Effects of liposomal encapsulation on the antioxidant activity of lipophilic prodrugs of idebenone

Chitosan/Cyclodextrin Nanospheres for Potential Nose-to-Brain Targeting of Idebenone

Idebenone (IDE) is a powerful antioxidant that is potentially active towards cerebral diseases, but its low water solubility and fast first pass metabolism reduce its accumulation in the brain, making it ineffective. In this work, we developed cyclodextrin-based chitosan nanospheres (CS NPs) as potential carriers for nose-to-brain targeting of IDE. Sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD) was used as a polyanion for chitosan (CS) and as a complexing agent for IDE, permitting its encapsulation into nanospheres (NPs) produced in an aqueous solution. Overloading NPs were obtained by adding the soluble IDE/hydroxypropyl-β-CD (IDE/HP-β-CD) inclusion complex into the CS or SBE-β-CD solutions. We obtained homogeneous CS NPs with a hydrodynamic radius of about 140 nm, positive zeta potential (about +28 mV), and good encapsulation efficiency and drug loading, particularly for overloaded NPs. A biphasic release of IDE, finished within 48 h, was observed from overloaded NPs, whilst non-overloaded CS NPs produced a prolonged release, without a burst effect. In vitro biological studies showed the ability of CS NPs to preserve the antioxidant activity of IDE on U373 culture cells. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) demonstrated the ability of CS NPs to interact with the excised bovine nasal mucosa, improving the permeation of the drug and potentially favoring its accumulation in the brain.

Facile Solvent-Free Preparation of Antioxidant Idebenone-Loaded Nanoparticles for Efficient Wound Healing

The excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes harmful effects, including biomolecular damage and inflammation. ROS due to ultraviolet rays, blue light, and fine dust harm the skin, causing urban-related aging. Therefore, a strong antioxidant that relieves oxidative stress in the skin and removes ROS is required. Idebenone (IB) is a powerful antioxidant but is poorly soluble and thus has low solubility in water, resulting in low bioavailability. In this study, IB-loaded nanoparticles (IB@NPs) were synthesized by loading IB without an organic solvent into nanoparticles that can provide high loading efficiency and stability for solubilization. Indeed, the synthesized IB@NPs exhibited long-term stability through dynamic light scattering, methylene blue staining, and redispersion assays, and IB@NPs prepared with a 5 wt% IB loading content were found to be optimal. The antioxidant activity of IB@NPs evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was significantly higher than that of unloaded IB. In addition, IB@NPs showed excellent biocompatibility, inhibited oxidative damage to mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, and reduced intracellular ROS generation according to an in vitro DPPH antioxidant assay. Most notably, IB@NPs significantly promoted wound healing in vitro, as demonstrated by scratch assays. Therefore, as carriers with excellent stability, IB@NPs have potential cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.

Systematic review on activity of liposomal encapsulated antioxidant, antibiotics, and antiviral agents

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) like superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical, can be formed as normal products of aerobic metabolism. Overproduction or insufficient removal of ROS results in significant damage to cell structure and functions. Antioxidants applied directly and at relatively high concentrations to cellular systems are effective in protection against the damaging actions of ROS. Microorganisms including Gram-positive and negative bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae, etc., can be disease causing microorganism. Antimicrobial agents have the capability to inhibitor destroy the microorganisms. The problems arising from the use of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents include poor solubility, instability during storage, low bioavailability, and difficulty to reach target organs with sufficient doses. Liposomal antimicrobial agent and liposomal antioxidants enhance the solubility, bioavailability, and stability of antimicrobial agent and antioxidants.

In vitro therapeutic evaluation of nanoliposome loaded with Xyloglucans polysaccharides from Tamarindus flower extract

Nanoparticles are interesting area of research developed for several diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Tamarind flower extract is rich in Xyloglucan, a starch like polysaccharide which promotes proliferation and various application areas like drug-delivery technology. In recent years researchers are evaluating nanoliposome using in vitro and in vivo studies to discover their biomedical applications. Considering the importance and feasibility of nanoliposome, the present study is focused on synthesis of liposomes via biological method. The biological molecules of Tamarindus indica flower were used for the synthesis of nanoliposome. The synthesized Tamarindus indica flower extract lipid nanoparticles (TifeLiNPs) loaded with xyloglucans were characterized and evaluated for therapeutic applications (antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities) under in vitro condition. UV-Vis spectral analysis revealed the emission of peak at 232 nm. Further, the chemical characterization using FTIR revealed the presence of components in the functional group. EDX analysis exhibited the presence of O, Na, P and Cl, while DLS confirmed bilayer formation of xyloglucan and liposomes with uniform size (70-80 nm) and spherical shape. The Physicochemical characterization of tamarind flower extract for its chemical composition revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins and flavonoids in confirmatory test. Presence of carbohydrate polymers such as rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose and xylose revealed using high performance anion exchange (HPAE) chromatography under basic conditions on an ion chromatographic system were measured using Pulsed Amperometric Detection (PAD). The synthesized nanoliposome evaluated against Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria showed potential antibacterial activity. TifeLiNPs demonstrated significant in vitro antioxidant potential, antidiabetic, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activity. Overall, the present study exhibited the potential application of TifeLiNPs for biomedical purposes.

