Bicontinuous Cubic Liquid Crystals as Potential Matrices for Non-Invasive Topical Sampling of Low-Molecular-Weight Biomarkers
Many skin disorders, including cancer, have inflammatory components. The non-invasive detection of related biomarkers could therefore be highly valuable for both diagnosis and follow up on the effect of treatment. This study targets the extraction of tryptophan (Trp) and its metabolite kynurenine (K...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceutics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/15/8/2031 |
| _version_ | 1797583503158673408 |
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| author | Maxim Morin Sebastian Björklund Emelie J. Nilsson Johan Engblom |
| author_facet | Maxim Morin Sebastian Björklund Emelie J. Nilsson Johan Engblom |
| author_sort | Maxim Morin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many skin disorders, including cancer, have inflammatory components. The non-invasive detection of related biomarkers could therefore be highly valuable for both diagnosis and follow up on the effect of treatment. This study targets the extraction of tryptophan (Trp) and its metabolite kynurenine (Kyn), two compounds associated with several inflammatory skin disorders. We furthermore hypothesize that lipid-based bicontinuous cubic liquid crystals could be efficient extraction matrices. They comprise a large interfacial area separating interconnected polar and apolar domains, allowing them to accommodate solutes with various properties. We concluded, using the extensively studied GMO-water system as test-platform, that the hydrophilic Kyn and Trp favored the cubic phase over water and revealed a preference for locating at the lipid–water interface. The interfacial area per unit volume of the matrix, as well as the incorporation of ionic molecules at the lipid–water interface, can be used to optimize the extraction of solutes with specific physicochemical characteristics. We also observed that the cubic phases formed at rather extreme water activities (>0.9) and that wearing them resulted in efficient hydration and increased permeability of the skin. Evidently, bicontinuous cubic liquid crystals constitute a promising and versatile platform for non-invasive extraction of biomarkers through skin, as well as for transdermal drug delivery. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:39:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac88af5af7b746e5a07eee39676acab1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4923 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:39:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceutics |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac88af5af7b746e5a07eee39676acab12023-11-19T02:35:39ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232023-07-01158203110.3390/pharmaceutics15082031Bicontinuous Cubic Liquid Crystals as Potential Matrices for Non-Invasive Topical Sampling of Low-Molecular-Weight BiomarkersMaxim Morin0Sebastian Björklund1Emelie J. Nilsson2Johan Engblom3Biofilms—Research Center for Biointerfaces, Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, SwedenBiofilms—Research Center for Biointerfaces, Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, SwedenBiofilms—Research Center for Biointerfaces, Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, SwedenBiofilms—Research Center for Biointerfaces, Malmö University, SE-205 06 Malmö, SwedenMany skin disorders, including cancer, have inflammatory components. The non-invasive detection of related biomarkers could therefore be highly valuable for both diagnosis and follow up on the effect of treatment. This study targets the extraction of tryptophan (Trp) and its metabolite kynurenine (Kyn), two compounds associated with several inflammatory skin disorders. We furthermore hypothesize that lipid-based bicontinuous cubic liquid crystals could be efficient extraction matrices. They comprise a large interfacial area separating interconnected polar and apolar domains, allowing them to accommodate solutes with various properties. We concluded, using the extensively studied GMO-water system as test-platform, that the hydrophilic Kyn and Trp favored the cubic phase over water and revealed a preference for locating at the lipid–water interface. The interfacial area per unit volume of the matrix, as well as the incorporation of ionic molecules at the lipid–water interface, can be used to optimize the extraction of solutes with specific physicochemical characteristics. We also observed that the cubic phases formed at rather extreme water activities (>0.9) and that wearing them resulted in efficient hydration and increased permeability of the skin. Evidently, bicontinuous cubic liquid crystals constitute a promising and versatile platform for non-invasive extraction of biomarkers through skin, as well as for transdermal drug delivery.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/15/8/2031tryptophankynureninetryptophan-to-kynurenine ratiocancer-related biomarkersnon-invasive extractionbicontinuous cubic liquid crystal |
| spellingShingle | Maxim Morin Sebastian Björklund Emelie J. Nilsson Johan Engblom Bicontinuous Cubic Liquid Crystals as Potential Matrices for Non-Invasive Topical Sampling of Low-Molecular-Weight Biomarkers Pharmaceutics tryptophan kynurenine tryptophan-to-kynurenine ratio cancer-related biomarkers non-invasive extraction bicontinuous cubic liquid crystal |
| title | Bicontinuous Cubic Liquid Crystals as Potential Matrices for Non-Invasive Topical Sampling of Low-Molecular-Weight Biomarkers |
| title_full | Bicontinuous Cubic Liquid Crystals as Potential Matrices for Non-Invasive Topical Sampling of Low-Molecular-Weight Biomarkers |
| title_fullStr | Bicontinuous Cubic Liquid Crystals as Potential Matrices for Non-Invasive Topical Sampling of Low-Molecular-Weight Biomarkers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bicontinuous Cubic Liquid Crystals as Potential Matrices for Non-Invasive Topical Sampling of Low-Molecular-Weight Biomarkers |
| title_short | Bicontinuous Cubic Liquid Crystals as Potential Matrices for Non-Invasive Topical Sampling of Low-Molecular-Weight Biomarkers |
| title_sort | bicontinuous cubic liquid crystals as potential matrices for non invasive topical sampling of low molecular weight biomarkers |
| topic | tryptophan kynurenine tryptophan-to-kynurenine ratio cancer-related biomarkers non-invasive extraction bicontinuous cubic liquid crystal |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/15/8/2031 |
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