Preparation and in vitro/in vivo evaluation of 6-Gingerol TPGS/PEG-PCL polymeric micelles

6-Gingerol, an active herbal ingredient of ginger has various bioactivities such as anti-neurodegenerative disease, anti-inflammatory and so on. The aim of the present study was to enhance the oral bioavailability and brain distribution of 6-Gingerol via polymeric micelles. A polymeric micelles drug delivery system of 6-Gingerol consisting of D-α-Tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) and Poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (ε-caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) was prepared via solvent injection method. The developed 6-Gingerol-loaded TPGS/PEG-PCL micelles (6-GTPMs) were characterized based on particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL) and in vitro release profile. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution studies were also evaluated. The nanoformulation produced a particle size of 73.24 ± 2.84 nm with acceptable PDI (0.129 ± 0.03), zeta potential (-2.74 ± 0.92 mV), DL (4.64%) and EE (79.68%). The in vitro release profile showed that the 6-GTPMs enhanced the solubility of 6-Gingerol, while the pharmaceutical analysis in rats indicated that 6-GTPMs significantly improved the oral bioavailability of 6-Gingerol (about 3 folds) in circulation. The 6-GTPMs exhibited remarkable brain targetability in the tissue distribution analysis. Collectively, a 6-Gingerol polymeric micelle with enhanced oral bioavailability coupled with excellent brain distribution was successfully developed.