Structure,bioavailability and physicochemical properties of icariin-soymilk nanoparticle

Soymilk is a natural nanocarrier.However,the performance of flavonoid-soymilk nano-complex remains unclear.In this work,icariin-soymilk nano-complexes(ISNCs)were successfully fabricated and characterized.The effects of high-pressure homogenization(HPH)treatment on structure and physicochemical properties of soymilk and nano-complexes were investigated.HPH treatment could significantly improve the surface hydrophobicity and interfacial activity of soymilk.The soymilk with HPH treatment could significantly improve the water solubility(20 folds),thermal stability and bioavailability of icariin.The highest encapsulation efficiency(93.28%),loading capacity(39.09μg/mg),ζ-potentia(absolute value,31.20 mV)and bioavailability(72.14%)were observed in HSI-200(200 bar of homogenization pressure).While HSI-500(500 bar of homogenization pressure)showed the smallest particle size(183.73 nm).ISNCs showed a rougher surface and an irregular lamellar structure with large amount of fine particles by using Cryo-SEM,suggesting that icariin was encapsulated in soymilk.These data supplied a novel strategy to improve the performance of icariin in functional foods.

Overview of milling techniques for improving the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs

Milling involves the application of mechanical energy to physically break down coarse particles to finer ones and is regarded as a“topedown”approach in the production of fine particles.Fine drug particulates are especially desired in formulations designed for parenteral,respiratory and transdermal use.Most drugs after crystallization may have to be comminuted and this physical transformation is required to various extents,often to enhance processability or solubility especially for drugs with limited aqueous solubility.The mechanisms by which milling enhances drug dissolution and solubility include alterations in the size,specific surface area and shape of the drug particles as well as millinginduced amorphization and/or structural disordering of the drug crystal(mechanochemical activation).Technology advancements in milling now enable the production of drug micro-and nano-particles on a commercial scale with relative ease.This review will provide a background on milling followed by the introduction of common milling techniques employed for the micronization and nanonization of drugs.Salient information contained in the cited examples are further extracted and summarized for ease of reference by researchers keen on employing these techniques for drug solubility and bioavailability enhancement.

Improved anti-tumor efficacy and pharmacokinetics of bufalin via PEGylated liposomes

OBJECTIVE To determine the characterization,anti-tumor efficacy and pharmacokinetics of bufalin-loaded PEGylated liposomes compared with bufalin entity.METHODS Bufalin-loaded PEGylated liposomes and bufalin-loaded liposomes were prepared reproducibly with homogeneous particle size by the combination of thin film evaporation method and high pressure homogenization method.The particle size and zeta potential of the liposomes were determined by dynamic light scattering technique.The direct imaging of morphology of liposomes was charactered by transmission electron microscope.The content of bufalin in liposomes was analysed by HPLC method.The entrapment efficiency and the particle size was applied to assess the stability profile,after storage at 4℃ on day 0,7,15,30 and 90.The in-vitro release behaviours of bufalin from liposomes were conducted using dialysis bag technique at 37℃.In-vitro cytotoxicity studies were carried out using MTT[3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide]assay on several kinds of tumor cel lines including SW620,PC-3,MDA-MB-231,A549,U251,U87 and HepG2.In-vivo pharmacokinetic study of bufalin liposomes was evaluated by HPLC method.RESULTS Their mean particle sizes were 127.6 nm and 155.0 nm,mean zeta potentials were 2.24 m V and-18.5 m V,entrapment efficiencies were 76.31%and 78.40%,respectively.In-vitro release profile revealed that the release of bufalin in bufalin-loaded PEGylated liposomes was slower than that of bufalin-loaded liposomes.The cytotoxicity of blank liposomes has been found within acceptable range,whereas bufalin-loaded PEGylated liposomes showed enhanced cytotoxicity to U251 cells compared with bufalin entity.In-vivo pharmacokinetics indicated that bufalinloaded PEGylated liposomes could extend eliminate half-life time of bufalin in plasma in rats.CONCLUSION The results suggested that bufalin-loaded PEGylated liposomes improved the solubility and increased the drug concentration in plasma.

Efficacy of combined albendazol and praziquntel and their loaded solid lipid nanoparticles components in chemoprophylaxis of experimental hydatidosis

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of combined ABZ and PZQ and their solid lipid nanoparticles in chemoprophylaxis of cystic echinococcosis(CE).Methods:ABZ and PZQ loaded solid lipid nanoparticles(SLNs) were prepared by high shear homogenization and microemulsion congealing techniques with some minor modification.Nanoparticles average size,polydispersity index(PDI),and particle size distribution were determined by scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and photon correlation spectroscopy.Forty females BALB/c were experimentally infected by protoscoleces(PSC) and randomly divided into four equal groups of 10 mice.After the end of the 3 months treatment period and 2 months rest,mice were sacrificed and the peritoneal cavity was opened for removal,counting,measuring,and histological analysis of hydatid cyst.Results:The results indicated that ABZ and PZQ chemoprophylaxis treatment reduced the wet weight and size of developed cysts 77.3% and 79%,respectively.The corresponding result for the ABZ and PZQ loaded SLNs was 83% and 85%,respectively.Conclusions:This study for the first time demonstrated that ABZ and PZQ loaded SLNs is superior to free ABZ and PZQ for the chemoprophylaxis of CE in mice.

Nanostructured lipid carrier based topical gel of Ganoderma Triterpenoids for frostbite treatment

The objective of this study was to prepare nanostructured lipid carrier(NLC)-based topical gel of Ganoderma Triterpenoids(GTs) and evaluate their effects on frostbite treatment. GT-NLCs was prepared by the high pressure homogenization method and then characterized by morphology and analyses of particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency(EE), and drug loading(DL). The NLCs was suitably gelled for skin permeation studies in vitro and pharmacodynamic evaluation in vivo, compared with the GT emulgel. The GT-NLC remained within the colloidal range and was uniformly dispersed after suitably gelled by carbopol preparation. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) study showed GT-NLCs was spherical in shape. The EE(%) and DL(%) could reach up to(81.84 ± 0.60)% and(2.13 ± 0.12)%, respectively. The result of X-ray diffractograms(XRD) showed that GTs were in an amorphous state in the NLC-gel. In vitro permeation studies through rat skin indicated that the amount of GTs permeated through skin of GT-NLCs after 24 h was higher than that of GT emulsion, and GT-NLCs increased the accumulative amounts of GTs in epidermis 7.76 times greater than GT emulsion. GT-NLC-gel was found to possess superior therapeutic effect for frostbite, compared with the GT emulgel. The NLC based topical gel of GTs could improve-their therapeutic effect for frostbite.