Abstract
Background
Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion-induced pancreatic islet injury (HI/RIPII) was an important pathophysiological phenomenon in clinics. In the present study, we observed the effects of phycocyanin on HI/RIPII. However, the half-life of phycocyanin was extremely short and limited its use in vivo.
Materials and methods
In order to overcome this shortcoming, poly(ethylene glycol)-b-(poly(l-glutamic acid)-g-polyethylenimine) (PEG-b-(PG-g-PEI)) was synthesized and estimated as a nanocarrier for lengthening delivery of phycocyanin through the abdominal subcutaneous injection in rats. Phycocyanin (isoelectric point=4.3) was encapsulated with PEG-b-(PG-g-PEI) via electrostatic interactions at pH 7.4.
Results
In vitro phycocyanin was fast and efficiently encapsulated and showing efficient loading and sustained release. In vivo the anti-HI/RIPII function of phycocyanin/PEG-b-(PG-g-PEI) complex was surveyed in rats using free phycocyanin as the controls, and the results showed that phycocyanin/PEG-b-(PG-g-PEI) complex reduced HI/RIPII property and enlarged islet functionality.
Conclusion
These results suggested that PEG-b-(PG-g-PEI) might be treated as a potential phycocyanin nanocarrier.
Acknowledgments
This study was financially supported by the Science and Technology Planning Project of Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province (2017AY33076).
Disclosure
This study was supported by the Zhejiang Province Nature Fund, Zhejiang Province (LY19B040003, Fei Tong). The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.
Author contributions
All authors contributed equally to this work and share equal responsibility as the first author. All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.