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Structural characterization and biological fate of lactoferrin-loaded liposomes during simulated infant digestion

Mengmeng Tian1, Jianzhong Han1, Aiqian Ye1,2

  • 1Department of Food Quality and Safety, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China.

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
|October 20, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Liposomes loaded with lactoferrin (LF) show structural integrity in simulated infant gastric fluid but degrade in intestinal fluid. This research offers insights into liposomal behavior in infant digestion for dietary applications.

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Limited data exists on liposomal delivery system structural changes under infant physiological conditions.
  • Lactoferrin (LF)-loaded liposomes were prepared using soybean phospholipids via thin-layer dispersion, achieving 52.3% entrapment efficiency (EE).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the structural changes and digestibility of LF-loaded liposomes under simulated infant gastrointestinal conditions (gastric and small intestinal fluids).
  • To evaluate the stability and integrity of liposomes relevant to infant dietary applications.

Main Methods:

  • Liposomes were subjected to simulated infant gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated infant small intestinal fluid (SIF).
  • Characterization involved measuring particle size, zeta potential, turbidity, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), lipolysis, and protein hydrolysis.

Main Results:

  • Liposomes exhibited minor changes in functional groups and membrane structure in SGF, maintaining their EE.
  • Significant damage to bilayer structures and a decrease in EE to 28.5% were observed after digestion in infant SIF.

Conclusions:

  • The liposomal membrane effectively prevents gastric degradation in infants.
  • Liposome structure remained largely intact under low concentrations of pancreatin and bile salts, indicating potential for infant dietary applications.
Abstract

Keywords:
in vitro digestioninfantlactoferrinliposomestability

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