Liu Shuhua, Yu Leijuan, Han Yanlei, Wang Shanshan, Liu Zihao, Xu Hui
Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Shandong Food Ferment Industry Research & Design Institute, Jinan 250000, China.
Shandong Polytechnic, Jinan 250104, China.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Feb;290:138915. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138915. Epub 2024 Dec 18.
Prodigiosin (PG) is a natural compound produced by microorganisms, that is known for its promising bioactive properties. However, owing to its inherent water insolubility, low bioavailability, and poor stability, the practical application of prodigiosin remains challenging. In this work, the nanoparticles of prodigiosin-loaded zein-pectin were prepared using electrostatic deposition and antisolvent precipitation methods. The encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of prodigiosin in Z-Pet/PG 2:1 nanoparticles were 89.05 % and 7.49 %, respectively, with a zeta potential of -23.03 mV, with a particle size was 184.13 nm. The nanoparticles were uniformly distributed and possessed a spherical morphology, as determined using scanning electron microscopy. The formation mechanism between nanoparticles has been investigated using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, molecular docking, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which indicated stabilization predominantly through electrostatic, hydrophobic, and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Furthermore, Z-Pet/PG 2:1 nanoparticles proved remarkable stability across a pH range from 3 to 7, NaCl concentrations below 50 mmol/L, at elevated temperatures (60, 70, and 80 °C) for 1 h, and at redispersion. Prodigiosin was progressively delivered by the nanoparticles in simulated gastrointestinal settings, with a cumulative release rate of 75.32 % in simulated intestinal fluid, thereby demonstrating enhanced bioavailability and allowing for a controlled and sustained-release in vitro. These findings indicate that Z-Pet/PG nanoparticles are a promising delivery platform for prodigiosin, and are potentially applicable to other hydrophobic compounds with limited bioavailability.
灵菌红素（PG）是一种由微生物产生的天然化合物，因其具有良好的生物活性特性而闻名。然而，由于其固有的水不溶性、低生物利用度和较差的稳定性，灵菌红素的实际应用仍然具有挑战性。在这项工作中，采用静电沉积和反溶剂沉淀法制备了负载灵菌红素的玉米醇溶蛋白-果胶纳米颗粒。在Z-Pet/PG 2:1纳米颗粒中，灵菌红素的包封率和载药量分别为89.05%和7.49%，zeta电位为-23.03 mV，粒径为184.13 nm。使用扫描电子显微镜测定，纳米颗粒均匀分布且具有球形形态。利用圆二色性、荧光光谱、分子对接和傅里叶变换红外光谱研究了纳米颗粒之间的形成机制，结果表明主要通过静电、疏水和氢键相互作用实现稳定。此外，Z-Pet/PG 2:1纳米颗粒在pH值为3至7、NaCl浓度低于50 mmol/L、高温（60、70和80°C）下1小时以及再分散时都表现出显著的稳定性。在模拟胃肠道环境中，纳米颗粒逐渐释放灵菌红素，在模拟肠液中的累积释放率为75.32%，从而证明其生物利用度提高，并在体外实现了控释和缓释。这些发现表明，Z-Pet/PG纳米颗粒是一种有前途的灵菌红素递送平台，并且可能适用于其他生物利用度有限的疏水性化合物。
