Nanobiotechnology Lab, NUST Interdisciplinary Cluster for Higher Education (NICHE), School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering (SMME), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan.
Department of Lnternal Medicine and Nanomedicine, California Lnnovation Corporation, San Diego, CA 92037, USA.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Mar 15;23(6):3131. doi: 10.3390/ijms23063131.
Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a global threat to the human population, with manifestations resulting from alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD, if not treated, may progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Furthermore, inflammation leads to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Vitexin, a natural flavonoid, has been recently reported for inhibiting NAFLD. It is a lipogenesis inhibitor and activates lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. In addition, owing to its antioxidant properties, it appeared as a hepatoprotective candidate. However, it exhibits low bioavailability and low efficacy due to its hydrophobic nature. A novel rat model for liver cirrhosis was developed by CCL4/Urethane co-administration. Vitexin encapsulated liposomes were synthesized by the 'thin-film hydration' method. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was coated on liposomes to enhance stability and stealth effect. The diseased rats were then treated with vitexin and PEGylated vitexin liposomes, administered intravenously and orally. Results ascertained the liposomal encapsulation of vitexin and subsequent PEG coating to be a substantial strategy for treating liver cirrhosis through oral drug delivery.
慢性肝病（CLD）是全球人类健康的一大威胁，其临床表现源自于酒精性肝病（ALD）和非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）。若不加以治疗，NAFLD 可能会发展为非酒精性脂肪性肝炎（NASH）。此外，炎症会导致肝纤维化、肝硬化和肝细胞癌。牡荆素是一种天然类黄酮，最近被报道可抑制 NAFLD。它是一种脂肪生成抑制剂，可激活脂肪分解和脂肪酸氧化。此外，由于其抗氧化特性，它似乎是一种具有肝保护作用的候选药物。然而，由于其疏水性，它表现出低生物利用度和低疗效。通过 CCL4/尿嘧啶联合给药，建立了一种新的大鼠肝硬化模型。采用“薄膜水化”法合成牡荆素脂质体。在脂质体上涂覆聚乙二醇（PEG）以增强稳定性和隐形效果。然后，通过静脉内和口服给予患病大鼠牡荆素和 PEG 化牡荆素脂质体进行治疗。结果证实，通过口服药物递送，牡荆素的脂质体包封和随后的 PEG 涂层是治疗肝硬化的一种有效策略。
