Preparation and Characterization of Vitamin C Aquasomes

Aquasomes are water-based nanocarriers widely used in pharmaceutical applications for the delivery of various molecules.

This research examines the preparation and characterization of vitamin C-loaded aquasomes.

The aquasomes were prepared by using colloidal precipitation and sonication methods. Various characterizations, including particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential, were performed on the core, lactose coating, and final formulation of vitamin C-loaded aquasomes. Further analysis was carried out using Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Additionally, the in vitro release profile of vitamin C from the aquasomes was compared with that of a commercially available vitamin C formulation and a shelf-life analysis was conducted.

The addition of lactose and vitamin C led to an increase in the particle size of the core, from 348 nm to 654 nm, while the zeta potential decreased from -31.9 mV to -12.8 mV. The percent payload was found to be 52.63%. TGA results indicated weight loss in HAP, suggesting thermal degradation, while DSC analysis revealed the melting points of lactose sugars and the thermal behavior of vitamin C. The dissolution results show that vitamin C-loaded aquasomes released 4- 6% more of the vitamin in acidic (pH 1.2) and phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) environments over 90 minutes, compared to commercial vitamin C products. The aquasomes exhibited excellent stability, maintaining over 90% of their potency over 90 days.

Vitamin C-loaded aquasomes have been successfully prepared and demonstrated better performance compared to commercial products. This study suggests that aquasomes keep vitamin C stable and may improve its absorption in the body.