Polymeric nanoparticle systems loaded with red propolis extract: a comparative study of the encapsulating systems, PCL-Pluronic versus Eudragit®E100-Pluronic

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare two nanoparticle composition loaded with Brazilian red propolis extract regarding its physicochemical characteristics and its antioxidant and antileishmanial activities. The red propolis nanoparticles in an aqueous medium and in solid-state presented particle size in a nanometric scale with an apparent size of 100–288 nm for the NEPE and 175–380 nm for the NPPE. ATR-FTIR and thermal analysis revealed an encapsulation of flavonoids from the red propolis extract in polymeric matrices for the multidrug delivery system. UPLC-DAD identified red propolis markers (flavonoids) in EPE, NEPE and NPPE. The efficiency of encapsulation (28.0–55.0% for NEPE and 61.2–81.0% for NPPE) were determined and calculated using UPLC-DAD. DPPH method showed the antioxidant activity of both EPE and nanoparticle compositions of red propolis. These polymeric matrices systems were able to encapsulate flavonoids from red propolis extract with specific characteristics of solubility and polarity. EPE and nanoparticles loaded with red propolis extract in the multi-constituent co-delivery system presented leishmanicidal activity and a good correlation was established between IC50 and efficiency of encapsulation. Red propolis nanoparticles exhibited leishmanicidal activity but NEPE presented a lower leishmanicidal effect in relation to NPPE, which showed similar activity compared to EPE. The nanopolymeric matrices choice should be established in propolis nanoparticle compositions to avoid lack of efficacy of bioproducts. Red propolis nanoparticles were shown to be a potential final bulk product for the preparation of various pharmaceutical and cosmetics compositions in therapy against diseases such as leishmaniasis.