Nano-encapsulation of several natural products has become an important tool in enhancing the bioavailability of some modern drugs against many diseases.
Pelargonidin is an
anthocyanidin found in many fruits and vegetables.
Pelargonidin is loaded with
poly-lactide-co-
glycolic-acid, a non-toxic biodegradable
polymer, to produce nano-
pelargonidin. Size, morphology, zeta potential, and planar uniformity of formulated nano-
pelargonidin were determined by atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The time required for cellular entry, folds of nano-
pelargonidin, and
drug encapsulation efficiency of
poly-lactide-co-
glycolic-acid were also ascertained. Relative functional efficacy of nano-
pelargonidin and
pelargonidin was evaluated by examining markers such as
pyruvate kinase,
glucokinase,
calcium ion level,
ATP/
ADP ratio, mitochondrial membrane potential, cytosolic release of mitochondrial
cytochrome-c, and structural analysis of
mitochondrial DNA in controlled and experimental sets of
alloxan-induced hyperglycemic L6 cells. Expressions of mitochondrial apoptotic
proteins, such as bcl2 and caspase3, and
glucose signalling cascades, such as GLUT4, IRS1, IRS2, and PI3, were analyzed. Nano-
pelargonidin at a nearly 10-fold reduced dose significantly enhanced protection, presumably due to its smaller size, ability of faster entry, and
drug delivery at target-specific sites. Thus, nano-
pelargonidin can be used in formulating
protective drugs for therapeutic management of
mitochondrial dysfunction often encountered in diabetic conditions.