Polyphenols-enriched Hibiscus sabdariffa extract-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC): Optimization by multi-response surface methodology

• Published in: Journal of drug delivery science and technology Vol. 49; pp. 660 - 667
• Main Authors: Pimentel-Moral, S., Teixeira, M.C., Fernandes, A.R., Borrás-Linares, I., Arráez-Román, D., Martínez-Férez, A., Segura-Carretero, A., Souto, E.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2019
• Subjects: Encapsulation; Hibiscus sabdariffa; Nanoparticles; Nanostructured lipid Carrier; Polyphenols; Response surface methodology; Hibiscus sabdariffa; Encapsulation; Nanoparticles; Polyphenols; Nanostructured lipid Carrier; Response surface methodology
• ISSN: 1773-2247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2018.12.023

Nanoparticles are commonly used to improve the bioavailability of several bioactive compounds. In this work, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) have been optimized by response-surface methodology to protect phenolic compounds from Hibiscus sabdariffa. The influence of lipid and surfactant concentration on the mean particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of NLC was analysed. The results showed that the effect of both independent variables was statistically significant on the selected responses. The optimized formulation obtained from the predicted model was composed of 2.21% (w/w) of lipid phase and 1.93% (w/w) of surfactant, with a desirability function of 0.77. The loading of polyphenol-enriched Hibiscus sabdariffa extract - obtained by microwave assisted extraction or by pressurized liquid extraction - within the NLC resulted in particles with a mean size of 470 ± 8 nm (encapsulation efficiency of 52.9 ± 0.9% for quercetin and 60 ± 2% for anthocyanins) and 344 ± 12 nm (encapsulation efficiency of 93 ± 3% for quercetin and 84 ± 4% for anthocyanins), respectively. Transmission electron microscopy images and Fourier transformed infra-red analysis of extracts-loaded NLC confirmed that interaction between lipids and polyphenols improved the physicochemical stability of the particles. Our findings highlight the added value of NLC as a delivery system for phenolic compounds extracted from Hibiscus sabdariffa. [Display omitted]