Biocompatible and sustained delivery of cinnamic acid using liposomal formulation

Abstract

Cinnamic acid is an aromatic polyphenolic natural bioactive ingredient in ginseng, wheat, grains and cinnamon bark, among other substances. It is widely used in the manufacture of cosmetics, perfumes and as a flavor enhancer in the food industry. In recent years, cinnamic acid has been reported to have a variety of antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Liposomes are lipid-based nanoparticles that have received considerable attention in drug delivery research due to their strong biocompatibility and low toxicity. Their resistance to degradation, as well as their potential to deliver a plethora of pharmacological loads, has prompted a substantial investigation into their medicinal applications. Researchers have been able to improve the therapeutic indices of a variety of medications by reformulating them in liposomes, particularly by modifying their biodistribution. The goal of this study is to prepare liposome-encapsulated cinnamic acid, to analyze the particles in terms of various parameters and to conduct a hemolysis assay to determine biocompatibility. The methods of characterization revealed the particles to have a spherical morphology and the sizes to be 47.2 nm (control sample) and 62.5 nm (cinnamic acid sample). The encapsulation efficiency was found to be 87.86% and the hemolysis rate at the minimum concentration of red blood cells was found to be 0.3%. Thus, the current study concludes that a natural substance (cinnamic acid) was encapsulated within a liposomal carrier, described in terms of several parameters and then used to construct a pharmacokinetic model. This demonstrates the potential benefits of using natural compounds in the treatment strategies of diabetes, cancer, microbial disorders and fungal infections, among other conditions. The inclusion of a hydrophobic medication in a carrier that the body can tolerate, opens the door to the use of comparable naturally occurring molecules as therapeutic agents in a variety of applications.