Highly-hydrophobic nanofiber mat for efficient colonic delivery of lactoferrin: Preparation, characterization and release mechanism

作者：Wei, Yun-Shan; Feng, Kun; Li, Shu-Fang; Hu, Teng-Gen; Zong, Min-Hua; Wu, Hong^*

来源：Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 2022, 78: 103015.

DOI：10.1016/j.ifset.2022.103015

• Highly-hydrophobic
• Lactoferrin
• Eudragit S100
• Water-in-oil emulsion
• Coaxial electrospinning
• Colonic delivery

Lactoferrin (Lf) is a bioactive protein with varied biological effects. To improve its anti-digestive stability in oral administration, a novel nanocarrier with high hydrophobicity for colonic delivery of Lf was creatively developed by modified coaxial electrospinning. First, a suitable biocompatible solvent, acetic acid, was screened as the mono-solvent for ES100 electrospinning, creating highly-hydrophobic ES100 nanofiber mat (contact angle = 133.8o). Then, Lf-loaded W/O emulsion was prepared as the core fluid to ensure the successful coaxial electrospinning and generate Lf encapsulated core/shell nanofiber mat (ES@Lf). Lf was demonstrated maintaining structural integrity and anti-colon cancer activity during encapsulation and oral delivery. In vitro assay indicated 92.3% Lf was sustainably released in colon, and its release followed a complex mechanism in which the erosion was dominant. Instead of pH-dependent erosion, the synergistic action through gut microbiota adhesion and their metabolites, especially short-chain fatty acids, was illustrated for disintegration of ES@Lf nanofiber for the first time.

• 单位
  广东省农业科学院