Zein/Phospholipid Composite Nanoparticles for Successful Delivery of Gallic Acid into aHSCs: Influence of Size, Surface Charge, and Vitamin A Coupling.

PURPOSE: Zein/phospholipid composite nanoparticles (CNPs) were developed as a delivery platform for gallic acid (GA), a polyphenolic compound with reported preclinical antifibrotic activities. However, the therapeutic applicability of GA is hampered owing to its low bioavailability and rapid clearance. Accordingly, we developed GA-loaded CNPs. The effect of their size, surface charge and targeting strategies was investigated and optimized, with the aim of enhancing their ability to deliver GA to the activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) in order to suppress hepatic fibrosis progression. METHODS: Different CNP systems were prepared and characterized with regard to their particle size, zeta potential, and GA entrapment efficiency (EE%). Also, they were statistically optimized via response surface methodology. The optimized systems were investigated with regard to their in vitro GA release, in vitro efficacy on aHSCs, and in vivo biodistribution in healthy rats. RESULTS: The GA-loaded cationic CNPs coupled with vitamin A (GA-CACNP/VA; 192 nm) showed high GA EE% (60% w/w), highest cellular internalization via active targeting, and more selective hepatic distribution, relative to free GA solution, GA-loaded anionic, and GA-loaded cationic systems. Furthermore, GA-CACNP/VA markedly triggered the apoptosis of aHSCs, repressed collagen deposition, and inhibited HSCs' activation to a lesser extent. CONCLUSION: The GA-CACNP/VA was shown to be a promising candidate for specific and controlled delivery of GA to aHSCs, which may provide an effective antifibrotic therapeutic approach.

Impact of Reverse Micelle Loaded Lipid Nanocapsules on the Delivery of Gallic Acid into Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Hepatic Fibrosis.

PURPOSE: Gallic acid (GA) is a polyphenolic compound with proven efficacy against hepatic fibrosis in experimental animals. However, it suffers from poor bioavailability and rapid clearance that hinders its clinical investigation. Accordingly, we designed and optimized reverse micelle-loaded lipid nanocapsules (RMLNC) using Box-Behnken design that can deliver GA directly into activated-hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) aiming to suppress hepatic fibrosis progression. METHODS: GA-RMLNC was prepared using soft energy, solvent free phase inversion temperature method. Effects of formulation variables on particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (EE%) and GA release were studied. In-vivo biodistribution of GA-RMLNC in rats and in-vitro activities on aHSCs were also explored. RESULTS: Nano-sized GA-RMLNCs (30.35 ± 2.34 nm) were formulated with high GA-EE% (63.95 ± 2.98% w/w) and physical stability (9 months). The formulated system showed burst GA release in the first 2 h followed by sustained release profile. In-vivo biodistribution imaging revealed that RMLNC-loaded with rhodamine-B accumulated mainly in rats' livers. Relative to GA; GA-RMLNC displayed higher anti-proliferative activities, effective internalization into aHSCs, marked down-regulation in pro-fibrogenic biomarkers' expressions and elevated HSCs' apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the promising application of RMLNC as a delivery system in hepatic fibrosis treatment, where successful delivery of GA into aHSCs was ensured via increased cellular uptake and antifibrotic activities.

Microemulsion loaded hydrogel as a promising vehicle for dermal delivery of the antifungal sertaconazole: design, optimization and ex vivo evaluation.

The purpose of the present study was to develop and optimize sertaconazole microemulsion-loaded hydrogel (STZ ME G) to enhance the dermal delivery and skin retention of the drug. Following screening of various oils for maximum drug solubility, 12 pseudoternary phase diagrams were constructed using oils (Peceol®, Capryol® 90), surfactants (Tween® 80, Cremophor® EL), a cosurfactant (Transcutol® P) and water. A 21 × 31 × 21 × 31 full factorial design was employed to optimize a ME of desirable characteristics. The MEs were formulated by varying the oil type, oil concentration, surfactant type and surfactant: cosurfactant ratio. Optimized ME formulae F22 [5% Peceol®, 55% Tween® 80: Transcutol® (1:2), 40% water] and F31 [5% Peceol®, 55% Cremophor® EL: Transcutol® (1:2), 40% water] acquired mean droplet size of 75.21 and 8.68 nm, and zeta potential of 34.65 and 24.05 mV, respectively. Since F22 showed higher STZ skin retention during ex vivo studies (686.47 µg/cm2) than F31 (338.11 µg/cm2); hence it was incorporated in 0.5% Carbopol 934 gel to augment STZ skin retention capability. STZ ME G exhibited higher STZ skin retention (1086.1 µg/cm2) than the marketed product "Dermofix® cream" (270.3 µg/cm2). The antimycotic activity against C.albicans revealed increased zones of inhibition for F22 and STZ ME G (35.75 and 30.5 mm, respectively) compared to Dermofix® cream (26 mm). No histopathological changes were observed following topical application of STZ ME G on rats' skin (n = 9). Overall, the obtained results confirmed that the fabricated formulation could be a promising vehicle for the dermal delivery of STZ.