Understanding the effect of antioxidant properties in Chlorella sorokiniana and Chlorella zofingiensis-based liquid crystalline nanoparticles

Liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs) are an effective delivery vehicle and known with its ability to increase the bioavailability and stability of the bioactive compounds upon administration. This study focused on the formulation of liquid crystalline nanoparticles utilizing a binary lipid mixture of C. sorokiniana and C. zofingiensis microalgae based on soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC) and citric acid ester of monoglyceride (citrem). In this study, the particular microalgae(s) were selected based on its expeditious growth, cost-effectiveness, and intrinsic antioxidant attributes. The formulations were meticulously crafted employing a high-energy emulsification methodology, subsequently subjected to scrutiny through Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Ultra-Violet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy for comprehensive characterization. The outcomes derived from the FTIR spectra unveiled the presence of phenolic substances, proteins, and polysaccharides, indicating that the utilized algae in these formulations harbor significant inherent value. This potential can be harnessed for the development of formulations that naturally possess antioxidant properties. Furthermore, the antioxidant efficacy of liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNPs) derived from algae was compared with that of pure algae and atorvastatin-loaded formulations through DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The IC80 values for extracts from C. sorokiniana and C. zofingiensis were 48.99 μg/mL and 14.76 μg/mL, respectively. In contrast, the IC80 values for LCNPs based on C. sorokiniana and C. zofingiensis were 9.71 μg/ml and 3.25 μg/ml, respectively. The IC80 for drug-loaded LCNPs was recorded at 11.45 μg/ml. The lowest IC80 value from C. zofingiensis based LCNPs indicates the better antioxidant activity compared to pure algae extract, C. sorokiniana and ATV loaded LCNPs.