Nanostructured Liposomal Systems for Safer Delivery of Triphenylphosphonium Derivatives<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>Joana Moreira1<\/sup>, Clarisse Lopes1<\/sup>, Barbara Nunes2,3<\/sup>, Cl\u00e1udia Sampaio Machado1<\/sup>, Rita Cardoso1<\/sup>, Fernando Cagide1<\/sup> and Carlos Fernandes1<\/sup><\/em>
1<\/sup><\/em> RISE-Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hern\u00e2ni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal
2<\/sup><\/em> LEPABE\u2014Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
3<\/sup><\/em> ALiCE\u2014Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, FEUP, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal<\/td><\/tr>Abstract<\/strong>
Quaternary phosphonium compounds, particularly triphenylphosphonium salt (TPPs) derivatives, exhibit antimicrobial and antifungal activity against resistant strains [1]. However, their cytotoxicity toward human cells limits clinical application, highlighting the need for effective delivery systems [1]. Nanocarriers offer a strategy to control release and improve safety, with liposomal incorporation potentially reducing off-target toxicity [2].
Dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) liposomes loaded with TPPs derivatives presenting different alkyl chain length (Cx-TPPs; x=8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 carbons) were prepared via thin-film hydration.[3] Particle size and zeta potential were measured by dynamic light scattering, while encapsulation efficiency was quantified via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Storage stability, pH responsiveness, and mucin interactions were also evaluated. The toxicity of the nanoformulations was assessed in Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts and Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma cell lines using resazurin and sulforhodamine B assays and compared with free Cx-TPPs.
The encapsulation of Cx-TPP derivatives was successfully achieved and resulting nanoformulations showed sizes below 300 nm with surface charge dependent on alkyl chain length, and a good storage stability for up to 8 weeks. Nanoformulations showed interactions with mucins and improved stability under mildly acidic to neutral pH conditions. The most promising nanoformulations showed reduced cytotoxicity when compared with free Cx-TPP in both cell lines.
Overall, DPPC liposomes loaded with Cx-TPP derivatives displayed suitable physicochemical properties and reduced cytotoxicity, supporting their potential as safer antimicrobial nanocarriers.<\/td><\/tr>References <\/strong>
[1] Nunes, B.; Cagide, F.; Borges, F.; Sim\u00f5es, M. Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of novel quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts. J. Mol. Liq. 2024, 401, 124616, DOI: 10.1016\/j.molliq.2024.124616
[2] Burska, A. N.; Raish, K. E.; Bayandy, D.; Paunov, V. N. Emerging nano-delivery systems for targeting mitochondria. Nanoscale 18 (4), 1835\u20131864, DOI:10.1039\/D5NR03935E
[3] \u0160turm L, Poklar Ulrih N. Basic Methods for Preparation of Liposomes and Studying Their Interactions with Different Compounds, with the Emphasis on Polyphenols. Int J Mol Sci. 2021, 22(12):6547. DOI: 10.3390\/ijms22126547
Acknowledgments<\/strong>
This work was funded by FEDER funds through national funds by FCT \u2013 Foundation for Science and Technology under research grants 2023.13291.PEX and under the project RISE-Health \u2013 UID\/06397\/2025. This work was also supported by FCT project reference 2021. 04016.CEECIND\/CP1655\/CT000(DOI: 10.54499\/2021.04016.CEECIND\/CP1655\/CT0004). J.M. (2025.04268.BD) and C.S.M. (2024.00809.BD) grants are also supported by FCT. C.F. thanks the FCT for the financial support of his work contract through the Scientific Employment Stimulus\u2014Individual Call (2021. 04016.CEECIND\/CP1655\/CT0004).<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" PC24 – Joana Filipa Moreira Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Portugal ORCIDup201503055@up.pt Nanostructured Liposomal Systems for Safer Delivery of Triphenylphosphonium Derivatives Joana Moreira1, Clarisse Lopes1, Barbara Nunes2,3, Cl\u00e1udia Sampaio Machado1, Rita Cardoso1, Fernando Cagide1 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10371,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-senza-categoria"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.unica.it\/pe2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.unica.it\/pe2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.unica.it\/pe2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.unica.it\/pe2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10371"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.unica.it\/pe2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2186"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sites.unica.it\/pe2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2347,"href":"https:\/\/sites.unica.it\/pe2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2186\/revisions\/2347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.unica.it\/pe2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.unica.it\/pe2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.unica.it\/pe2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} | | | |
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