The antilipidemic drug, probucol (PB), has demonstrated potential applications in Type 2 diabetes (T2D) through its protective effects on pancreatic β-cells. pB has poor solubility and bioavailability, and despite attempts to improve its oral delivery, none has shown dramatic improvements in absorption or antidiabetic effects. Preliminary data has shown potential benefits from bile acid co-encapsulation with PB. One bile acid has shown best potential improvement of PB oral delivery (ursodeoxycholic acid, UDCA). This study aimed to examine PB and UDCA microcapsules (with UDCA microcapsules serving as control) in terms of the microcapsules' morphology, biological effects ex vivo, and their hypoglycemic and antilipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. PBUDCA and UDCA microcapsules were examined in vitro (formulation studies), ex vivo and in vivo. PBUDCA microcapsules exerted positive effects on β-cells viability at hyperglycemic state, and brought about hypoglycemic and antiinflammatory effects on the prediabetic mice. In conclusion, PBUDCA co-encapsulation have showed beneficial therapeutic impact of dual antioxidant-bile acid effects in diabetes treatment. Understanding the link between insulin-resistance, prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes (T2) is anticipated to facilitate better ability to design new interventions in order to control the fast growing epidemic of diabetes. The link encompasses multiple physiological disturbances including obesity. In a review by Qatanani, M. and Lazar, M.A, the authors have examined specific links between insulin resistance and visceral adiposity and excess fat accumulation in blood and tissues 1. They found that there is a direct correlation between the amounts of lipid represented by biomarkers such as total cholesterol, triglycerides and noneesterified fatty acids (NEFA), and the extent of insulin-resistance and rate of prediabetes development. One of the possible underlying mechanisms to insulin-resistance and prediabetes, has been hypothesized to be oxidative stress and inflammation 2-6. Oxidative stress and local and systemic inflammation have been shown to be contributing factors in development of insulin-resistance, prediabetes and eventually T2D. Oxidative stress and inflammation have also been linked to worsening of diabetic symptoms and long-term prognosis 7,8. In addition, diabetes-inflammation has been associated with lipid dysregulation, visceral adipose tissue accumulation and insulin-resistance. Karpe, F. et al.; have shown direct association between levels of inflammatory cytokines, with development of visceral fat

Background: Recent studies have suggested that hyperglycaemia influences the bile acid profile and concentrations of secondary bile acids in the gut. Introduction: This study aimed to measure changes in the bile acid profile in gut, tissues, and faeces in Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Method: T1D and T2D were established in a mouse model. Twenty-one seven-weeks old balb/c mice were randomly divided into three equal groups, healthy, T1D and T2D. Blood, tissue, urine and faeces samples were collected for bile acid measurements. Results: Compared with healthy mice, T1D and T2D mice showed lower levels of the primary bile acid chenodeoxycholic acid in the plasma, intestine, and brain, and higher levels of the secondary bile acid lithocholic acid in the plasma and pancreas. Levels of the bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid were undetected in healthy mice but were elevated in T1D and T2D mice. Conclusion: Bile acid profiles in other organs were variably influenced by T1D and T2D development, which suggests similarity in effects of T1D and T2D on the bile acid profile, but these effects were not always consistent among all organs, possibly since feedback mechanisms controlling enterohepatic recirculation and bile acid profiles and biotransformation are different in T1D and T2D.

Probucol (PB) is a drug that exhibits significant hydrophobicity and substantial intra and inter individual variability in oral absorption, with a miniature bioavailability and complex three compartmental pharmacokinetic modelling due to its high lipid affinity, low stability and high octanol to water partition coefficient. Multiple attempts to formulate PB have not produced satisfactory stable matrices, drug-release profile or rheological flow properties for optimum manufacturing conditions, and with positive and none toxic biological effects. Lithocholic acid (LCA) has recently shown to optimise formulation and cell uptake of drugs. Hence, the aim of this study was to design new PB delivery system, using LCA, and examine its morphology, rheology, stability, and cellular effects. PB was formulated with LCA and sodium alginate (PB-LCA-SA) using various microencapsulation methodologies, and best formulation was investigated in vitro and ex vivo. Using our Ionic Gelation Vibrational Jet flow technology, PB-LCA-SA microcapsules showed good stability and significantly enhanced cell viability, cellular respiration, and reduced inflammation suggesting potential LCA applications in PB delivery and biological effects.

Introduction: The ratio of secondary to primary bile acids changes during Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) development and these effects might be ameliorated by using cholesterol lowering drugs or hydrophilic bile acids. Probucol is a cholesterol-lowering drug, while ursodeoxycholic acid is a hydrophilic bile acid. This study investigated whether nanoencapsulated probucol with ursodeoxycholic acid altered bile acid ratios and the development of diabetes. Methods: Balb/c mice were divided into three groups and gavaged daily with either free probucol, nanoencapsulated probucol or nanoencapsulated probucol with ursodeoxycholic acid for seven days. Alloxan was injected and once T1D was confirmed the mice continued to receive daily gavages until euthanasia. Blood, tissues, faeces and urine were collected for analysis of insulin and bile acids. Results and Conclusions: Nanoencapsulated probucol-ursodeoxycholic acid resulted in significant levels of insulin in the blood, lower levels of secondary bile acids in liver and lower levels of primary bile acids in brain, while ratio of secondary to primary bile acids remains similar among all groups, except in the faeces. Findings suggests that nanoencapsulated probucol-ursodeoxycholic acid may exert a protective effect on pancreatic b-cells and reserve systemic insulin load via modulation of bile acid concentrations in the liver and brain.

Aim: Examine bile acids effects in Type 2 diabetes. Background: In recent studies, the bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has shown potent anti-inflammatory effects in obese patients while in type 2 diabetics (T2D) levels of the pro-inflammatory bile acid lithocholic acid were increased, and levels of the anti-inflammatory bile acid chenodeoxycholic acid were decreased, in plasma. Objective: Hence, this study aimed to examine applications of novel UDCA nanoparticles in diabetes. Methods: Diabetic balb/c adult mice were divided into three equal groups and gavaged daily with either empty microcapsules, free UDCA, or microencapsulated UDCA over two weeks. Their blood, tissues, urine, and faeces were collected for blood glucose, inflammation, and bile acid analyses. UDCA resulted in modulatory effects on bile acids profile without antidiabetic effects suggesting that bile acid modulation was not directly linked to diabetes treatment. Results: UDCA resulted in modulatory effects on bile acids profile without antidiabetic effects suggesting that bile acid modulation was not directly linked to diabetes treatment. Conclusion: Bile acids modulated the bile profile without affecting blood glucose levels.