Liver-targeted delivery of insulin-loaded nanoparticles via enterohepatic circulation of bile acids

Liver is the primary acting site of insulin. In this study, we developed innovative nanoparticles for oral and liver-targeted delivery of insulin by using enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. The nanoparticles were produced from cholic acid and quaternary ammonium modified chitosan derivative and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP). The nanoparticles had a diameter of 239?nm, an insulin loading efficiency of 90.9%, and a loading capacity of 18.2%. Cell culture studies revealed that the cholic acid groups effectively enhanced the transport of the nanoparticles through Caco-2 cell monolayer and greatly increased the absorption of the nanoparticles in HepG-2 cells via bile acid transporter mechanism. Ex vivo fluorescence images of ileum section, gastrointestinal tract, and liver demonstrated that the HPMCP increased the mucoadhesion of the nanoparticles in ileum, and the cholic acid groups facilitated the absorptions of the nanoparticles in both ileum and liver by use of bile acid transporters via enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. The therapy for diabetic mice displayed that the oral nanoparticle group could maintain hypoglycemic effect for more than 24?h and its pharmacological availability was about 30% compared with the insulin injection group. For the first time, this study demonstrates that using enterohepatic circulation of bile acids is an effective strategy for oral delivery of insulin.     

载基因壳聚糖纳米粒的制备及其相关性质的初步研究

目的制备壳聚糖载基因纳米粒,并对其体外相关性质进行初步研究。方法采用复凝聚法制备载基因纳米粒;用纳米粒度仪测量粒度分布、多分散性和Zeta电位;用透射电镜观察粒子的形态;用荧光分光光度法和比色法测定包封率和载药量,并对主要影响因素进行考察;用凝胶阻滞分析和电性结合分析对载药方式进行初步推测。结果所制备的载基因纳米粒形态规则,大多呈球形,平均粒径约150nm,PDI＜0．2,Zeta电位约20mV;包封率大于90％,载药量约30％;凝胶阻滞和电性结合分析结果表明,pDNA与壳聚糖分子间可通过电性结合作用而完全结合。结论采用复凝聚法可制备粒度分布均匀,形态规则,具有较高包封率和载药量的载基因壳聚糖纳米粒;电性结合作用是载基因壳聚糖纳米粒载药的主要方式。     

Formulation pH modulates the interaction of insulin with chitosan nanoparticles

Previous studies on chitosan-insulin nanoparticles have reported diverse encapsulation efficiency and insulin release profiles despite similar formulation and preparation procedures. This study examined the efficiency and mechanism of association of insulin with chitosan nanoparticles in the pH range of 2.3 to 6.3. Nanoparticles of 237 to 235 nm were prepared by ionotropic gelation of chitosan with tripolyphosphate counterions. Insulin was quantified by an RP-HPLC method. The insulin association efficiency (AE) spanned a broad range from 2 to 85%, and was highly sensitive to formulation pH. Highest AE was measured at insulin loading concentrations >/= 4.28 U/mL and pH 6.1, close to the pI of native insulin and the pK(a) of chitosan. This association, attributed to physical adsorption of insulin through hydrophobic interactions with chitosan, was labile, and the associated insulin rapidly and completely released by dilution of the nanoparticles in aqueous media of pH 2 to 7.4. AE obtained at pH 5.3 was less than half that measured at pH 6.1 at corresponding insulin concentration, but the association at pH 5.3 appeared to be based on stronger interactions, because the release of insulin was pH-dependent and recovery was less than 25% even upon disintegration of the chitosan matrix. Interaction of insulin with the chitosan nanoparticles rendered the protein more susceptible to acid and enzymatic hydrolyses, the effects being more predominant in nanoparticles prepared at pH 5.3 than at pH 6.1.     

