Sanko Nguyen

Studies on pectin coating of liposomes for drug delivery

The present study investigated the surface coating of charged liposomes by three different types of pectin (LM, HM and amidated pectin) by particle size determinations and zeta potential measurements. The pectins and the pectin coated liposomes were visualized by atomic force microscopy. The adsorption of pectin onto positive liposomes yielded a reproducible increase in particle size and a shift of the zeta potential from positive to negative side for all three pectin types, whereas the adsorption of pectin onto negative liposomes did not render any significant changes probably due to electrostatic repulsion. The positive liposomes coated with HM-pectin gave the largest pectin coated particles with the least negative zeta potential, while the opposite was observed for the LM-pectin coated positive liposomes. Furthermore, results from dynamic light scattering revealed narrow size distributions, indicating that the degree of aggregation was low for the pectin coated liposomes. As liposomes are able to encapsulate drugs and pectin has been found to be mucoadhesive, these pectin coated liposomes may be potential drug delivery systems.

Advanced drug delivery systems for local treatment of the oral cavity

Good oral health is of major importance for general health and well-being. Several innovative drug delivery systems have been developed for the local treatment and prevention of various diseases in the oral cavity. However, there are currently few optimal systems and many therapeutic challenges still remain, including low drug efficacy and retention at targeted site of action. The present review provides an insight into the latest drug delivery strategies for the local treatment and prevention of the four most common oral pathologies, namely, dental caries, periodontitis, oral mucosal infections and oral cancer. The potential of bioadhesive formulations, nanoparticulate platforms, multifunctional systems and photodynamic methodologies to improve therapy and prophylaxis in future local applications for the oral cavity will be discussed.

The potential of liposomes as dental drug delivery systems.

The potential of liposomes as a drug delivery system for use in the oral cavity has been investigated. Specifically targeting for the teeth, the in vitro adsorption of charged liposomal formulations to hydroxyapatite (HA), a common model substance for the dental enamel, has been conducted. The experiments were performed in human parotid saliva to simulate oral-like conditions. It was observed, however, that precipitation occurred in tubes containing DPPC/DPTAP or DPPC/DPPG-liposomes in parotid saliva with no HA present, indicating that constituents of parotid saliva reacted with the liposomes. The aggregation reactions of liposome-parotid saliva mixtures were examined by turbidimetry and by atomic force microscopy. Negatively charged DPPC/DPPS and DPPC/PI-liposomes were additionally included in these experiments. The initial turbidity of positive DPPC/DPTAP-liposomes in parotid saliva was very high, but decreased markedly after 30 min. AFM images showed large aggregates of micelle-like globules known to be present in saliva. The turbidity of the various negatively charged liposome and parotid saliva mixtures stayed relatively constant throughout the measuring time; however, their initial turbidities were different; mixtures with DPPC/DPPG-liposomes were the most turbid and DPPC/DPPA-liposomes the least. Pyrophosphate (PP) was added to the various liposome-parotid saliva mixtures to examine the effect of Ca(2+) on the interactions. The effect of PP treatment of the negatively charged liposome-parotid saliva mixtures was most pronounced with DPPC/DPPG-liposome mixtures where it caused a sudden drop in turbidity. For positive DPPC/DPTAP liposome and parotid saliva mixtures, the effect of PP was minimal. These experiments showed that saliva constituents may interact with liposomes. An appropriate liposomal drug delivery system intended for use in the oral cavity seems to be dependent on the liposomal formulation. Based on the present results, negatively charged DPPC/DPPA-liposomes seem to be most suitable for use in the oral cavity as they were found to be the least reactive with the components of parotid saliva.

Polymer coated liposomes for dental drug delivery--interactions with parotid saliva and dental enamel.

The interactions between pectin coated liposomes and parotid saliva and dental enamel were studied to investigate their potential to mimic the protective biofilm formed naturally on tooth surfaces. Different pectin coated liposomes with respect to pectin type (LM-, HM- and AM-pectin) and concentration (0.05% and 0.2%) were prepared. Interactions between the pectin coated liposomes and parotid saliva were studied by turbidimetry and imaging by atomic force microscopy. The liposomes were adsorbed to hydroxyapatite (HA) and human dental enamel using phosphate buffer and parotid saliva as adsorption media. A continuous flow was imposed on the enamel surfaces for various time intervals to examine their retention on the dental enamel. The results were compared to uncoated, charged liposomes. No aggregation tendencies for the pectin coated liposomes and parotid saliva were revealed. This makes them promising as drug delivery systems to be used in the oral cavity. In phosphate buffer the adsorption to HA of pectin coated liposomes was significantly lower than the negative liposomes. The difference diminished in parotid saliva. Positive liposomes adsorbed better to the dental enamel than the pectin coated liposomes. However, when subjected to flow for 1h, no significant differences in the retention levels on the enamel were found between the formulations. For all formulations, more than 40% of the liposomes still remained on the enamel surfaces. At time point 20 min the retention of HM-pectin coated and positive liposomes were significantly higher. It was concluded that pectin coated liposomes can adsorb to HA as well as to the dental enamel. Their ability to retain on the enamel surfaces promotes the concept of using them as protective structures for the teeth.

