Design and preparation of multifunctional astaxanthin nanoparticles with good acid stability and hepatocyte-targeting ability for alcoholic liver injury alleviation

As a dietary nutrition supplement, astaxanthin (AXT) has attracted much attention in alleviating ethanol-induced liver injury due to its superior antioxidant ability. However, the poor water solubility and pH-vulnerable characteristics of AXT significantly restrict its application in nutrition intervention. In this study, multifunctional astaxanthin nanoparticles (LAD6:1@AXT) with good acid stability and hepatocyte-targeting ability were designed and prepared using 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, lactobionic acid, and sodium alginate as raw materials. At pH 2.0, LAD6:1@AXT displayed a double reservation rate of the relative AXT content compared to free AXT. Significant antioxidative activity of LAD6:1@AXT was observed in cellular experiments. Ex vivo experiments revealed that the astaxanthin nanoparticles showed 90 % increased accumulation in the liver after oral administration for 24 h. A strong hepatic-targeting effect was found for LAD6:1@AXT, which could effectively ameliorate alcoholic liver injury. Our data indicated that the developed astaxanthin nanoparticles have the potential of nutrition intervention for alcohol-induced liver impairment.