Preparation and characterization of iron-containing liposomes: their effect on soluble iron uptake by Caco-2 cells

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the iron uptake of Caco-2 cells incubated with five different formulations of liposomes containing iron. The vesicles were also characterized before, during, and after in vitro digestion. Caco-2 cells were incubated with digested and nondigested liposomes, and soluble iron uptake was determined. Nondigested liposomes made with chitosan (CHI) or the cationic lipid, DC-Cholesterol (DC-CHOL), generated the highest iron uptake. However, these two formulations were highly unstable under in vitro digestion, resulting in nonmeasurable iron uptake. Digested conventional liposomes composed of soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC), hydrogentated phosphatidylcholine (HSPC), or HSPC and cholesterol (CHOL) presented the highest iron-uptake values. These liposomal formulations protected iron from oxidation and improved iron uptake from intestinal cells, compared to an aqueous solution of ferrous sulphate.

Keywords::

• Phospholipid vesicles
• chitosan
• DC-Cholesterol
• Caco-2 cells

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Francisca Garcia PhD, from the UAB Culture Service, for the provision of Caco-2 cells, Dr. Ignasi Villarroya PhD for iron determination by atomic absorption spectrometry, Mr. Miquel Cabañas for NMR analysis, Dr. Joan Estelrich PhD for kindly providing the equipment for zeta-potential determinations, and Dr. Cilâine Verônica Teixeira PhD for her useful comments.

Declaration of interest

This research was supported (PTR95-0480-OP) by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Spain.