Alginate-Coated Astaxanthin Liposomes: Enhance Antioxidant Activity and Storage Stability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2026.12319Keywords:
Astaxanthin, Nanocarrier, Liposome, Coating, Alginate, Antioxidant, Stability, Storage, Astaxanthin, Nanocarrier, Liposome, Coating, Alginate, Antioxidant, Stability, StorageAbstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in aging and various degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and chronic inflammatory diseases. Astaxanthin (ATX) has antioxidant activity but is limited in terms of solubility and stability. Liposomes are promising drug carriers but suffer from instability and leakage issues in terms of stability that causes leakage in vesicles and also low entrapment efficiency. This study aims to investigate the potential of a liposome coating system containing astaxanthin using alginate to improve antioxidant activity and stability. Preparation ATX loaded liposomes (ATX-Lip) using thin film hydration and then modified with alginate coating. The formulation was characterized based on particle size, zeta potential, % entrapment efficiency (% EE), and morphology. Furthermore, in vitro release dynamics, antioxidant activity occurred and storage stability test. ATX-Lip with a ratio of soy lecithin: Cholesterol (9:1) gave the best characterization results so that it was continued with coating using alginate. Modification of alginate coating on ATX-Lip (NA-ATX-Lip) successfully increased the zeta potential value from –8.57 ± 0.61 to –44.90 ± 0.1 mV and an increase in %EE with a difference of 9.32%. This is in line with the results of in vitro antioxidant activity where there was a decrease in the IC50 value of ATX by 27.49 to 20.12 ppm in the NA-ATX-Lip formula. This study proves that the modification of the alginate layer on ATX was successful and NA-ATX-Lip was proven to increase antioxidant activity. Surface modification of alginate also enhanced the protective capacity of the system of ATX-Lip, reducing degradation and structural alterations during storage.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Astaxanthin liposomes (ATX-Lip) were synthesized by the thin film hydration method and then coated with alginate (NA-ATX-Lip) through a polymer adsorption mechanism
- NA-ATX-Lip successfully increased the zeta potential value from –8.57 ± 0.61 mV to –44.90 ± 0.1 mV and an increase in %EE with a difference of 9.32%.
- NA-ATX-Lip reduced the IC₅₀ value from 27.49 ppm to 20.12 ppm, confirming improved antioxidant activity
- Alginate surface modification improved both the antioxidant performance and storage stability of ATX-Lip by protecting the liposomal structure from degradation and oxidative damage during storage at 4 °C
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