Nanoemulsion carriers for drug delivery: Assessment of environmental hazards

Susana I.L. Gomes; Bruno Guimarães; Paolo Gasco; Magda Blosi; Anna L. Costa; Janeck J. Scott-Fordsmand; Mónica J.B. Amorim

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121669

Nanoemulsion carriers for drug delivery: Assessment of environmental hazards

Susana I.L. Gomes, Bruno Guimarães, Paolo Gasco, Magda Blosi, Anna L. Costa, Janeck J. Scott-Fordsmand, Mónica J.B. Amorim^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Ecoscience - Terrestrial Ecology

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

Nanoemulsions (NEs) have been extensively studied as carriers for drug delivery, since these provide a good alternative to the existing non-nano systems, while promoting their target delivery and controlled release. NEs are considered safe drug carriers from a pre-clinical perspective, but there is currently no information on their ecotoxicological effects. In the present study we investigated the toxicity of a NE material (lecithin, sunflower oil, borate buffer) designed to be used as a liposomal excipient for eye drops, further referred to as (Lipid Particle:LP) LP_Eye and its dispersant (borate buffer) (LP_Eye disp.). Effects were assessed using two model species in soil ecotoxicology in LUFA 2.2 soil: Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta) and Folsomia candida (Collembola), based on the OECD standard guideline (28 days) and its extension, a longer-term exposure (56 days). The endpoints evaluated included survival, reproduction, and size. LP_Eye and LP_Eye disp. were toxic to E. crypticus and F. candida, affecting all measured endpoints. The toxicity of LP_Eye in E. crypticus seemed to be induced by the dispersant, whereas for F. candida, more sensitive, this was less explanatory. There were no indications that toxicity increased with longer exposure. Current results provide ecotoxicological data for a group of NMs that was absent, revealing toxicity to relevant environmental species. Indications were that the dispersant contributed to most of the observed effects, thus there is room to improve the formulation and achieve lower environmental impact.

Original language	English
Article number	121669
Journal	Environmental Pollution
Volume	328
Number of pages	7
ISSN	0269-7491
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121669
Publication status	Published - Jul 2023

Keywords

Drug delivery systems
Ecotoxicity
Nanocarrier
Nanomaterials
Prolonged exposure
Soil invertebrates
Ecotoxicology
Coleoptera
Oligochaeta
Soil Pollutants/analysis
Reproduction
Animals
Arthropods
Soil
Borates

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title = "Nanoemulsion carriers for drug delivery: Assessment of environmental hazards",

abstract = "Nanoemulsions (NEs) have been extensively studied as carriers for drug delivery, since these provide a good alternative to the existing non-nano systems, while promoting their target delivery and controlled release. NEs are considered safe drug carriers from a pre-clinical perspective, but there is currently no information on their ecotoxicological effects. In the present study we investigated the toxicity of a NE material (lecithin, sunflower oil, borate buffer) designed to be used as a liposomal excipient for eye drops, further referred to as (Lipid Particle:LP) LP_Eye and its dispersant (borate buffer) (LP_Eye disp.). Effects were assessed using two model species in soil ecotoxicology in LUFA 2.2 soil: Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta) and Folsomia candida (Collembola), based on the OECD standard guideline (28 days) and its extension, a longer-term exposure (56 days). The endpoints evaluated included survival, reproduction, and size. LP_Eye and LP_Eye disp. were toxic to E. crypticus and F. candida, affecting all measured endpoints. The toxicity of LP_Eye in E. crypticus seemed to be induced by the dispersant, whereas for F. candida, more sensitive, this was less explanatory. There were no indications that toxicity increased with longer exposure. Current results provide ecotoxicological data for a group of NMs that was absent, revealing toxicity to relevant environmental species. Indications were that the dispersant contributed to most of the observed effects, thus there is room to improve the formulation and achieve lower environmental impact.",

keywords = "Drug delivery systems, Ecotoxicity, Nanocarrier, Nanomaterials, Prolonged exposure, Soil invertebrates, Ecotoxicology, Coleoptera, Oligochaeta, Soil Pollutants/analysis, Reproduction, Animals, Arthropods, Soil, Borates",

author = "Gomes, {Susana I.L.} and Bruno Guimar{\~a}es and Paolo Gasco and Magda Blosi and Costa, {Anna L.} and Scott-Fordsmand, {Janeck J.} and Amorim, {M{\'o}nica J.B.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors",

year = "2023",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121669",

language = "English",

volume = "328",

journal = "Environmental Pollution",

issn = "0269-7491",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Nanoemulsion carriers for drug delivery

T2 - Assessment of environmental hazards

AU - Gomes, Susana I.L.

