Chitosan-Coated Liposome Formulations for Encapsulation of Ciprofloxacin and Etoposide.

in Pharmaceutics by Rubén Gil-Gonzalo, D Alonzo Durante-Salmerón, Saeedeh Pouri, Ernesto Doncel-Pérez, Andrés R Alcántara, Inmaculada Aranaz, Niuris Acosta

TLDR

  • The study is about making drugs better by putting them in a special package called a chitosome. Chitosomes are made from a type of sugar called chitosan. The study shows that chitosomes can help drugs work better and last longer. The study also shows that chitosomes can be used to deliver other drugs with different properties to enhance their therapeutic outcomes.

Abstract

Cancer and bacterial infections rank among the most significant global health threats. accounting for roughly 25 million fatalities each year. This statistic underscores the urgent necessity for developing novel drugs, enhancing current treatments, and implementing systems that boost their bioavailability to achieve superior therapeutic outcomes. Liposomes have been recognised as effective carriers; nonetheless, they encounter issues with long-term stability and structural integrity, which limit their pharmaceutical applicability. Chitosomes (chitosan-coated liposomes) are generally a good alternative to solve these issues. This research aims to demonstrate the effective individual encapsulation of ciprofloxacin (antibacterial, hydrophilic) and etoposide (anticancer, hydrophobic), within chitosomes to create more effective drug delivery systems (oral administration for ciprofloxacin, parenteral administration for etoposide). Thus, liposomes and chitosomes were prepared using the thin-film hydration technique and were characterised through ATR-FTIR, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), zeta potential, and release profiling. In both cases, the application of chitosomes enhanced long-term stability in size and surface charge. Chitosome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin formulations exhibited a slower and sustained release profile, while the combined effect of etoposide and chitosan showed heightened efficacy against the glioblastoma cell line U373. Therefore, coating liposomes with chitosan improved the encapsulation system's properties, resulting in a promising method for drug delivery.

Overview

  • The study aims to demonstrate the effective individual encapsulation of ciprofloxacin and etoposide within chitosomes to create more effective drug delivery systems. The study uses the thin-film hydration technique to prepare liposomes and chitosomes, and characterizes them through ATR-FTIR, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), zeta potential, and release profiling. The study aims to improve the encapsulation system's properties, resulting in a promising method for drug delivery.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • The application of chitosomes enhanced long-term stability in size and surface charge. Chitosome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin formulations exhibited a slower and sustained release profile, while the combined effect of etoposide and chitosan showed heightened efficacy against the glioblastoma cell line U373.

Implications and Future Directions

  • The study highlights the potential of chitosomes as a promising method for drug delivery. Future research should focus on optimizing the chitosome formulation to improve the drug's bioavailability and efficacy. Additionally, the study suggests that chitosomes could be used to deliver other drugs with different properties, such as hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, to enhance their therapeutic outcomes.
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