Development and characterisation of a novel chitosan-coated antioxidant liposome containing both coenzyme Q10 and alpha-lipoic acid.

ABSTRACT

This article describes the physicochemical properties of chitosan-coated liposomes containing skin-protecting agents, coenzyme Q10 and alpha-lipoic acid (CCAL). CCAL had a spherical shell-core structure and liposomes inverted the surface charge from negative to positive after coating with chitosan. Compared with the uncoated liposome, CCAL had higher zeta potential, larger droplet size and long-term stability. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study showed that the driving force for chitosan coating the liposomes was enhanced via hydrogen bonding and ionic bond force between the chitosan and the alpha-lipoic acid. While the encapsulation efficiency (EE) of alpha-lipoic acid also increased by interacting with the chitosan shell. In vitro antioxidant activity study showed an excellent hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of CCAL. In vitro release study displayed a sustained drug release, and in vitro penetration studies promoted the accumulation of drugs in rabbit skin.