Design and preparation of multifunctional astaxanthin nanoparticles with good acid stability and hepatocyte-targeting ability for alcoholic liver injury alleviation

As a dietary nutrition supplement, astaxanthin (AXT) has attracted much attention in alleviating ethanol-induced liver injury due to its superior antioxidant ability. However, the poor water solubility and pH-vulnerable characteristics of AXT significantly restrict its application in nutrition intervention. In this study, multifunctional astaxanthin nanoparticles (LAD6:1@AXT) with good acid stability and hepatocyte-targeting ability were designed and prepared using 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, lactobionic acid, and sodium alginate as raw materials. At pH 2.0, LAD6:1@AXT displayed a double reservation rate of the relative AXT content compared to free AXT. Significant antioxidative activity of LAD6:1@AXT was observed in cellular experiments. Ex vivo experiments revealed that the astaxanthin nanoparticles showed 90 % increased accumulation in the liver after oral administration for 24 h. A strong hepatic-targeting effect was found for LAD6:1@AXT, which could effectively ameliorate alcoholic liver injury. Our data indicated that the developed astaxanthin nanoparticles have the potential of nutrition intervention for alcohol-induced liver impairment.

Automated summary

In this study, multifunctional astaxanthin nanoparticles with good acid stability and hepatocyte-targeting ability were designed and prepared. The results showed that the astaxanthin nanoparticles exhibited significant antioxidative activity and increased accumulation in the liver, indicating their potential for ameliorating alcoholic liver injury.