The effect of intestinal bile on the stability of lipid-based vesicular system used as oral drug carriers

Received: December 02, 2016; Accepted: December 21, 2016; Published: December 23, 2016 Intestinal bile salts are bio-surfactants existing in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) which have essential role either on fat and lipid digestion or absorption [1]. Acidic lipases, which are secreted by the gastric chief cells in the fundic mucosa of the stomach, regulate10-30% of the lipid hydrolysis. In the other hand, pancreatic lipases make up to 90% of lipid hydrolysis in the small intestine. The process is supported by bile salts distributed through a network of bile ducts, first secreted from hepatocytes, transported viabile canaliculi, exit the liver via hepatic duct, joined with cystic and pancreatic duct to finally enter the small intestine. This hepatic bile contains large quantities of bile acids, cholesterol and other organic molecules. The main function of bile salt is to enhance emulsification and absorption of oils and lipoids upon aggregations. Thus, intestinal bile salts have an immediate effect on the lipolysis process of lipid-based components [2]. Similarly, lipidbased colloidal systems used for oral drug delivery system such as liposomes are expected to be subjected to these digestion processes. Being highly susceptible to the detergent effect of intestinal bile salt they tend to undergo destruction of the phospholipids bilayer and ultimately the solubilisation of the vesicular membrane [3]. As a result of the solubilising effect, a premature leakage of entrapped bioactive compounds might occur in the gut prior to intestinal absorption.