The stability of liposomes with ergosterol and Thymus serpyllum L. extract
Jovanović, Aleksandra A.
Petrović, Predrag
Ćujić, Danica
Stepanović, Sandra
Gnjatović, Marija
Marinković, Aleksandar
Bugarski, Branko
ABSTRACT Thymus serpyllum L. contains biologically active components, such as essential oil, polyphenols (flavonoids, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins), monoterpenes, polysaccharides, and proteins. Nevertheless, the use of the mentioned substances is rather limited, due to their low bioavailability, integrity, permeability, solubility, and stability. Therefore, their encapsulation in the liposomal particles can be advantageous. Apart from phospholipids, the addition of sterols during liposomal preparation can improve the physicochemical properties of the obtained particles. Thus, in the present study, ergosterol (10 and 20 mol %) and wild thyme extract loaded liposomes were developed. Vesicle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, conductivity, and mobility of the obtained liposomes were determined using photon correlation spectroscopy. Additionally, the storage stability of the liposomes at 4ºC was investigated for 21 days. The liposomes with wild thyme extract were smaller than unloaded liposomes, while with the increase of ergosterol content vesicle size did not increase in all liposomes. The addition of extract caused the increase in the PDI, while it did not influence zeta potential. A phospholipid bilayer with 10 mol % of ergosterol possessed higher zeta potential (absolute value), conductivity, and mobility than a membrane containing 20 mol % of ergosterol. The vesicle sizes of all liposomes did not change drastically during 21 days of storage, whereas a slight increase of PDI appeared in extract loaded-liposomes after the 14th day. The zeta potential and mobility varied in all liposomes, and the trend depended on the composition of the membrane and the absence or the presence of the extract. The conductivity of the liposomes did not change during 21 days, except in the case of unloaded liposomes with 10 mol % ergosterol. The beneficial effects of polyphenols and ergosterol on human health, highlight the use of the liposomes with ergosterol and wild thyme L. extract for potential application in foods, pharmaceutics, and cosmetics.
engleski
2023
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ergosterol, liposomes, polyphenols, stability, Thymus serpyllum