Prodrugs in combination with nanocarriers as a strategy for promoting antitumoral efficiency

Prodrug entrapment into nanocarriers for tumor delivery is a strategy to achieve a valid therapy with high efficiency. The prodrug contains anticancer agents conjugating with functional moieties or ligands so that the active component is released after metabolism in the body or tumor. The advantages of nanosystems for loading prodrugs include high loading, increased prodrug stability, improved bioavailability and enhanced targeting to tumor cells. In the present article, we introduce the prodrug delivery approaches according to nanomedicine and the recent advances in prodrug-loaded nanocarriers. First, we discuss the conceptional design of combined prodrugs and nanocarriers in response to the obstruction in anticancer therapy. Then we describe the cases of prodrug-loaded nanoparticles for cancer treatment during the past 5 years.

Idebenone: Novel Strategies to Improve Its Systemic and Local Efficacy

The key role of antioxidants in treating and preventing many systemic and topical diseases is well recognized. One of the most potent antioxidants available for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use is Idebenone (IDE), a synthetic analogue of Coenzyme Q10. Unfortunately, IDE's unfavorable physicochemical properties such as poor water solubility and high lipophilicity impair its bioavailability after oral and topical administration and prevent its parenteral use. In recent decades, many strategies have been proposed to improve IDE effectiveness in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and skin disorders. After a brief description of IDE potential therapeutic applications and its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile, this review will focus on the different approaches investigated to overcome IDE drawbacks, such as IDE incorporation into different types of delivery systems (liposomes, cyclodextrins, microemulsions, self-micro-emulsifying drug delivery systems, lipid-based nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles) and IDE chemical modification. The results of these studies will be illustrated with emphasis on the most innovative strategies and their future perspectives.

Nanoencapsulation strategies for the delivery of novel bifunctional antioxidant/σ1 selective ligands

Nowadays sigma-1 receptors are considered as new therapeutic objectives for central nervous system neurodegenerative diseases. Among different molecules, alpha lipoic acid has been identified as a natural potent antioxidant drug, whose therapeutic efficacy is limited by its many drawbacks, such as fast metabolism, poor bioavailability and high physico-chemical instability. Alfa-lipoic acid derivatives have been recently developed demonstrating their neuroprotective activity and effectiveness in different types of oxidative stress. In this work, two derivatives containing an amide or an ester functional group with different lipophilicity, were selected for their important affinity for sigma-1 receptors. Herein, in order to improve the in vitro stability and antioxidant effectiveness of alpha-lipoic acid derivatives, we focused our efforts in the nanoencapsulation strategies. Aqueous-core nanocapsules for the delivery of the hydrophilic compound and nanostructured lipid carrier for the lipophilic derivative, were properly designed and prepared using a direct or inverse eco-friendly organic solvent-free procedure. All nanosystems were characterized in terms of mean size, polydispersity, stability, morphology, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro release profiles. In order to evaluate the nanocarriers biocompatibility and antioxidant effectiveness, in vitro biological studies (cell viability, total antioxidant capacity and total oxidative status) were developed on primary human whole blood cell cultures, on both unloaded and derivatives-loaded nanodevices.

Effect of Encapsulated Bitter Orange Peel Extract and BHT on the Quality of Common Carp Fillet during Refrigerated Storage

The aim of the present study was to evaluate antioxidative activities of the encapsulated and unencapsulated bitter orange peel extract on the shelf-life of the common carp fillets during 16 days of refrigerated storage. Common carp fillets were treated with bitter orange peel extract (0.5 and 1% w/w), liposomal encapsulated bitter orange peel extract (0.5 and 1% w/w) and beta-hydroxytoluene (BHT, 100 and 200 ppm); their quality changes in terms of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), free fatty acid (FFA) peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and sensory characteristics were investigated. Results showed that the encapsulated and pure extract and BHT could reduce chemical deterioration and lipid oxidation in the fillets compared to the control, as reflected with lower TVBN, FFA, PV and TBA values. Furthermore, common carp fillets treated with high concentration (1%) of the encapsulated bitter orange peel extract showed the lowest amount of lipid oxidation during the storage period compared with the others without any undesirable changes in sensorial attributes.