Surviving nebulization-induced stress: dexamethasone in pH-sensitive archaeosomes

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Improving drug delivery systems is crucial for enhancing therapeutic efficacy.
• Nanoliposomes offer potential for drug delivery but face challenges with stability, especially under nebulization stress.
• Archaeolipids present a novel component for developing robust nanocarrier systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare pH-sensitive nanoliposomes (ApH) incorporating archaeolipids for enhanced subcellular delivery and stability of dexamethasone phosphate (DP).
• To evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential and stability of DP-loaded ApH compared to conventional liposomes (LpH) after nebulization.

Main Methods:

• DP-loaded pH-sensitive archaeosomes (ApH) and conventional liposomes (LpH) were prepared using specific lipid compositions.
• The anti-inflammatory effects were assessed on various cell lines by measuring IL-6 and TNF-α suppression.
• Stability was evaluated by measuring size, polydispersity, and HPTS retention before and after nebulization and 6-month storage.

Main Results:

• DP-loaded ApH effectively suppressed IL-6 and TNF-α in phagocytic cells, indicating anti-inflammatory activity.
• Conventional LpH showed increased size and complete loss of HPTS after nebulization.
• ApH maintained its size, polydispersity, and HPTS content after nebulization and storage, demonstrating superior stability.

Conclusions:

• pH-sensitive archaeosomes (ApH) represent a promising nanocarrier for dexamethasone phosphate (DP) delivery, offering enhanced stability against nebulization stress.
• The unique properties of archaeolipids contribute to the improved performance of ApH, overcoming limitations of conventional liposomes.
• ApH formulations hold potential for improved inhaled therapies requiring stable and effective drug delivery.