THE CHARACTERIZATION OF SILYMARIN AND SILIBININ LIPOSOMES

Abstract

The aim of the present study was the characterization of silymarin and silibinin liposomes via determination of encapsulation efficiency, particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, mobility, and conductivity, as well as storage stability during 28 days at 4ºC and stability after UV irradiation. Encapsulation efficiencies of silymarin and silibinin were 92.05±1.41% and 87.86±2.06%, respectively. Particle size and PDI of the liposomes with silymarin were changed from 3541.3±62.5 nm to 2677.0±44.2 nm and from 0.346±0.044 to 0.228±0.036, respectively, during the 28-day stability study; particle size and PDI of the liposomes with silibinin were changed from 2074.7±19.4 nm to 2704.0±35.0 nm and from 0.328±0.030 to 0.456±0.026, respectively. The Zeta potential of the silymarin-loaded liposomes and silibinin-loaded liposomes was changed from -27.0±0.7 mV to -26.4±0.4 mV and from -29.4±0.6 mV to -29.0±0.4 mV, respectively. Mobility and conductivity of the liposomes with silymarin were changed from -2.120±0.057 μmcm/Vs to - 2.067±0.028 μmcm/Vs and from 0.017±0.005 mS/cm to 0.009±0.004 mS/cm, respectively. Mobility and conductivity of the liposomal particles with silibinin were changed from -2.307±0.053 μmcm/Vs to -2.110±0.033 μmcm/Vs and from 0.018±0.003 mS/cm to 0.060±0.001 mS/cm, respectively. UV irradiation did not affect particle size and PDI of all liposomes, but it caused a decrease in zeta potential: -23.9±0.8 mV for silymarin and -24.5±0.7 mV for silibinin, in mobility: - 1.874±0.064 μmcm/Vs for silymarin and -1.920±0.057 μmcm/Vs for silibinin, and in conductivity: 0.014±0.001 mS/cm for silymarin and 0.007±0.003 mS/cm for silibinin. Overall, the obtained results qualify liposomes to be used as silymarin and silibinin carriers for application in functional foods and pharmaceutical products.