Development of a Liposome Nanoformulation for the Delivery of Lipoic Acid as a Potential Neuroprotective Therapy in Glaucoma.

Background/Objectives: Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and oxidative stress is considered to play a key role in its development. While antioxidants offer a promising approach to mitigating oxidative stress, their clinical application is often hindered by bioavailability and absorption challenges. Entrapment antioxidants within liposomes may overcome these issues, enhancing their stability and delivery. The aim of this study was to develop a novel composite liposomal formulation for glaucoma treatment, designed to enhance lipoic acid bioavailability and administration through its incorporation into the lipid bilayer. Methods: Liposomes were prepared via lipid film hydration and extrusion. To characterize them, the following analyses were performed: FTIR spectroscopy, liposomal bilayer melting temperature (Tm), TEM, DLS, Z-potential, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity assays. Results: The efficient incorporation of lipoic acid into the liposomes' lipid bilayer was confirmed by FTIR. This incorporation resulted in an increase in the Tm, from 37.0 °C for liposomes to 40.0 °C for liposomes with lipoic acid (L-LA). TEM images confirmed that the spherical morphology of the lipid vesicles remained unchanged following LA incorporation. Dynamic Light Scattering analysis revealed effective diameters of 423 ± 36 nm for L liposomes and 404 ± 62 nm for L-LA liposomes. Notably, the Z-potential shifted from +4.7 ± 0.4 mV (L) to -0.4 ± 0.3 mV (L-LA). Furthermore, L-LA exhibited significant antioxidant activity (31.6 ± 0.4%) compared with L (5.3 ± 0.3%) and biocompatibility, suggesting its potential for therapeutic applications. Conclusions: In summary, biocompatible composite liposomes with antioxidant capacity were successfully developed, resulting in promising candidates for neuroprotective glaucoma therapy.