TITLE:
Development and Characterization of Nanovesicles Containing Phenolic Compounds of Microalgae Spirulina Strain LEB-18 and Chlorella pyrenoidosa
AUTHORS:
Letícia Marques de Assis, Adriana Rodrigues Machado, Amanda de Souza da Motta, Jorge Alberto Vieira Costa, Leonor Almeida de Souza-Soares
KEYWORDS:
Microalgae; Phenols; Encapsulation; Liposome
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Materials Physics and Chemistry,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
15,
2014
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to elaborate liposomes, through the
lipid film hydration methodology, to nanoencapsulate phenolic compounds of Spirulina LEB-18 and Chlorella pyrenoidosa microalgae,
and evaluate their physicochemical characteristics and storage stability for 21
days. The total phenolic compounds were evaluated using a calibration curve of
gallic acid using methanol and ethanol as extraction solvents. The size and
polydispersity index of nanovesicles were determined by light scattering and
the percentage encapsulation efficiency was determined by a centrifugation
process. The stability of the liposomes at storage time was measured by zeta
potential for 21 days. The methanol extracts from Spirulina had a higher content of phenolic compounds (2.62 mg
gallic acid·g-1 of microalgae)
compared to the extracts of Chlorella. However, liposomes with ethanolic extracts of the two algae showed higher
encapsulation efficiency. The value
was higher (96.40%) for Chlorella.
All samples obtained nanometric size, with the highest value obtained for the
liposome containing ethanol extract of Chlorella (239 nm) differing significantly (p ≤ 0.05) from the others. The liposomes containing
extracts of Spirulina were more
stable during the 21 days of storage, whereas, those consisting of ethanol
extract showed no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) throughout
this period.