AU - Guimarães, Bruno

AU - Gasco, Paolo

AU - Blosi, Magda

AU - Costa, Anna L.

AU - Scott-Fordsmand, Janeck J.

AU - Amorim, Mónica J.B.

PY - 2023/7

Y1 - 2023/7

N2 - Nanoemulsions (NEs) have been extensively studied as carriers for drug delivery, since these provide a good alternative to the existing non-nano systems, while promoting their target delivery and controlled release. NEs are considered safe drug carriers from a pre-clinical perspective, but there is currently no information on their ecotoxicological effects. In the present study we investigated the toxicity of a NE material (lecithin, sunflower oil, borate buffer) designed to be used as a liposomal excipient for eye drops, further referred to as (Lipid Particle:LP) LP_Eye and its dispersant (borate buffer) (LP_Eye disp.). Effects were assessed using two model species in soil ecotoxicology in LUFA 2.2 soil: Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta) and Folsomia candida (Collembola), based on the OECD standard guideline (28 days) and its extension, a longer-term exposure (56 days). The endpoints evaluated included survival, reproduction, and size. LP_Eye and LP_Eye disp. were toxic to E. crypticus and F. candida, affecting all measured endpoints. The toxicity of LP_Eye in E. crypticus seemed to be induced by the dispersant, whereas for F. candida, more sensitive, this was less explanatory. There were no indications that toxicity increased with longer exposure. Current results provide ecotoxicological data for a group of NMs that was absent, revealing toxicity to relevant environmental species. Indications were that the dispersant contributed to most of the observed effects, thus there is room to improve the formulation and achieve lower environmental impact.

AB - Nanoemulsions (NEs) have been extensively studied as carriers for drug delivery, since these provide a good alternative to the existing non-nano systems, while promoting their target delivery and controlled release. NEs are considered safe drug carriers from a pre-clinical perspective, but there is currently no information on their ecotoxicological effects. In the present study we investigated the toxicity of a NE material (lecithin, sunflower oil, borate buffer) designed to be used as a liposomal excipient for eye drops, further referred to as (Lipid Particle:LP) LP_Eye and its dispersant (borate buffer) (LP_Eye disp.). Effects were assessed using two model species in soil ecotoxicology in LUFA 2.2 soil: Enchytraeus crypticus (Oligochaeta) and Folsomia candida (Collembola), based on the OECD standard guideline (28 days) and its extension, a longer-term exposure (56 days). The endpoints evaluated included survival, reproduction, and size. LP_Eye and LP_Eye disp. were toxic to E. crypticus and F. candida, affecting all measured endpoints. The toxicity of LP_Eye in E. crypticus seemed to be induced by the dispersant, whereas for F. candida, more sensitive, this was less explanatory. There were no indications that toxicity increased with longer exposure. Current results provide ecotoxicological data for a group of NMs that was absent, revealing toxicity to relevant environmental species. Indications were that the dispersant contributed to most of the observed effects, thus there is room to improve the formulation and achieve lower environmental impact.

KW - Drug delivery systems

KW - Ecotoxicity

KW - Nanocarrier

KW - Nanomaterials

KW - Prolonged exposure

KW - Soil invertebrates

KW - Ecotoxicology

KW - Coleoptera

KW - Oligochaeta

KW - Soil Pollutants/analysis

KW - Reproduction

KW - Animals

KW - Arthropods

KW - Soil

KW - Borates

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U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121669

DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121669

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37080512

AN - SCOPUS:85152959804

SN - 0269-7491

VL - 328

JO - Environmental Pollution

JF - Environmental Pollution

M1 - 121669

ER -

Nanoemulsion carriers for drug delivery: Assessment of environmental hazards

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