Rational: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative pathology characterized by the presence of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Aluminum has been reported to play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective role of epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) loaded nanoparticles (nanoEGCG) against aluminum chloride (AlCl 3 ) induced neurobehavioral and pathological changes in AD induced rats.Method: 100 mg/kg body weight AlCl 3 was administered orally for 60 days, which was followed by 10 mg/kg body weight free EGCG and nanoEGCG treatment for 30 days. Morris water maze, open field and novel object recognition tests were employed for neurobehavioral assessment of the rats. This was followed by histopathological assessment of the cortex and the hippocampus in the rat brain. For further validation biochemical, immunohistochemistry and western blot assays were carried out.Result: Aluminum exposure reduced the exploratory and locomotor activities in open field and significantly reduced the memory and learning curve of rats in Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests. These neurobehavioral impairments were significantly attenuated in nanoEGCG treated rats. Histopathological assessment of the cortex and hippocampus of AlCl 3 induced rat brains showed the presence of both neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. In nanoEGCG treated rats this pathology was absent. Significant increase in biochemical, immunohistochemical and protein levels was noted in AlCl 3 induced rats. While these levels were greatly reduced in nanoEGCG treated rats.Abbreviations: Aβ 42 , 1-42 amino acid form of beta
L-theanine is present in tea as a unique, free, non-protein amino acid. Due to various beneficial effects on brain activity, it is widely used as a nutraceutical. After consumption, it is rapidly absorbed and metabolised followed by excretion through urine. Therefore, the authors developed an L-theanine delivery system by encapsulating into polymeric nanoparticles to release it slowly and make it available for a longer period of time. Poly(D, L-lactic acid) nanoparticle (PLANP) was fabricated by the double emulsion method and L-theanine was encapsulated into it (PLANP-T). Spherical nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 247 and 278 nm and surface charge of −14.5 and −25.7 mV for PLANP and PLANP-T, respectively, were fabricated. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic data indicated encapsulation of L-theanine into PLANP. The PLANP showed high L-theanine encapsulation capacity (71.65%) with a sustained release character. The maximum release (66.3%) of L-theanine was recorded in pH 7.3 at 48 h. The release kinetics followed the Higuchi model and the release mechanism was determined as super case-II transport (erosion). This slow release will make it available to the target tissue for a longer period of time (sustain release effect) and will also avoid immediate metabolism and clearance from the circulation.
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