Liposome Nanocarriers Based on γ Oryzanol: Preparation, Characterization, and <i>In Vivo</i> Assessment of Toxicity and Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

The present study aimed to develop and characterize liposome nanocarriers based on γ oryzanol and evaluate their potential <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> toxicity and antioxidant effects. The liposomes were physicochemically characterized using various techniques, including dynamic light scattering (DLS) for size and polydispersity index (PDI) measurements and ζ-potential analysis. The <i>in vitro</i> toxicity assessments were performed using hemolysis and MTT assays on the HS5 cell line. <i>In vivo</i>, acute oral toxicity was evaluated by using LD₅₀ assays in mice. Additionally, antioxidant activity was assessed through biochemical analysis of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and liver tissue catalase, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels. The results revealed that the liposomes exhibited a uniform and spherical morphology with suitable physicochemical properties for drug delivery applications. The <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays and the <i>in vivo</i> LD₅₀ experiment indicated the potential safety of γ oryzanol liposomes, especially at lower concentrations. In addition, the assessment of liver enzymes, i.e., ALT and AST, and the antioxidant markers further revealed the safety of the formulation, particularly for the liver as a highly sensitive soft organ. Overall, the liposome nanocarriers based on γ oryzanol were successfully formulated and expressed potential safety, supporting their application for the purposes of drug delivery and therapeutic interventions, particularly for hepatocellular and antioxidant therapies; however, further investigations for preclinical and clinical studies could be the future prospects for liposome nanocarriers based on γ oryzanol to explore the safety and efficacy of these nanocarriers in various disease models and clinical settings.