Ergosterol-Enriched Liposomes with Post-Processing Modifications for Serpylli Herba Polyphenol Delivery:...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Ergosterol, a fungal-derived sterol, presents a novel, animal-free alternative to cholesterol for liposome formulations.
• Its natural origin aligns with growing demand for sustainable, vegan-friendly ingredients in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of varying ergosterol concentrations (10 mol% vs. 20 mol%) on the properties of Serpylli herba extract-loaded liposomes.
• To assess ergosterol's influence on encapsulation efficiency, physical characteristics, antioxidant activity, and storage stability.

Main Methods:

• Liposomes loaded with Serpylli herba extract were prepared with different ergosterol mol%.
• Evaluated encapsulation efficiency (EE), particle size, zeta potential, morphology (TEM), antioxidant activity (ABTS, FRAP), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), and storage stability under various stress conditions (UV, freeze-drying).

Main Results:

• Liposomes with 20 mol% ergosterol showed higher EE (~81.0%) and improved resistance to UV and freeze-drying stress compared to 10 mol%.
• Higher ergosterol content enhanced vesicle uniformity, colloidal stability, and integrity during storage, with dose-dependent effects on vesicle concentration.
• Ergosterol-enriched liposomes demonstrated controlled polyphenol release and preserved antioxidant activity, with extract mitigating UV-induced lipid peroxidation.

Conclusions:

• Increased ergosterol content significantly improves liposomal performance, including encapsulation, structural resilience, and antioxidant retention, especially under stress.
• Ergosterol-based liposomes offer enhanced stability, favorable particle size, and high EE, maintaining the bioactivity of encapsulated extracts.
• These findings support ergosterol liposomes as promising, sustainable carriers for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.