Chitosan nanoparticles as a novel delivery system for ammonium glycyrrhizinate

The ammonium glycyrrhizinate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation of chitosan with tripolyphosphate anions (TPP). The particle size and zeta potential of nanoparticles were determined, respectively, by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and a zeta potential analyzer. The effects, including chitosan molecular weight, chitosan concentration, ammonium glycyrrhizinate concentration and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were studied. These nanoparticles have ammonium glycyrrhizinate loading efficiency. The encapsulation efficiency decreased with the increase of ammonium glycyrrhizinate concentration and chitosan concentration. The introduction of PEG can decrease significantly the positive charge of particle surface. These studies showed that chitosan can complex TPP to form stable cationic nanoparticles for subsequent ammonium glycyrrhizinate loading.     

Preparation of superoxide dismutase loaded chitosan microspheres: characterization and release studies.

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is the most potent antioxidant enzyme. In this study, SOD was encapsulated in chitosan microspheres to obtain suitable sustained protein delivery. Protein-loaded chitosan microspheres with various formulations were prepared based on complex coacervation process. Due to the inherent characteristic of SOD, high encapsulation efficiency could not be obtained with simple preparation method. The pH of chitosan solution is 3.0; when the chitosan microspheres were prepared with this solution, encapsulation was low. Therefore, several strategies have been tested to increase the encapsulation efficiency and good results have been obtained. 70-80% protein encapsulation efficiency was obtained. The addition of PEG to the protein solution enhanced the encapsulation efficiency also. Mean sizes of microspheres were between 1.38 and 1.94 microm. Factors affecting the release behaviour of SOD from microspheres have been studied. They included pH values of chitosan solution (the pH of chitosan solution is 3.0), addition of PEG to the protein solution and the use of adsorption technique. In general, biphasic release profiles were obtained with these formulations. The protein activity changed between 70 and 100% during the release. In general, the protein activity remained in acceptable limits. The SOD encapsulated chitosan microspheres can be prepared by changing the pH or addition of PEG, allowing the safe incorporation of protein for controlled release.     

Polyion complex micelles composed of all-trans retinoic acid and poly (ethylene glycol)-grafted-chitosan

The goal of this study is to develop novel types of polyion complex micelles for the drug delivery to brain tumor. Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG)-grafted chitosan (CP) was synthesized in order to make polymeric micelles encapsulating all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) based on polyion complex formation. Polyion complex micelles were found to have spherical shapes with sizes of about 50 approximately 200 nm. The loading efficiency of micelle was higher than 80% (w/w) for all formulations. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra confirmed the formation of polymeric micelles. The CP graft copolymer and ATRA have distinguishing peaks in their 1H NMR spectra. The specific peaks of ATRA disappeared in D2O or DMSO while it appeared at mixtures of D2O/DMSO, indicating that ATRA and chitosan formed ion complex inner-core. In the cell cytotoxicity study using U87MG cells in vitro, polyion complex micelles showed similar cytotoxicity to that of free ATRA. A migration test was performed to investigate the inhibition of tumor cell invasion in vitro. The results suggested that the polyion complex micelles was more effective at inhibiting tumor cell migration than free ATRA.     

Effect of nanoencapsulation of blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus): A green source of flavonoids with antioxidant and photoprotective properties

The effect of nanoencapsulation on the in vitro photoprotection and antioxidant properties of blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) extract, before and after their dispersion into an oil-in-water emulsion and its final stability under stress conditions. Besides its skin healing activity, chitosan was chosen as wall material due to its natural origin, and possibility of obtention from shrimp residues. Chitosan/tripolyphosphate (TPP) nanoparticles loaded with blueberry extract were produced and characterized. Three different semi-solid oil-in-water emulsions, using Ecocert certified materials, were developed containing, respectively, (i) 5% (wt/wt) of extract-free nanoparticles, (ii) 5% (wt/wt) of extract-loaded nanoparticles, (iii) 2% (wt/wt) of free extract. Sun protection factor (SPF), antioxidant activity and stability under stress conditions were evaluated. The concentration of rutin was determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The loading of blueberry extract into nanoparticles kept their physicochemical properties, as well as SPF and antioxidant activity, over the course of the stability study. Extract-loaded nanoparticles were dispersed in a semi-solid oil-in-water emulsion and were shown to protect the extract from oxidation, suggesting that formulation containing 5% (wt/wt) of extract-free nanoparticles could presented lower difference between initial and final SPF and antioxidant activity values after 90 days of analysis. The developed formulation is proposed as a greener potential formulation to be used as photoprotector, especially if associated with physical sun filters. The role of blueberry flavonoids and the synergistic effect of nanoparticles against skin aging are here discussed.     

