Double-coated nanoliposomes improve the bioavailability of flavanone hesperetin

Nanoliposomes are a promising delivery system, however, they are quickly broken down under physiological conditions leading to carrier leakage. Hesperetin (HST) is a flavanone with various potential health-related benefits, which are limited by its poor bioavailability and stability. This study aimed to improve the bioavailability of HST using different delivery systems including maltodextrin (MD), β-cyclodextrin (CD), and nanoliposomes coated with two biopolymers, chitosan (CH) and carrageenan (CGN). The capsules underwent in vitro digestion using the INFOGEST protocol and Caco-2 Transwell models were used to simulate intestinal epithelium absorption. Data showed chitosan and carrageenan conjugated-nanoliposomes retained 76 % of the HST at the end of the intestinal digestion, whereas delivery systems such as MD and CD retained only 30% and 66%, respectively. CH and CGN capsules also showed the highest HST transfer rate through the intestinal epithelium, which was a threefold increase compared to free HST after 6 h. Polysaccharide-coated nanoliposomes are an effective tool for delivering bioactive compounds to the small intestine and for improving their transepithelial transport.