Structural characterization of multilamellar liposomes coencapsulating curcumin and vitamin D3

Abstract

This study aimed the production of multilamellar liposomes coencapsulating two hydrophobic bioactives, curcumin and vitamin D3, which present antioxidant and nutraceutical properties. Liposomes were produced by proliposomes hydration and stabilized with a mixture of xanthan and guar gums. Proliposomes were produced by coating of micronized sucrose method. Physicochemical properties of the dispersions were evaluated over 42 days of refrigerated storage. Microstructural characterization were performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small deformation rheological analyses. Liposomes showed spherical and near-spherical shapes and presented hydrodynamic diameters in the 680–1580 nm range. Curcumin and cholecalciferol were loaded into the same vesicles, with preservation efficiencies ranging from 89.6 to 93.3% and from 88.3 to 91.3%, respectively, after 42 days of storage. SAXS data showed that the lipid bilayer of liposomes produced in the presence of curcumin, vitamin D3, or a mixture of both, are very similar. Also, higher amounts of vitamin D3 did not affect negatively the stability of phospholipid vesicles. Overall, it was demonstrated that the coencapsulation of curcumin and vitamin D3 by liposomes is feasible and high contents of bioactives were retained throughout the storage time.