Antioxidative effect of chitosan on chronic carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic injury in rats

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) is a toxic material known to induce lipid peroxidation and liver damage. To determine if chitosan has antioxidative effects on CCl(4)-induced liver injury, we administered 1 ml/kg of CCl(4) resolved in a 50% corn oil solution to rats every week by intraperitoneal injection. Chitosan (200 mg/kg body weight per day, MW 380,000 Da) was administered to the CCl(4) + chitosan treated rats by oral gavage during the experimental period. Chitosan significantly decreased liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and increased antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD)). Fatty acid composition was not remarkably changed by chitosan; only arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) levels were significantly altered by CCl(4). Chitosan administration in the present experiment did not restore the decreased delta5-desaturase activity. In addition, chitosan supplementation did not prevent the CCl(4) induced degradation of CYP2E1. In conclusion, our results suggest that chitosan has antioxidative but not detoxifying effects on chronic CCl(4) induced hepatic injury in rats.     

壳聚糖负载肉桂挥发油纳米粒制备工艺响应面法优化及质量评价

目的:优化壳聚糖负载肉桂挥发油纳米粒的制备工艺和处方,并对其质量进行评价。方法:采用单因素考察壳聚糖纳米粒制备的处方和工艺,以粒径、包封率和载药量为评价指标,应用星点设计-响应面法优化负载肉桂挥发油的壳聚糖纳米颗粒的制备工艺,采用透射电镜观察肉桂挥发油壳聚糖纳米粒形态,并对其稳定性进行研究。结果:壳聚糖负载肉桂挥发油纳米粒优化后的工艺为壳聚糖浓度0.2%,均质压力为500 bar(1 bar=0.1 MPa),循环次数为20次,TPP含量0.2 mg·mL^-1,在该条件下平均包封率为(83.37±0.40)%、平均载药量为(26.42±0.65)%、平均粒径为(248.5±12.2) nm, Zeta电位为(52.3±1.1) mV。透射电镜结果显示其呈粒径均匀的类球形,且肉桂油外包裹着一层壳聚糖。稳定性结果显示壳聚糖负载肉桂挥发油纳米粒混悬液在低温条件下贮存最佳。结论:负载肉桂挥发油壳聚糖纳米粒,制备工艺简单,可重复性较好,物理稳定性较好。     

载基因壳聚糖纳米粒的制备及其相关性质的研究

目的：制备壳聚糖载基因纳米粒，并对其体外相关性质进行初步研究。方法：采用复凝聚法制备载基因纳米粒；用纳米粒度仪测量粒度分布，分散性和Zeta电位；用透射电镜观察粒子的形态；用紫外分光光度法和比色法测定包封率和载药量，并对主要影响因素进行考察。用凝胶阻滞分析和电性结合分析对载药方式进行初步推测。结果：所制备的载基因纳米粒形态规则，大多呈球形，纳米粒平均粒径为263．2nm，粒径分布较窄，多分散度为0．213，Zeta电位为19．8mV；包封率大于90％，载药量约30％；凝胶阻滞和电性结合分析结果表明，非甲基化胞嘧啶鸟嘌呤的寡核苷酸链（CPG-ODN）与壳聚糖分子间可通过电性结合作用而完全结合。结论：采用复凝聚法可制备粒度分布均匀，形态规则，具有较高包封率和载药量的载基因壳聚糖纳米粒；电性结合作用是载基因壳聚糖纳米粒载药的主要方式。     

