Delivery systems for natural antioxidant compounds: Archaeosomes and archaeosomal hydrogels characterization and release study

The aim of this study was to use archaeosomes, a novel kind of liposomes made up by archaeal polar lipids, both multilamellars (MLVs) and unilamellars (SUVs), as a topical delivery system for natural antioxidant compounds recovered from olive mill waste. For comparative purpose an analogue formulation of phosphatidylcholine liposomes was prepared. SUVs were smaller than MLVs ones, showing size values smaller than 200 nm, which was maintained during the stability study. Transmission electron microscopy showed spherical morphology for conventional liposomes while archaeosomes had more irregular membranes. Vesicle encapsulation efficiency was quite similar in both formulations and was enough to ensure a good antioxidant activity. Stability studies were performed one month after the preparation of formulations, which showed a high stability with no change in the initial characteristics of the suspensions. Furthermore, the possibility of incorporating the liposomal suspensions in different excipients (Carbopol-940 (R) and Pluronic-127 (R)) for topical administration was studied. In order to evaluate the release behaviour of the different systems prepared, in vitro diffusion studies were carried out using vertical diffusion Franz cells. In both cases the incorporation of the vesicles into the gels lead in a sustained release for 24 h. Archaeosome gels released a similar amount of phenolic compounds regardless the excipient used, while in liposomal gels great release differences were found between carbopol and pluronic gel. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.