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Niosomes as Drug Nanovectors: Multiscale pH-Dependent Structural Response.
Carlotta Marianecci1, Luisa Di Marzio2, Elena Del Favero3
1Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, University of Rome "Sapienza" , 00185 Rome, Italy.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|January 8, 2016
Summary
pH-sensitive niosomes, crucial for drug delivery, were characterized to understand how surfactant composition affects their structure. Different pH levels alter niosome properties, influencing their potential for targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Science
- Materials Science
- Colloid Science
Background:
- Nanocarriers responding to stimuli offer advanced pharmaceutical applications.
- pH modification is a key passive targeting strategy for nanocarrier accumulation.
- Understanding nanocarrier structural changes under varying pH is vital for drug delivery efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize pH-sensitive niosomes and their physicochemical properties.
- To investigate the impact of surfactant composition on niosome supramolecular structure.
- To demonstrate how pH influences niosome behavior for potential in vitro and in vivo applications.
Main Methods:
- Physicochemical characterization of niosomes using Transmission Electron Microscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, and Small-Angle X-ray Scattering.
- Evaluation of niosomes formulated with commercial (Tween21) and synthetic (Tween20 derivatives) surfactants.
- Assessment of niosome structural changes at physiological (pH 7.4) and acidic (pH 5.5) conditions.
Main Results:
- Niosome structure remained stable at pH 7.4 but showed variations in bilayer thickness, water penetration, membrane coupling, and cholesterol dispersion.
- Acidic pH (5.5) increased bilayer fluidity and affected cholesterol depletion.
- Tween21 niosomes formed larger vesicles with lower curvature at acidic pH, while Tween20-derivative niosomes exhibited increased intrachain mobility.
Conclusions:
- Surfactant composition significantly influences the supramolecular structure and pH-responsiveness of niosomes.
- Niosome structural modifications at different pH levels impact their suitability for targeted drug delivery.
- Integrated physicochemical analyses provide comprehensive insights into stimuli-responsive nanocarrier behavior.
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