Preparation, characterization and protein loading of hexanoyl-modified chitosan nanoparticles

Hexanoyl chitosan was synthesized through a coupling reaction between chitosan and hexanoic anhydride. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹HNMR) and fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies showed the formation of hexanoyl chitosan. The nanoparticles of hexanoyl chitosan were prepared through ionotropic gelation with tripolyphosphate (TPP) followed by sonication. The hexanoyl chitosan-TPP nanoparticles exhibited uniform spherical shape with smooth surface as observed by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The particle size of nanoparticles was between 54.1 to 724 nm with a mean diameter of 324 nm. At 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/mL bovine serum albumin initial concentration, the encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of hexanoyl-chitosan-TPP nanoparticles were 58.2, 44.5, and 28.1%, and 14.1, 23.4, and 30.3%, respectively.     

Nanoparticles of quaternized chitosan derivatives as a carrier for colon delivery of insulin: ex vivo and in vivo studies

The aim of the present study was to develop insulin nanoparticulate systems by using chitosan (CS), triethylchitosan (TEC) and dimethyl-ethylchitosan (DMEC, a new quaternized derivative of chitosan) for colon delivery. The nanoparticles were prepared by the polyelectrolyte complexation (PEC) method. Particle size distribution, zeta potential and polydispersity index of the nanoparticles were determined using dynamic light scattering technique. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was also used to observe the morphology of the nanoparticles. It was found that the nanoparticles carried positive charges and showed a size distribution in the range of 170-270 nm with spherical morphology and smooth surface structure. The amount of insulin loaded into the nanoparticles was determined by measuring the association efficiency and also the content of insulin in the nanoparticles. Insulin loading was found to be more than 80% for all of the nanoparticles. In vitro release studies showed a small burst effect at the beginning and then a sustained release characteristic for 5h. Ex vivo investigations revealed better insulin transport across the colon membrane of rats for nanoparticles made with quaternized derivatives than those made of chitosan. In vivo studies in rats have showed enhanced colon absorption of insulin by using these nanoparticles compared to free insulin in diabetic rats. The insulin absorption from the rat's colon was evaluated by its hypoglycemic effect.     

Effect of chitosan on physicochemical properties of exenatide-loaded PLGA nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to test stability of exenatide and compare physicochemical properties of PLGA nanoparticles. To make small, stable, uniform and highly encapsulated nanoparticles, various factors such as the components (polymer and stabilizer) and preparation condition (organic phase, temperature or sonication time) were considered. We tested the effect of organic phase, acid/base, ultrasonication time or temperature on exenatide to decide preparation condition of PLGA nanoparticles. And, PLGA nanoparticles were prepared by the double emulsion-solvent evaporation method and chitosan was selected as stabilizer. PLGA nanoparticles were characterized by yield, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index and morphology. In this study, PLGA nanoparticles showed different physicochemical properties according to chitosan molecular weight. In case of particle size, PLGA nanoparticles using 0.5 g chitosan (4 kDa) showed biggest particle size (781.4 ± 24.1 nm) among PLGA nanoparticles prepared in this study and PLGA nanoparticles using 1 g chitosan (2 kDa) showed highest encapsulation efficiency (52.8 ± 1.7 %) among PLGA nanoparticles prepared in this study. And, all of PLGA nanoparticles using chitosan showed that polydispersity index was low and zeta-potential was increased. These results suggest that chitosan molecular weight affects physicochemical properties of PLGA nanoparticle.     

