Quality control performed on liposomal formulations based on guarana extract, vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, biotin and folic acid, used as nutritional products

Abstract

Abstract: The study of different strategies to improve the stability and bioavailability of bioactive components has increased in the last decades. One of the mechanisms that has acquired great relevance is to formulate using liposomal vesicles. Liposomes are structures that enhance the absorption, stability and transport of active compounds, which is reflected by an increase in the bioactivity of the encapsulated molecules. The guarana extract has proven to be rich in methylxanthines and phenolic compounds. These metabolites are associatedto a wide variety of pharmacological properties, and exert a stimulating effect. For this reason, it has become popular in nutritional products. In this workit was characterized physicochemically a nutritional product based on guarana, vitamins and folic acid. In this product the active components were encapsulated in liposomal vesicles, which were analyzed to know their structure, size (diameter) and membrane thickness. Results and analysis indicate that liposomes are multivesicular and multilamellar structures. This structural conformation is related to a greater stability of the vesicles, which represents a favorable aspect for the formulation. On the other hand, the data obtained from the physicochemical characterization can be used as part of the quality control performed on the formulation. Additionally, they represent a starting point for improvements and optimization of this nutritional product.