The manufacturing and characterisation of eugenol-enclosed liposomes produced by microfluidic method

Ghodke, Jessica; Ekonomou, Sotirios I.; Weaver, Edward; Lamprou, Dimitrios; Doran, Olena; Stratakos, Alexandros Ch.

Abstract

In this study, liposomes enclosing eugenol were prepared using microfluidics. Two lipids—1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 18:0 (DSPC) and 2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 14:0 (DMPC)—and microfluidic chips with serpentine and Y-shaped micromixing designs were used for the liposomal formulation. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values indicated that eugenol was more effective against Gram-negative than Gram-positive bacteria. Four different flow-rate ratios (FRR 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1) were explored. All liposomes’ encapsulation efficiency (EE) was determined: 94.34% for DSPC 3:1 and 78.63% for DMPC 5:1. The highest eugenol release of 99.86% was observed at pH 4, DMPC 3:1 (Y-shaped chip). Liposomes were physically stable at 4, 20 and 37 °C for 60 days as determined by their size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (ZP). The most stable liposomes were observed at FRR 5:1 for DSPC. EE, stability, and eugenol release studies proved that the liposomal formulations produced can be used as delivery vehicles to increase food safety.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 1, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Aug 3, 2023
• Publication Date: Aug 3, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 30, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 5, 2023
• Journal: Foods
• Electronic ISSN: 2304-8158
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 15
• Article Number: 2940
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12152940
• Keywords: liposomes, emerging technologies, food safety, storage stability, eugenol, microfluidics
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11067652