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Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Cyanocobalamin Co-Loaded Nanoemulsions: Development, Characterization, and Evaluation of Stability

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to prepare a suitable formulation and perform in vitro characterization studies for oral use by exploiting the synergistic effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and cyanocobalamin (Vit B12) for the treatment and prophylaxis of various diseases such as diabetic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, and neurological disorders.

Methods

Nanoemulsions were prepared using different oils (castor oil (CO) and sunflower oil (SO)) and agitation methods (magnetic stirring and ultraturrax). The effects of experimental parameters on droplet size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and release rate properties of nanoemulsions were investigated. The physical and chemical stability of formulations at various temperatures (30°C, 50°C, and 70°C) and pH values (1.2, 4.5, 6.8, and 7.4) were also evaluated.

Results

An HPLC method, enabling the simultaneous determination of ALA and Vit B12, has been successfully developed with a correlation coefficient value of 0.9999 for both analytes. The best results were obtained by CO and magnetic stirring in terms of colloidal properties for either plain (P-C-NE) or ALA-Vit B12 co-loaded (C-NE) nanoemulsions. The C-NE had better stability under different conditions, higher encapsulation efficiency (ALA-93.80%, Vit B12-110.65%), and release percentage.

Conclusion

As a result, this study demonstrated that nanoemulsions containing ALA and Vit B12 can be successfully produced and are stable at different temperatures and pH values.

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Abbreviations

ALA:

Alpha-lipoic acid

Vit B12 :

Cyanocobalamin

CO:

Castor oil

SO:

Sunflower oil

LP:

Liquid paraffin

C-NE:

Alpha-lipoic acid and cyanocobalamin co-loaded nanoemulsion prepared using castor oil and magnetic stirring

S-NE:

Alpha-lipoic acid and cyanocobalamin co-loaded nanoemulsion prepared using sunflower oil and magnetic stirring

CU-NE:

Alpha-lipoic acid and cyanocobalamin co-loaded nanoemulsion prepared using castor oil and ultraturrax

P-C-NE:

Plain nanoemulsion prepared using castor oil and magnetic stirring

P-S-NE:

Plain nanoemulsion prepared using sunflower oil and magnetic stirring

P-CU-NE:

Plain nanoemulsion prepared using castor oil and ultraturrax

DS:

Droplet size

PdI:

Polydispersity index

ZP:

Zeta potential

DW:

Distilled water

MS:

Magnetic stirring

US:

Ultraturrax stirring

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, 61080, Turkey

    Özlem Çoban

  2. Drug and Pharmaceutical Technology Application and Research Center, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, 61080, Turkey

    Özlem Çoban

  3. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, 61080, Turkey

    Sercan Yıldırım

  4. Faculty of Pharmacy, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, 61080, Turkey

    Tuğçe Bakır

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Çoban, Ö., Yıldırım, S. & Bakır, T. Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Cyanocobalamin Co-Loaded Nanoemulsions: Development, Characterization, and Evaluation of Stability. J Pharm Innov 17, 510–520 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12247-020-09531-4

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