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Abstract: Lutein, a fat-soluble xanthophyll, contributes partially to the health benefits from consuming plant foods. Like all dietary carotenoids, lutein has a low bioavailability. In addition to increasing the intake of lutein-rich foods to enhance lutein status, delivery of lutein in polymeric nanoparticles (NP) presents a novel approach to enhancing lutein bioavailability. The overall research... read moreobjective of this project was to investigate, in rats, the impact of nanoencapsulation using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) on the pharmacokinetics of lutein. We also used an in vitro cell culture approach utilizing human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells grown in both conventional (CONV) and permeable support (PS) systems to investigate the impact of PLGA-NP on the absorption of lutein in intestinal cells. In chapter one, we compared the efficacy of lutein absorption in vitro using Caco-2 cells grown in both CONV and PS systems. We further examined the role of the micelle, the physiological vehicle for lutein within the small intestine, on its intestinal absorption in vitro compared to an organic solvent, ethanol, which is safe and consumed by humans. The finding from this study demonstrated that the CONV system displayed a larger efficacy of lutein uptake by Caco-2 cells. Further, in the PS system, micelle components appeared to facilitate more effective intestinal secretion of lutein. These findings suggest that lutein uptake by Caco-2 cells is subject to the influence of culturing system (CONV vs. PS) and delivery vehicle (ethanol vs. micelle). Chapter two examined the impact of PLGA-NP in rats on lutein pharmacokinetics in plasma and distribution in selected tissues as compared to free lutein. We also investigated the effect of nanoencapsulation on the absorption of lutein in intestinal cells compared to a more physiological vehicle, the micelle, using the PS method. In addition, we explored the need of additional micelles for the ultimate absorption of lutein loaded in a water soluble NP. The findings of the rat study indicated that, compared to free lutein, PLGA-NP improved the pharmacokinetics (Cmax and AUC) of lutein in the plasma of rats and in general promoted lutein accumulation in mesenteric adipose tissue and spleen but not liver. Yet, compared to micellized lutein, although NP improved the maximal concentration of lutein in the plasma of rats as well as in selected tissues it decreased the cell uptake and secretion of lutein in Caco-2 cells. The negative effect of the NP on cell uptake and secretion was partially remedied by the addition of micelle components. These findings suggest that the delivery of lutein within polymeric NP appears to be a promising approach to improving the bioavailability of lutein in rats. The inconsistent results between the rat and cell culture models warrant further investigations to determine which approach better predicts responses in humans. Further, bile salts and phospholipids, which are necessary to stimulate synthesis and secretion of chylomicrons, appear to facilitate more effective intestinal secretion of PLGA-NP lutein. In summary, with Caco-2 cells cultured in the PS system reliably grown to display phenotypes and functions of enterocytes in the small intestine, this in vitro platform enables the generation of information that is closer to the physiology of the absorptive enterocytes. However, although the CONV system has the physiological attributes of colonic tissue, it appeared to display a greater efficacy of lutein uptake by Caco-2 cells which can provide a rapid preliminary tool for methodology development for nutrient absorption studies. Further, the delivery of lutein in polymeric NP appears to be a promising approach to improve the bioavailability of lutein in vivo but raises issues with regard to the comparability and the predictive value of in vitro models to in vivo responses.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2014.
Submitted to the Dept. of Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition.
Advisor: Oliver Chen.
Committee: Jeffrey Blumberg, Eric Decker, and Donald Smith.
Keywords: Nanotechnology, and Nutrition.read less
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