Lecithin-based novel cationic nanocarriers (LeciPlex) I: fabrication, characterization and evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
In the present investigation, the feasibility of fabricating novel self-assembled cationic nanocarriers (LeciPlex) containing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and soybean lecithin using pharmaceutically acceptable biocompatible solvents such as 2-Pyrrolidone (Soluphor P) and diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether (Transcutol) was established.


METHODS
The interaction between DDAB/CTAB and soybean lecithin in the nanocarriers was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and in vitro antimicrobial studies. The positive charge on the nanocarriers was confirmed by zeta potential analysis.


RESULTS
Transmission electron microscopy analysis could not reveal sufficient information regarding the internal structure of the nanocarriers, whereas cryotransmission electron microscopy studies indicated that these novel nanocarriers have unilamellar structure. Small-angle neutron scattering studies confirmed interaction of cationic surfactant (DDAB) and lecithin in the nanocarriers and confirmed the presence of unilamellar nanostructures.


CONCLUSIONS
Various hydrophobic drugs could be encapsulated in the CTAB/DDAB-based lecithin nanocarriers (CTAB-LeciPlex or DDAB-LeciPlex) irrespective of their difference in log p-values. In vitro antimicrobial studies on triclosan-loaded LeciPlex confirmed entrapment of triclosan in the nanocarriers. The ability of CTAB-LeciPlex and DDAB-LeciPlex to condense plasmid DNA was established using agarose gel electrophoresis. DDAB-LeciPlex could successfully transfect pDNA in HEK-293 cells indicating potential in gene delivery.
Department of Pharmaceutics, Bombay College of Pharmacy, Kalina, Santacruz (East), Mumbai-400098, India.
Abhijit A
AA
Date
Deepika
D
Srivastava
Mangal S
MS
Nagarsenker
Rita
R
Mulherkar
Lata
L
Panicker
Vinod
V
Aswal
Puthusserickal A
PA
Hassan
Frank
F
Steiniger
Jana
J
Thamm
Alfred
A
Fahr
D002460:Cell Line; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D054709:Lecithins / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D014162:Transfection
D004337:Drug Carriers; D054709:Lecithins; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C046112:didodecyldimethylammonium; C013912:decyltrimethylammonium