Formulation and cognitive evaluation of self-assembled phosphatidylserine-chitosan nanoparticles of lycopene, an innovative technique to lessen STZ-induced oxidative stress: A vital persuader of major neurological diseases

Abstract The present study deals with the encapsulation and brain-specific targeting of Lycopene (LYC) as Polysorbate-80 (P-80) coated Phosphatidylserine-chitosan self-assembled nanoparticles (P-80-LYC-PSCNP), with an approach to reduce oxidative stress which is rationalized as a major cause of neurological disease. P-80-LYC-PSCNP was formulated by using the injection technique for self-assembly of Phosphatidylserine and chitosan, applying P-80 coating for surface modification and were assessed for their morphology and physicochemical attributes. The efficiency of LYC liberated from P-80-LYC-PSCNP was determined in Streptozotocin-induced Oxidative stress Model (SOSM); cognitively by behavioral despair-test and biochemically by enzymatic assays at 5 mg/kg LYC-equivalent dose. P-80-LYC-PSCNP were formulated as stable (ζ = 3.89 mV) spherical, regular (≈220 nm), and homogenous entities. It demonstrated a total 76.89% LYC in-vitro release during 28 hrs and shown efficacy for brain-specific delivery with a relative bioavailability of 20.4, Cmax 4.6 times, and 2.5 times swifter than normal LYC. After 28 days, it shortened immobility time by 72.57 ± 8.12 s (P