Liposomal Vitamin C Production with Ultrasonics

Liposomal vitamin formulations are known for their higher bioavailability and absorption rate. Vitamin C, an antioxidant, is a common supplement used in nutritional and medical drugs to support the immune system of the human body. Ultrasonication is a reliable and safe method for the production of high-quality liposomes and nano-liposomes. The ultrasonic encapsulation process produces liposomes with a high load of active substances, such as vitamin C.

Liposomal Vitamin C Produced with Ultrasonication

The advantage of liposomal vitamins is that they are not administered in conventional tablet or powder form, but as liquid formulation with increased bioavailability. This means, the vitamins are encapsulated in the core of spherical phospholipid cells, so-called liposomes. Since liposomes have a similar phospholipid composition to the lipid membranes of human cells, they are significantly better absorbed into the bodys cells. Therefore liposomes are used in medicinal formulations and pharmaceuticals, supplements and nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals and cosmetic products. Ultrasonication is a highly efficacious method to encapsulate molecules such as therapeutics into liposomes. Ultrasonic liposome production is characterized by a high entrapment efficiency, which means that a high percentage of active ingredients (e.g., vitamin C) are encapsulated into liposomes. Simultaneously, sonication ensures a uniformly small liposome size that can easily be absorbed by the human cells. Therefore, ultrasonically encapsulated vitamin C liposomes offer a very high bioavailability and efficacy. Overall, ultrasonic liposome formation is highly efficient and delivers superior liposome quality!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Ultrasonic Encapsulation of Vitamin C into Liposomes

Liposomal vitamin C is a delivering form for vitamin C that improves absorption and bioavailability. Probe-type ultrasonication is a efficient and reliable method for producing liposomes.
Following protocol shows the general steps for producing liposomal vitamin C using a probe-type ultrasonicator:
 

1. Mix vitamin C powder with a small amount of distilled water to form a solution.
2. Add the vitamin C solution to a solution of phospholipids (such as soy lecithin) in a ratio of 1:10 (vitamin C:phospholipids) by volume.
3. Place the mixture in a glass beaker and insert the probe of the ultrasonicator, e.g. UP200Ht with S26d14, into the solution.
4. Ultrasonicate the mixture using the probe-type ultrasonicator for 5-10 minutes, at an approx. power setting of 200W (frequency 26 kHz). The probe of the ultrasonicator should be moved gently through the solution during the sonication process. Avoid the contact of probe with the beaker wall (as glass beakers might break).
5. After sonication, let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the liposomes to form.
6. Store in a dark glass bottle and preferably at the refrigerator for long-term stability.

It is important to note that the exact protocol may vary depending on the specific ultrasonicator and materials used. Additionally, the stability and quality of the liposomes can be affected by factors such as pH, temperature, and the presence of other substances, so it is important to carefully control these variables during the production process.
 

Ultrasonic Liposome Formation

Since the formation of liposomes and nanoliposomes does not occur as a spontaneous process, an energy resource is required to promote the encapsulation process. Liposomes are lipid vesicles, which are formed when phospholipids, e.g. lecithin, are added to water, where they form bilayer structures when sufficient energy, e.g. by sonication, is applied. Ultrasonication assists the arrangement of the lipid molecules, so that a thermodynamically stable aqueous phase is obtained. Sonication does not only promote the formation of liposomes, it also reduces the size of liposomes resulting in nanoliposomes. The liposome size is an important factor when it comes to bioavailability and absorption rate since smaller liposomes can penetrate the cell membranes easier.

Ultrasonic Liposome Size Reduction

Ultrasonic dispersion is a simple and efficient method for reducing the size of liposomes and manufacturing nanoliposomes. In order to prepare smaller liposomes, hydrated vesicles are sonicated for a few minutes with a probe-type ultrasonicator in a temperature-controlled reactor. As a non-thermal, purely mechanical method, ultrasonic size reduction does neither degrade the phospholipids nor the bioactive compounds.

Sau khi hình thành màng lipid bù nước tiếp theo, sonication được sử dụng để thúc đẩy sự bẫy của các hoạt chất trong liposome. Ngoài ra, sonication đạt được kích thước liposome mong muốn.

Ultrasonic Processors for Liposome Production

Hielscher Ultrasonics systems are widely used in the pharmaceutical and supplement production to formulate high-quality liposomes loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, peptides, polyphenols and other bioactive compounds. To meet its customers demands, Hielscher supplies ultrasonicators from the compact hand-held lab homogeniser and bench-top ultarsonicators to fully industrial ultrasonic systems for the production of high-volumes of liposomal formulations. A broad range of ultrasonic sonotrodes and reactors are available to ensure an optimal setup for your liposome production. The robustness of Hielscher sonicators allow for 24/7 operation under heavy duty and in demanding environments.
Bảng dưới đây cung cấp cho bạn một dấu hiệu về khả năng xử lý gần đúng của ultrasonicators của chúng tôi:

Liposome Formation via Reverse Evaporation Method using Sonication