Ferulic Acid-Loaded Lipid Nanostructures as Drug Delivery Systems for Alzheimer's Disease: Preparation, Characterization and Cytotoxicity Studies

Ferulic acid (FA), a phenolic compound with a significant antioxidant activity in Alzheimer's disease, was entrapped into several solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN and NLC) by using the microemulsion technique. Stable SLN and NLC formulations having mean size ranging between 94-140 nm and high zeta potential were obtained. The SLN sample obtained by using as lipid matrix Compritol 888 ATO was chosen for further characterization because, among these particles, showed high Loading Capacity (LC%) and the best characteristics in terms of size, PDI, and drug release profile. Empty SLN showed no cytotoxicity on human neuroblastoma cells (LAN 5) at tested concentrations and the ability to penetrate into these cells. Moreover, cells treated with FA-loaded SLN showed a higher reduced ROS production than cells treated with free FA. These findings demonstrate that FA-loaded SLN possess a higher protective activity than free FA against oxidative stress induced in neurons and suggest that SLN are excellent carriers to transport FA into the cells.