Effects of gastrointestinal digestion on the cell bioavailability of sodium alginate coated liposomes containing DPP-IV inhibition active collagen peptides

Authors: WU, PEIHAN - Jiangnan University; YUAN, YONGKAI - Jiangnan University; CHEN, LING - Jiangnan University; CHEN, MAOSHEN - Jiangnan University; Chiou, Bor-Sen; LIU, FEI - Jiangnan University; ZHONG, FANG - Jiangnan University

Submitted to: Food Bioscience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/30/2023
Publication Date: 12/6/2023
Citation: Wu, P., Yuan, Y., Chen, L., Chen, M., Chiou, B., Liu, F., Zhong, F. 2023. Effects of gastrointestinal digestion on the cell bioavailability of sodium alginate coated liposomes containing DPP-IV inhibition active collagen peptides. Food Bioscience. 56. Article 103426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2023.103426.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2023.103426

Interpretive Summary: Certain peptides have been found to effectively inhibit enzymes that inactivate hormones, which regulate the blood sugar level. Consequently, the collagen peptides can be used as a possible treatment for diabetes. However, the peptides are easily destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract due to acidic and enzymatic degradation. A previous study had found that alginate-coated liposomes can protect the peptides from degradation. However, these liposomes did not undergo simulated gastrointestinal digestion. In this study, we examined the effects of gastrointestinal digestion on uptake of the liposome-encapsulated peptides by intestinal cells. After simulated gastrointestinal digestion, peptides in alginate-coated liposomes were found to result in higher cellular uptake than free peptides and peptides encapsulated in liposomes without alginate. This was due to better protection from the alginate-coated liposomes and improved ability to pass through the mucus layer on the surface of intestinal cells. These results indicated that alginate-coated liposomes can be an effective encapsulant for intestinal delivery of active compounds.

Technical Abstract: Delivery matrices in foods require careful design for optimal delivery and subsequent absorption of the beneficial compounds in the gut. The use of polysaccharide-modified liposomes in enhancing cellular uptake has been well-studied, but the effects of gastrointestinal digestion on their cellular uptake has not been well understood. In this study, the effects of digestive behavior on the uptake of sodium alginate-modified liposomes containing DPP-IV inhibitory active collagen peptides (SA-CP-Lip) in small intestinal cells was investigated. The Caco-2/HT29 cell model was used to evaluate the cellular uptake and secretion capacity of digested SA-CP-Lip. The cellular metabolism of liposomes was promoted by digested sodium alginate. Gastrointestinal digestion improved the permeability of SA-CP-Lip in the cellular mucus layer, and made SA-CP-Lip more readily captured by the cells and thus ingested. In addition, the cellular uptake mechanism of digested SA-CP-Lip was dominated by endocytosis of lattice proteins and caveolae. Further studies by proteomics and metabolic processes showed that SA-CP-Lip could pass intactly through the small intestinal epithelium into the humoral circulation. This work demonstrated that gastrointestinal digestion contributed to the ability of sodium alginate-modified liposomes to penetrate the cellular mucus layer as well as improved cellular uptake. These results increased understanding of the specific role of digestion on polysaccharide-modified liposomes and may favor better design of the delivery systems.