Encapsulation of Polyphenols from <i>Lycium barbarum</i> Leaves into Liposomes as a Strategy to Improve Their Delivery
Ramona-Daniela Păvăloiu,
Fawzia Sha’at,
Georgeta Neagu,
Mihaela Deaconu,
Corina Bubueanu,
Adrian Albulescu,
Mousa Sha’at,
Cristina Hlevca
Affiliations
Ramona-Daniela Păvăloiu
National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research & Development—ICCF Bucharest, Vitan Av. nr. 112, 3rd District, 031299 Bucharest, Romania
Fawzia Sha’at
National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research & Development—ICCF Bucharest, Vitan Av. nr. 112, 3rd District, 031299 Bucharest, Romania
Georgeta Neagu
National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research & Development—ICCF Bucharest, Vitan Av. nr. 112, 3rd District, 031299 Bucharest, Romania
Mihaela Deaconu
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Physical-Chemistry & Electrochemistry, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, Gheorghe Polizu Street nr. 1–7, 1st District, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Corina Bubueanu
National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research & Development—ICCF Bucharest, Vitan Av. nr. 112, 3rd District, 031299 Bucharest, Romania
Adrian Albulescu
National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research & Development—ICCF Bucharest, Vitan Av. nr. 112, 3rd District, 031299 Bucharest, Romania
Mousa Sha’at
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T. Popa, Universitatii Street. nr. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Cristina Hlevca
National Institute for Chemical-Pharmaceutical Research & Development—ICCF Bucharest, Vitan Av. nr. 112, 3rd District, 031299 Bucharest, Romania
This study is focused on the encapsulation of polyphenols from Lycium barbarum leaves into liposomes as a strategy to improve their delivery. Liposomes loaded with Lycium barbarum leaves extract were obtained and characterized for particle size, polydispersity, entrapment efficiency, and stability. Liposomes presented entrapment efficiency higher than 75%, nanometric particle size, narrow polydispersity, and good stability over three months at 4 °C. The liposomes containing Lycium barbarum offered a slower release of polyphenols with attenuated burst effect compared with the dissolution of free Lycium barbarum extract in phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.4. Moreover, an in vitro pretreatment of 24 h with loaded liposomes showed a cytoprotective effect against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity on L-929 mouse fibroblasts cells. These preliminary findings imply that liposomes could be successfully employed as carriers for polyphenols in pharmaceutical applications.
