Chitosan-coated C-phycocyanin Liposome for Extending the Neuroprotective Time Window Against Ischemic Brain Stroke

Abstract

The time window for neuroprotection during ischemic brain stroke is short, and hence, development of neuroprotectants is critical to extend this time window. This study sought to verify if muco-adhesive chitosan coating improves the neuroprotective potential of the pre-proven C-Phycocyanin-pertaining liposome (C-Pc liposome). The use of chitosan-coated liposomes extended the neuroprotective time window by 6 h after occlusion, and further improved the neuroprotection efficiency of the C-Pc liposome in a rat Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (MCAO) model. Beneficial changes in mRNA expressions of antioxidants, inflammatory cytokines and glia scar proteoglycans were evident in the C-Pc liposomes. In addition, in the cultured astrocytes, the chitosan- coated C-Pc liposome expressed anti-oxidative activity without cytotoxicity.

C-Phycocyanin-derived Phycocyanobilin as a Potential Nutraceutical Approach for Major Neurodegenerative Disorders and COVID-19- induced Damage to the Nervous System

“…Other authors corroborated the anti-apoptotic action of C-PC on rat primary astrocytes during trophic factor deprivation, an effect partially explained by its antioxidant activity [ 121 ]. Chitosan-coated C-PC liposomes also protected rat primary astrocytes from H 2 O 2 toxicity, while decreasing the expression of TNF-α and inducing the phosphacan and neurocan genes, both glia scar-associated proteoglycans [ 122 ]. Previously, it has been observed that these C-PC encapsulated liposomes protected the murine Neuro2A cell line from H 2 O 2 toxicity [ 123 ].…”

“…As chitosan material has been suggested to be a preferred system for delivery to the olfactory bulb (as opposed to the nasopharynx) through nasal mucin adhesion [ 128 ], a follow-up study tested the ability of cholesterol C-PC liposomes coated with chitosan for improving the neuroprotective action of the encapsulated biliprotein in IS. When applied intranasally at 0.5 mg/mL (around 13.9 µg/kg considering a 300 g rat) 6 h after stroke, chitosan-coated cholesterol C-PC liposomes significantly reduced the infarct volume (64.9% relative to the vehicle ischemic group) as compared to the non-chitosan C-PC particles (88.6%), despite the fact that the C-PC dose was eight-times smaller due to the presence of chitosan in the nanoformulation [ 122 ].…”

Recent Advances in Nanomaterials for Diagnosis, Treatments, and Neurorestoration in Ischemic Stroke

“…Polysaccharides not only act as drug carriers but also enhance the neuroprotective capacity of the carriers. Chung et al ( 2018 ) demonstrated that adherent chitosan coating enhances the neuroprotective potential of c-phycocyanin modified liposomes (C-Pc liposomes). The application of chitosan-coated liposomes prolonged the neuroprotective time window of 6 h in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, further improving the neuroprotective efficiency of C-Pc liposomes.…”

“…The application of chitosan-coated liposomes prolonged the neuroprotective time window of 6 h in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, further improving the neuroprotective efficiency of C-Pc liposomes. And in cultured astrocytes, chitosan-coated C-Pc liposomes exhibited antioxidant activity but no cytotoxicity (Chung et al, 2018 ).…”

Phycocyanin Protects against High Glucose High Fat Diet Induced Diabetes in Mice and Participates in AKT and AMPK Signaling

“…Phycocyanin, a blue photosynthetic pigment deriving from Spirulina and Cyanobacteria cells, has been used as a food additive in many products such as soft drinks, candies, chewing gum, and ice cream [ 7 ]. Meanwhile, phycocyanin is a type of functional factor that has been proven to possess therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory [ 8 ], antioxidant [ 9 ], antineoplastic [ 10 ], neuroprotective [ 11 ], and hepatoprotective [ 12 ] activities. Unlike most chemical drugs, phycocyanin is verified to have few or no toxic side effects [ 13 , 14 ].…”