Evaluation of the effect of liposomes loaded with chlorogenic acid in treatment of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced murine colitis.

Crohn's Disease (CD), one of the types of inflammatory bowel disease, poses a significant challenge to modern healthcare. This condition severely impacts patients' quality of life, and its incidence is continuously rising. Despite constant research, current treatment options are limited and largely unsuccessful and result in serious side effects, therefore new therapy alternatives are needed. Liposomal formulation provides a new hope for disease management. In our study, we characterized the anti-inflammatory activity of mesalazine (5-ASA) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) encapsulated in liposomal formulation in the animal model of CD. Liposomes were obtained by thin film hydration method and characterized in terms of suspension stability and particle size and distribution. Colitis was induced in mice by intracolonic (i.c.) administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). The effect of treatment with liposomal suspensions of 5-ASA and CGA was evaluated macroscopically and by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. We observed that liposome-encapsulated 5-ASA (5 mg/kg), but not CGA (20 mg/kg) attenuated colitis as evidenced by a decreased macroscopic and microscopic scores. It may be hypothesized that the composition of liposomal lipid bilayer as well as the switch in macrophage populations leading to unfavorable accumulation of anti-inflammatory agents in the cells may underly the efficiency of obtained liposomes and need to be taken into consideration in further studies on drug delivery.