Silk fibroin microspheres loaded Rehmannia Liuwei extract for the protection of endothelial cells from the inhibitory effects

Liuwei Dihuang (LWDH) is a multi-component and multi-target Chinese herbal compound widely used for treating chronic conditions such as diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, osteoporosis, and chronic kidney disease. However, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations like decoction and pill face limitations, including low active component concentration, limited bioavailability, short half-life, and the need for high dosage, which may increase the burden on liver and kidney functions and reduce clinical efficacy. In this study, LWDH was further purified using D101 macroporous adsorption resin, resulting in a soluble extract with an active component content 53.6 times higher than that of LWDH itself. The freeze-dried LWDH extract was then encapsulated within silk fibroin (SF) microspheres to significantly enhance the sustained release performance of the drug. In a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model cultured under high glucose conditions, methanol vapor-treated SF/LWDH microspheres demonstrated a decrease in the 24-hour drug release rate from 61.88 % to 34.81 %, augmenting their protective effect on endothelial cells.