Piperine-loaded chitosan-STPP nanoparticles reduce neuronal loss and astrocytes activation in chemical kindling model of epilepsy

What is it about?

b s t r a c t: Recent evidence suggests that encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs in biodegradable polymers opens anew horizon in nanomedicine filed. Piperine, a main alkaloid form of black pepper possesses potent anti-convulsant activity. However, the low water solubility of piperine has limited its clinical application. Inthis study, piperine was loaded on chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate nanoparticles (CS-STPP NPs) andthe effect of piperine NPs on seizures behavior and astrocytes activation was assessed in pentylentetrazol(PTZ)-induced kindling model. Animals have received the daily injection of free piperine or piperine NPsat doses of 5 or 10 mg/kg, 10 days before PTZ injections and their intraperitoneally (i.p) administrationcontinued until the last PTZ injection. The neuroprotective effects of piperine NPs were evaluated usingnissl staining and immunostaining against NeuN. Astrocytes activation was examined by GFAP immunos-taining. Behavioral data showed that piperine NPs have inhibited the development of seizure parameterscompared to the free piperine groups. In addition, the levels of cell loss and astrocytes activation werereduced in piperine NPs groups. In conclusion, these data suggest that piperine NPs enhance the neu-roprotection and ameliorate the astrocytes activation in chemical kindling model of epilepsy. This mayprovide an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of epilepsy disorder.

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