J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 14, no. 4, Article ID 2654, Jul-Aug 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres_14.4.2654Original Article
Solvent-free β-glucan-coated VD3 nanoliposomes: Physicochemical characterization and preliminary in vitro evaluation
[Nanoliposomas de vitamina D3 recubiertos con β-glucano y preparados sin disolventes: caracterización fisicoquímica y evaluación preliminar in vitro]
Jauharotus Shobahah1,2, Dwi Winarni3, M. Ainun Najib Aly4, Naswandi Nur5, Win Darmanto3, Dwi Hudiyanti6, Lionel In Lian Aun7, Sri Puji Astuti Wahyuningsih3*
1Doctoral Program of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
2Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Food Security, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia.
3Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
4Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hang Tuah University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
5Research Center for Applied Microbiology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia.
6Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia.
7Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
*E-mail: sri-p-a-w@fst.unair.ac.id
Abstract
Context: Vitamin D3 (VD3) has attracted interest in colorectal cancer research. Nevertheless, its limited solubility in aqueous media and low oral bioavailability restrict its pharmaceutical application. Solvent-free nanocarrier systems offer an alternative formulation approach that does not involve the use of organic solvents.
Aims: To develop β-glucan-coated VD3-loaded nanoliposomes and evaluate their physicochemical properties, storage stability, in vitro release, and preliminary effects on HCT-116 cell viability using the MTT assay.
Methods: VD3-loaded nanoliposomes were prepared using mild heating, probe sonication, virgin coconut oil (VCO) pre-dispersion, and β-glucan coating. The selected formulations were characterized using FTIR, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, validated UV–Vis spectrophotometry, cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), in vitro drug release, storage stability, and MTT assays.
Results: The β-glucan-coated formulation exhibited a particle size of 201.8 ± 15.8 nm, PDI of 0.14 ± 0.09, zeta potential of −58.76 ± 1.86 mV, and encapsulation efficiency of 88.73 ± 0.70%, with a more uniform vesicular morphology than that of the uncoated formulation. It also showed a more controlled in vitro release profile and greater reduction in HCT-116 cell viability at intermediate concentrations.
Conclusions: β-Glucan coating improved the physicochemical performance of VD3-loaded nanoliposomes, providing a more controlled in vitro release profile. The formulation also demonstrated a greater reduction in HCT-116 cell viability in a preliminary MTT assay, supporting further investigation under biorelevant oral delivery conditions. Further biological and preclinical studies are warranted to establish its performance under biorelevant and in vivo conditions.
Keywords: cholecalciferol; colorectal cancer; drug delivery systems; encapsulation; liposomes; solvent-free formulation.
Resumen
Contexto: La vitamina D3 (VD3) presenta baja solubilidad en agua y una biodisponibilidad oral limitada, lo que restringe sus aplicaciones farmacéuticas. Los nanotransportadores libres de disolventes constituyen una alternativa para la formulación de compuestos hidrofóbicos.
Objetivos: Desarrollar nanoliposomas de VD3 recubiertos con β-glucano y evaluar sus propiedades fisicoquímicas, la estabilidad, la liberación in vitro y los efectos preliminares sobre la viabilidad de las células HCT-116 mediante un ensayo de MTT.
Métodos: La formulación seleccionada se preparó mediante calentamiento suave, sonicación con sonda, predispersión en aceite de coco virgen (VCO) y recubrimiento con β-glucano. Se caracterizó mediante FTIR, dispersión dinámica de luz, potencial zeta, eficiencia de encapsulación, espectrofotometría UV–Vis validada, Cryo-EM, estudios de liberación in vitro, estabilidad y ensayo MTT.
Resultados: La formulación recubierta presentó un tamaño de partícula de 201.8 ± 15.8 nm, PDI de 0.14 ± 0.09, potencial zeta de −58.76 ± 1.86 mV y una eficiencia de encapsulación de 88.73 ± 0.70%, además de una morfología vesicular más uniforme, una liberación in vitro más controlada y una mayor reducción de la viabilidad de las células HCT-116.
Conclusiones: El recubrimiento con β-glucano mejoró las propiedades fisicoquímicas de los nanoliposomas de VD3 y produjo un perfil de liberación in vitro más controlado. Los resultados del ensayo MTT respaldan únicamente una evaluación biológica preliminar y justifican estudios biológicos y preclínicos adicionales en condiciones biológicamente relevantes, in vivo.
Palabras Clave: cáncer colorrectal; colecalciferol; encapsulación; formulación libre de disolventes; liposomas; sistemas de liberación de fármacos.
Citation Format: Shobahah J, Winarni D, Aly MAN, Nur N, Darmanto W, Hudiyanti D, Aun LIL, Wahyuningsih SPA (2026) Solvent-free β-glucan-coated VD3 nanoliposomes: Physicochemical characterization and preliminary in vitro evaluation. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 14(4): 2654. https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres_14.4.2654
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