Geographic variation in the leaf essential oils of Juniperus sabina L. and J-sablina var. arenaria (E.H. Wilson) Farjon

Abstract The composition of the leaf oils from seven populations of J. sabina L., one population of Juniperus sabina var. arenaria (E. H. Wilson) Farjon were examined for their geographic variation. In addition, the leaf oils of J. chinensis L. and J. davurica Pall. were compared to J. sabina. Juniperus sabina var. arenaria, the sand loving juniper, oil was found to be very similar to that of J. davurica, Mongolia, and J. sabina, on sand dunes in Mongolia. This suggests that J. sabina var. arenaria might be conspecific with J. davurica. Farjons move (2001) of J. sabina var. arenaria out of J. chinensis is supported. Considerable differentiation was found in populations of J. sabina from the Iberian peninsula. Cedrol, citronellol, safrole, trans-sabinyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol and β-thujone were found to be polymorphic in several populations.

The leaf essential oils of the genus Calocedrus

Abstract Farjon (1) considers the genus Calocedrus as containing just three species, C. decurrens (w. N. America), C. macrolepis (S.W. China, N. Vietnam, N. Thailand) and C. formosana (Taiwan). The leaf oils were analyzed and compared to the oil of the closely related species, Platycladus orientalis (E., N.E. China, Korea, far eastern Russia). The oils of C. macrolepis and C. formosana were very similar, being high in α-pinene (57.2% and 67.1%, respectively) and myrcene (11.2% and 6.2%), but they differed in several smaller components. The oils of C. decurrens from two populations in Oregon and one disjunct population in southern California were high in δ-3-carene (15.2–20.2%), limonene (18.2–23.6%), α-pinene (8.7–15.8%), terpinolene (5.7–8.0%), α-fenchyl acetate (3.5–9.7%), with some cedrol (0.8–1.2%). No large differences in oil compositions were seen between the three C. decurrens populations. Platycladus orientalis (= Thuja orientalis, = Biota orientalis) was found to contain considerable amounts of δ-3-carene (29.8%), cedrol (22.2%), α-pinene (15.1%) and terpinolene (4.9%). Overall, the oil of C. decurrens is as different from C. macrolepis and C. formosana as it is from P. orientalis, suggesting considerable divergence between Caloce-drus species, but not between C. macrolepis and C. formosana. These leaf oil analyses support the recognition of C. macrolepis var. formosana in Taiwan as treated in the Flora of China.

Fluoride loaded polymeric nanoparticles for dental delivery

Abstract The overall aim of the present paper was to develop fluoride loaded nanoparticles based on the biopolymers chitosan, pectin, and alginate, for use in dental delivery. First, the preparation of nanoparticles in the presence of sodium fluoride (NaF) as the active ingredient by ionic gelation was investigated followed by an evaluation of their drug entrapment and release properties. Chitosan formed stable, spherical, and monodisperse nanoparticles in the presence of NaF and tripolyphoshate as the crosslinker, whereas alginate and pectin were not able to form any definite nanostructures in similar conditions. The fluoride loading capacity was found to be 33–113 ppm, and the entrapment efficiency 3.6–6.2% for chitosan nanoparticles prepared in 0.2–0.4% (w/w) NaF, respectively. A steady increase in the fluoride release was observed for chitosan nanoparticles prepared in 0.2% NaF both in pH 5 and 7 until it reached a maximum at time point 4 h and maintained at this level for at least 24 h. Similar profiles were observed for formulations prepared in 0.4% NaF; however the fluoride was released at a higher level at pH 5. The low concentration, but continuous delivery of fluoride from the chitosan nanoparticles, with possible expedited release in acidic environment, makes these formulations highly promising as dental delivery systems in the protection against caries development.

Interactions of liposomes with dental restorative materials

The in vitro adsorption and retention of liposomes onto four common types of dental restorative materials (conventional and silorane-based resin composites as well as conventional and resin-modified glass ionomer cements (GIC)) have been investigated due to their potential use in the oral cavity. Uncoated liposomes (positively and negatively charged) and pectin (low- and high-methoxylated) coated liposomes were prepared and characterized in terms of particle size and zeta potential. The adsorption of liposomes was performed by immersion, quantified by fluorescence detection, and visualized by fluorescence imaging and atomic force microscopy. Positive liposomes demonstrated the highest adsorption on all four types of materials likely due to their attractive surface charge. They also retained well (minimum 40% after 60 min) on both conventional resin composite and GIC even when exposed to simulated salivary flow. Although an intermediate initial level of adsorption was found for the pectin coated liposomes, at least 70% high methoxylated-pectin coated liposomes still remained on the conventional resin composite after 60 min flow exposure. This indicates significant contribution of hydrophobic interactions in the prolonged binding of liposomes to resin composites. Based on these results, the present paper suggests two new possible applications of liposomes in the preservation of dental restorations.