Optimization, physicochemical stability and in vivo study of alginate-chitosan composites as nanocarriers for low molecular weight angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptide

Shehu Muhammad Auwal, Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Siti Balqis Muhammad Ghanisma, Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Nazamid Saari, Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaFollow

Abstract

Chitosan and alginate, are non-toxic and biodegradable polymers used to enhance the stability of biotherapeutics by loading them into nanocarriers. In this study, the stone fish-derived low molecular weight peptide (Ala-Leu-Gly-Pro-Gln-Phe-Tyr), exhibited an in vitro ACE-inhibitory activity of 94.43 ± 2.05% and an IC₅₀ of 0.012 ± 0.001 mM. The peptide was encapsulated via ionic gelation with alginate followed by polyelectrolyte complexation with chitosan. The resulting ACE-inhibitory peptide-loaded alginate-chitosan nanoparticles (ACE-I-ALG-CS NPs) were optimized to achieve small particle size (212.60 nm) and high encapsulation efficiency (EE, 74.48%). This was based on an optimum chitosan concentration (0.420%w/v), homogenization speed (6000 rpm), and homogenization time (30 min) using Box Behnken experimental design (BBED). Characterization of the ACE-I-ALG-CS NPs revealed a spherical, monodispersed morphology with high physicochemical stability during storage at 2°C, 7°C, and 12°C for 12 weeks. Moreover, the in vivo study conducted on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) demonstrated a significantly higher (p < 0.05) systolic blood pressure (SBP)-lowering effect of the ACE-I-ALG-CS NPs compared to captopril and unencapsulated peptide. Hence, alginate and chitosan can be used as biocompatible coating materials to enhance the stability and in vivo antihypertensive effect of Ala-Leu-Gly-Pro-Gln-Phe-Tyr through encapsulation, thereby making it otentially valuable for various applications in pharmaceuticals and food industry.

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Recommended Citation

Auwal, Shehu Muhammad; Ghanisma, Siti Balqis Muhammad; and Saari, Nazamid (2024) "Optimization, physicochemical stability and in vivo study of alginate-chitosan composites as nanocarriers for low molecular weight angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory peptide," Journal of Food and Drug Analysis: Vol. 32 : Iss. 3 , Article 8.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.38212/2224-6614.3522