Oral Delivery Systems with Enhanced Antioxidant and Anticancer Activity: Coix Seed Oil and β-Carotene Coloaded Liposomes

Fortifying food and beverage products with combinations of bioactive agents is a major initiative within the food industry because of their potentially additive or even synergistic benefits for human health. Coix seed oil (CSO) has been reported to possess anticancer activity, whereas β-carotene (βC) is a natural antioxidant that may also exhibit anticancer activity. However, both of these bioactives are insoluble in water and have poor oral bioavailability. The aim of this study was to overcome these obstacles by encapsulating both βC and CSO into liposomes (L-βC-CSO). The effect of different combinations of these two bioactive agents on the physiochemical properties, stability, release, antioxidant activity, and anticancer activity of the liposomes was then determined. Increasing the CSO level decreased the βC entrapment efficiency, increased the particle size, reduced the polydispersity, and raised the magnitude of the surface potential of the bioactive-loaded liposomes. Moreover, the βC and CSO levels affected their orientation within the lipid bilayer, which also influences the physiochemical properties, stability, and in vitro release behavior of the system. Compared to liposomes containing single bioactive types, the combined systems exhibited higher bioavailability and increased anticancer and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that the combined bioactive-loaded liposomes could be an efficient formulation for potential applications in functional foods and supplements.

Effect of taste masking technology on fast dissolving oral film: dissolution rate and bioavailability

Fast dissolving oral film is a stamp-style, drug-loaded polymer film with rapid disintegration and dissolution. This new kind of drug delivery system requires effective taste masking technology. Suspension intermediate and liposome intermediate were prepared, respectively, for the formulation of two kinds of fast dissolving oral films with the aim of studying the effect of taste masking technology on the bioavailability of oral films. Loratadine was selected as the model drug. The surface pH of the films was close to neutral, avoiding oral mucosal irritation or side effects. The thickness of a 2 cm × 2 cm suspension oral film containing 10 mg of loratadine was 100 μm. Electron microscope analysis showed that liposomes were spherical before and after re-dissolution, and drugs with obvious bitterness could be masked by the encapsulation of liposomes. Dissolution of the two films was superior to that of the commercial tablets. Rat pharmacokinetic experiments showed that the oral bioavailability of the suspension film was significantly higher than that of the commercial tablets, and the relative bioavailability of the suspension film was 175%. Liposomal film produced a certain amount of improvement in bioavailability, but lower than that of the suspension film.

Controlled Release of Salidroside Microspheres Prepared Using a Chitosan and Methylcellulose Interpenetrating Polymer Network

In this work, salidroside, a functional food agent, was incorporated into novel interpenetrating polymer network microspheres (IPN-Ms) prepared by chitosan (CS) and methylcellulose (MC) for controlled release and stabilization. IPN-Ms were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. The result indicated that salidroside-loaded IPN-Ms (S-IPN-Ms) are hollow and highly spherical, with a coarse pleated surface and a particle size ranging from 5 to 30 µm. Schiff base formation and the hemiacetal reaction are the primary mechanisms underlying the interpenetrating network cross-linking of IPN-Ms. In S-IPN-Ms, the CS and MC were homogeneously blended, and the salidroside was molecularly and amorphously dispersed. The encapsulation efficiency of the salidroside within the S-IPN-Ms was up to 75.64 %. In the S-IPN-M complex, the release of salidroside by S-IPN-Ms was governed by burst and sustained release, and Fickian diffusion was the primary release mechanism for the entire release process. Thus, controlled release and stabilization of salidroside were achieved through incorporation of salidroside into IPN-Ms prepared by chitosan (CS) and methylcellulose.