Chitosan-tripolyphosphate nanoparticles as Arrabidaea chica standardized extract carrier: synthesis, characterization, biocompatibility, and antiulcerogenic activity

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Servat-Medina, Leila ; Gonzalez-Gomez, Alvaro ; Reyes-Ortega, Felisa ; Oliveira Sousa, Ilza Maria ; Almeida Queiroz, Nubia de Cassia ; Wiziack Zago, Patricia Maria ; Jorge, Michelle Pedrosa ; Monteiro, Karin Maia ; de Carvalho, Joao Ernesto ; San Roman, Julio ; Foglio, Mary Ann

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE; v. 10, p. 13-pg., 2015-01-01.

Abstract

Natural products using plants have received considerable attention because of their potential to treat various diseases. Arrabidaea chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) B. Verlot is a native tropical American vine with healing properties employed in folk medicine for wound healing, inflammation, and gastrointestinal colic. Applying nanotechnology to plant extracts has revealed an advantageous strategy for herbal drugs considering the numerous features that nanostructured systems offer, including solubility, bioavailability, and pharmacological activity enhancement. The present study reports the preparation and characterization of chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate nanoparticles (NPs) charged with A. chica standardized extract (AcE). Particle size and zeta potential were measured using a Zetasizer Nano ZS. The NP morphological characteristics were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Our studies indicated that the chitosan/sodium tripolyphosphate mass ratio of 5 and volume ratio of 10 were found to be the best condition to achieve the lowest NP sizes, with an average hydrodynamic diameter of 150 +/- 13 nm and a zeta potential of +45 +/- 2 mV. Particle size decreased with AcE addition (60 +/- 10.2 nm), suggesting an interaction between the extract's composition and polymers. The NP biocompatibility was evaluated using human skin fibroblasts. AcE-NP demonstrated capability of maintaining cell viability at the lowest concentrations tested, stimulating cell proliferation at higher concentrations. Antiulcerogenic activity of AcE-NP was also evaluated with an acute gastric ulcer experimental model induced by ethanol and indomethacin. NPs loaded with A. chica extract reduced the ulcerative lesion index using lower doses compared with the free extract, suggesting that extract encapsulation in chitosan NPs allowed for a dose reduction for a gastroprotective effect. The AcE encapsulation offers an approach for further application of the A. chica extract that could be considered a potential candidate for ulcer-healing pharmaceutical systems. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/16484-1 - Arrabidaea chica Verlot: Controled release formulations with aplications for ulcer lesions.
• Grantee: Leila Servat Medina
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 10/07781-0 - Arrabidaea chica Verlot: in vitro evaluation of toxicity, antimicrobial and cytoprotective activities from standardized free crude extract combined with zoledronic acid, and microencapsulation studies
• Grantee: Patrícia Maria Wiziack Zago
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 11/09127-8 - Arrabidaea chica Verlot: micro and nanoencapsulação of standardized crude extracts in carajiruna and the influence on wound healing of skin and mucosa
• Grantee: Mary Ann Foglio
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants