Improvement of the inhibitory effect of xanthones on NO production by encapsulation in PLGA nanocapsules

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2005

Authors

Teixeira, M (Author) Other; Cerqueira, F (Author) Other; Barbosa, CM (Author) FFUP; Nascimento, MSJ (Author) FFUP; Pinto, M (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Drug Targeting

Vol. 13 No. 2

Pages: 129-135

ISSN: 1061-186X

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 11 Citations

Scopus - 12 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-4WM

DOI: 10.1080/10611860400027717

Abstract (EN): For the first time the inhibitory effect of xanthone and 3-methoxyxanthone on nitric oxide (NO) production by IFN-gamma/LPS activated J774 macrophage cell line is reported. A remarkable improvement of this effect promoted by encapsulation of these compounds in nanocapsules of Poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) is also demonstrated. A weak inhibitory effect of 3.6% on NO production by activated macrophages was observed for xanthone at the highest studied concentration (100 mu M). This effect was slightly higher for 3-methoxyxanthone at the same concentration, producing a reduction of 16.5% on NO production. In contrast, equivalent concentrations of xanthone and 3-methoxyxanthone incorporated in nanocapsules produced a significant decrease on NO production of 91.8 and 80.0%, respectively. Empty nanocapsules also exhibited a slight NO inhibitory activity, which may be due to the presence of soybean lecithin in the composition of the nanosystems. The viability of the macrophages was not affected either by free or nanoencapsulated xanthones. Fluorescence microscopy analysis confirmed that a phagocytic process was involved in the macrophage uptake of xanthone- and 3-methoxyxanthone-loaded PLGA nanocapsules. Phagocytosis might be the main mechanism responsible for the enhancement of the intracellular delivery of both compounds and consequently for the improvement of their biological effect.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific