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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Preparation, Purification, and Use of Fatty Acid-containing Liposomes
Published on: February 9, 2018
Tailored saturated phosphatidylcholine liposomes enhance the physicochemical stability and intestinal bioavailability
Hyeon-Jun Chang1, Jeung-Hee Lee1
1Department of Food and Nutrition, Daegu University, 201, Daegudae-ro, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 38453, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
This study evaluated tailored saturated phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes for improving the physicochemical stability and intestinal bioavailability of ascorbic acid (AA) and calcium ascorbate (CA). High-purity 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC), and 1-palmitoyl-2-stearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PSPC)/1-stearoyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SPPC)-rich mixture were synthesized. Liposomes encapsulating AA and CA were prepared using synthesized PCs and their mixtures (PCMs). The liposomes showed nanoparticle sizes (100-125 nm) and low polydispersity (0.10-0.18). Encapsulation efficiency depended on PC composition, with PCM achieving the highest efficiencies for AA (∼50%) and CA (∼93%). Compared with soy PC liposomes, saturated PC-based liposomes showed significantly improved physicochemical and storage stability. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion demonstrated that PCM-I liposomes (DMPC:DSPC = 70:30, wt/wt) effectively protected encapsulated AA and CA than their free forms. Caco-2 cell assays confirmed enhanced intracellular uptake and transepithelial transport, particularly for Liposomal-CA. These results demonstrate that tailored saturated PC liposomes are effective nano-delivery systems for improving the stability and intestinal absorption of AA derivatives.
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