Spherical and tubular dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes

Abstract

A physicochemical study of the interaction of pinocembrin with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes was carried out. Unilamellar vesicles of about 100 nm were prepared. Pinocembrin was incorporated into the lipid membrane by interacting strongly with the acyl groups of the phospholipid chains, favoring the fluid phase. The incorporation efficiency was 89%. At concentrations higher than 0.436 mg mL−1 of pinocembrin, a change of structure from spherical to tubular liposomes was observed, and the enthalpy of this transition was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. After 0.744 mg mL−1, there was no change in the transition enthalpy from gel phase to liquid crystalline, so it is possible to assume that the lipid membrane reached saturation. With the findings presented in this research, it is possible to increase the solubility and bioavailability of the pinocembrin by using DMPC as a molecular carrier, enhancing its use as drug in the pharmaceutical industry to treat cancer, ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis as well as other diseases.