Preparation,Characterization and Protein Loading of Hexanoyl-Modified Chitosan Nanoparticles

Hexanoyl chitosan was synthesized through a coupling reaction between chitosan and hexanoic anhydride. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹HNMR) and fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies showed the formation of hexanoyl chitosan. The nanoparticles of hexanoyl chitosan were prepared through ionotropic gelation with tripolyphosphate (TPP) followed by sonication. The hexanoyl chitosan-TPP nanoparticles exhibited uniform spherical shape with smooth surface as observed by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The particle size of nanoparticles was between 54.1 to 724 nm with a mean diameter of 324 nm. At 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/mL bovine serum albumin initial concentration, the encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of hexanoyl-chitosan-TPP nanoparticles were 58.2, 44.5, and 28.1%, and 14.1, 23.4, and 30.3%, respectively.     

Chitosan microspheres for encapsulation of alpha-lipoic acid

Encapsulation of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) was carried out using chitosan as an encapsulant matrix. Placebo and LA-loaded chitosan microspheres were prepared by a spray-drying process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies confirmed the spherical particle geometry and the smooth surface morphology of LA-loaded particles. The particle size distribution (PSD) analysis of the placebo and LA-loaded microspheres has shown that 50% of the microspheres were less than 3.53 and 7.89 microm, respectively. The structural interactions of the chitosan matrix with the encapsulated LA were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) which revealed structural interactions of lipoic acid with the encapsulant matrix. The antioxidant activity of encapsulated lipoic acid was studied using the free-radical scavenging assay. This study demonstrated significant retention of antioxidant activity of lipoic acid (75%) after encapsulation in the chitosan matrix. Encapsulation efficiency of lipoic acid obtained in this study was 55.2% when ethanol and acetic acid (1:1 v/v) was used as incubation/extraction medium.     

Effect of chitosan salts and molecular weight on a nanoparticulate carrier for therapeutic protein

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of chitosan salts as a carrier in the preparation of protein-loaded nanoparticles. Glutamic and aspartic acids were used to prepare chitosan salts of 35, 100, and 800 KDa. Nanoparticles of chitosan base, chitosan glutamate, and chitosan aspartate were produced by ionotropic gelation with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was applied as a model protein at loading concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 2 mg/mL. The size of the nanoparticles, as measured by photon correlation spectroscopy, was in the range of 195 to 3450 nm, depending on type and molecular weight of chitosan. Nanoparticles prepared with higher molecular weight chitosan showed larger sizes. The encapsulation was controlled by the competition of BSA in forming ionic cross-linking with chitosan and by the entrapment of BSA during the gelation process. Higher BSA encapsulation efficiency (EE) was obtained for nanoparticles prepared with chitosan salts compared to those prepared with the base. The higher EE was a result of a higher degree of ionization, causing more active sites to interact with BSA. In addition, a higher and faster release of BSA from the nanoparticles into pH 7.4 buffer medium was observed for nanoparticles of the chitosan salts than was observed for nanoparticles of the chitosan base. The higher and faster release was attributed to higher EE and lower entrapment of BSA within the matrix of the nanoparticle during the gelation process. The influence of molecular weight on the property of nanoparticles exhibited different effects. The difference was a result of different organic acids used to prepare nanoparticles leading to the difference in polymer conformation and viscosity of organic acid solution. Therefore, this study showed that the characteristics of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with a protein drug could be readily modulated by changing the salt form or the molecular weight of the chitosan carrier.     

Antioxidant activities of Toona Sinensis leaves extracts using different antioxidant models.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of aqueous extracts of Toona sinensis (TS; 0-100 microg/mL) and gallic acid (0-50 microg/mL), with the purified natural phenolic components evaluated using different antioxidant models. It was found that the TS extracts and gallic acid possess effective antioxidant activity against various oxidative systems in vitro, including the scavenging of free and superoxide anion radicals, reducing power, and metal chelation. However, antioxidant activity in terms of metal chelation was not observed for the gallic acid. Moreover, TS extracts and gallic acid appear to possess powerful antioxidant properties with respect to oxidative modification of human LDL induced by CuSO4, AAPH or sodium nitroprusside, as assessed by the relative electrophoretic mobility, TBARS formation, and cholesterol degradation of oxidized LDL. Furthermore, AAPH-induced oxidative hemolysis, lipid peroxidation, and decline in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in human erythrocytes were prevented by both the TS extracts and the gallic acid. Our findings suggest that T. sinensis may act as a chemopreventative agent, providing antioxidant properties and offering effective protection from atherogenesis.     

