Surface engineered nanoliposomal platform for selective lymphatic uptake of asenapine maleate: In vitro and in vivo studies

Abstract Asenapine maleate (ASPM) is an antipsychotic drug prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. ASPM possesses low oral bioavailability due to extensive hepatic metabolism. Therefore, RGD peptide conjugated liposomes loaded with ASPM were prepared to target Peyer's patches in the intestine which in-turn get access into intestinal lymphatic system thereby increasing the oral bioavailability of the drug. Liposomes were evaluated for size, zeta potential, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), shape and morphology, in vitro drug release, cell line studies, everted intestinal uptake, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, targetability and stability studies. In vitro drug release study showed the sustained release of drug from the formulations. Optimized liposomes (size