Sodium arsenite-induced alteration in hepatocyte function of rat with special emphasis on superoxide dismutase expression pathway and its prevention by mushroom lectin

This study was accomplished to exemplify the possible protective role of ascorbic acid and mushroom lectin against arsenic-induced cytotoxicity and impairment of superoxide dismutase (SOD) production pathway in hepatocytes of rat. Hepatocytes were isolated from rat and treated with sodium arsenite (AS), arsenic plus ascorbic acid (AS + AA) and arsenic plus mushroom lectin (AS + ML). A placebo control was also included. Arsenic treatment resulted in the depletion of cell proliferation, phagocytic activity (nitro blue tetrazolium index) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, relative mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD(2)) and enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO). Ascorbic acid, a standard antioxidant, could normalize cellular perturbation and SOD production pathway relating to gene expression, whereas partially purified Pleurotus florida lectin (PFL), an edible mushroom containing protein complex, maintained cellular activity and prevented stress by normalizing phagocytic (NBT index) and SOD activities vis-à-vis relative gene expression. It could further defend NO production of hepatocytes. Mushroom lectin strongly prevented sodium arsenite-induced damage of SOD production pathway in hepatocytes, and its effect was also comparable to a standard antioxidant, i.e. ascorbic acid.     

用离子交联-匀化工艺制备乙肝疫苗壳聚糖纳米粒

目的：研究制备乙肝疫苗壳聚糖（chitosan，CS）纳米粒的适宜条件和影响因素。方法：以CS溶液和三聚磷酸钠溶液，采用离子交联-高压匀化工艺制备乙肝疫苗壳聚糖纳米粒，考察CS的浓度、CS与二聚磷酸钠的质量比及高压匀化对壳聚糖纳米粒粒径和多分散系数的影响，测定了载药纳米粒的包封率和载药量。结果：当CS与三聚磷酸钠的浓度都为2mg/mL，质量比为3：1～6：1，通过离子交联-高压匀化工艺可以得到稳定的纳米粒。纳米粒外观圆整，粒径分布均匀，包封率达到90％以上。结论：用离子交联－高压匀化工艺制备CS纳米粒不需要使用有机溶剂，包封率较高，可以满足给药系统应用要求。     

Anti-ulcerogenic effect of chitin and chitosan on mucosal antioxidant defence system in HCl-ethanol-induced ulcer in rats

The anti-ulcerogenic effect of chitin and chitosan against ulcer induced by HCl-ethanol in male Wistar rats was studied. Levels of acid output, pepsin, protein, lipid peroxides and reduced glutathione and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in the gastric mucosa of normal and experimental groups of rats. A significant increase in volume and acidity of the gastric juice was observed in the ulcer-induced group of rats. Peptic activity was significantly decreased as compared with that of normal controls. In the rats pre-treated with chitin and chitosan 2% along with feed, the volume and acid output and peptic activity of gastric mucosa were maintained at near normal levels. The level of lipid peroxidation was significantly higher in the ulcerated mucosa when compared with that of normal controls. This was paralleled by a decline in the level of reduced glutathione and in the activity of antioxidant enzymes like GPx, GST, CAT and SOD in the gastric mucosa of ulcer-induced rats. Also, the levels of mucosal proteins and glycoprotein components were significantly depleted in ulcerated mucosa. The pre-treatment with chitin and chitosan was found to exert a significant anti-ulcer effect by preventing all the HCl-ethanol-induced ulcerogenic effects in experimental rats.