Development, Optimization, and Physicochemical Characterization of Fluorescent Carbon Dot-Ginkgo biloba Extract Co-Loaded Niosomes for Future Neurological Disease-Relevant Evaluation.
- 1Clinical Neurology Research Center of Shiraz, University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- 2School of Graduate Studies, Joint Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
- 3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Abstract
Background
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the major neurodegenerative diseases that affect the human brain and lead to memory loss. The present approaches to disease management have been relatively poor; the therapies provided do not arrest the disease process. This study aimed to develop and optimize dual-loaded niosomes containing Ginkgo biloba extract and CDOTs and to evaluate their physicochemical properties, formulation-level fluorescence, in vitro release, and preliminary cytocompatibility. The study did not assess blood-brain barrier transport, neuronal effects, Alzheimer's disease-specific mechanisms, or in vivo therapeutic efficacy.Results
Niosomes were prepared based on non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol for the encapsulation of Ginkgo and CDOTs. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize niosomal formulations through a Box-Behnken design. The formulations were evaluated for vesicle size, entrapment efficiency, and release profile. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) research indicated that the average diameters of the free niosomes and CDOT@Ginkgo@Niosomes were 69.56 nm and 72.19 nm, respectively. HFF cell viability remained high at lower concentrations, whereas significant reductions in viability were observed at 10 and 50 μg/mL after 48 h, indicating concentration-dependent cytocompatibility. The formulation exhibited acceptable preliminary cytocompatibility at lower concentrations, whereas reduced viability was observed at higher concentrations. For both CDOT and Ginkgo, CDOT@Ginkgo@Niosomes showed a delayed release profile over 72 h, with near-complete release observed at the final time point.Conclusions
CDOT@Ginkgo@Niosomes showed successful co-loading, preserved formulation-level fluorescence, delayed release, and acceptable cytocompatibility at lower concentrations in HFF cells. These findings support further formulation optimization and subsequent evaluation in disease-relevant neuronal, blood-brain barrier, and in vivo models. The present results do not demonstrate neuroprotection, diagnostic performance, blood-brain barrier transport, or the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
Related
- Optimization of Kombucha Fermentation from Green Tea and Pineapple Juice: Chemical, Physicochemical, and Bioactive Profiles for Functional Beverage Development
- Hydrothermal Synthesis of Water-Dispersible Fluorescent Carbon Dots from Renewable Plant Precursors: Antibacterial Activity and Comparative Characterization
- Development of AIE active carbazole based fluorescent probe for rapid detection of 4-nitrotoluene in solution and solid phases: experimental and DFT insights
- Ferritin-Based Nanocarriers: Analytical Methods for Physicochemical Characterization
- Transformative role of nanomaterials: Classification, physicochemical behavior, synthesis, characterization, and technological applications
BibTeX
@article{mohammadi2026development,
title = {{Development, Optimization, and Physicochemical Characterization of Fluorescent Carbon Dot-Ginkgo biloba Extract Co-Loaded Niosomes for Future Neurological Disease-Relevant Evaluation.}},
author = {Yasaman Mohammadi and Mohammad Saied Salehi and Ehsan Heidari and Mina Ebrahimi and Nahid Ashjazadeh},
journal = {CNS neuroscience \& therapeutics},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1002/cns.71230},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968533},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Development, Optimization, and Physicochemical Characterization of Fluorescent Carbon Dot-Ginkgo biloba Extract Co-Loaded Niosomes for Future Neurological Disease-Relevant Evaluation.
AU - Yasaman Mohammadi
AU - Mohammad Saied Salehi
AU - Ehsan Heidari
AU - Mina Ebrahimi
AU - Nahid Ashjazadeh
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - CNS neuroscience & therapeutics
DO - 10.1002/cns.71230
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968533
AB - Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the major neurodegenerative diseases that affect the human brain and lead to memory loss. The present approaches to disease management have been relatively poor; the therapies provided do not arrest the disease process. This study aimed to develop and optimize dual-loaded niosomes containing Ginkgo biloba extract and CDOTs and to evaluate their physicochemical properties, formulation-level fluorescence, in vitro release, and preliminary cytocompatibility. The study did not assess blood-brain barrier transport, neuronal effects, Alzheimer's disease-specific mechanisms, or in vivo therapeutic efficacy.Results Niosomes were prepared based on non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol for the encapsulation of Ginkgo and CDOTs. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize niosomal formulations through a Box-Behnken design. The formulations were evaluated for vesicle size, entrapment efficiency, and release profile. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) research indicated that the average diameters of the free niosomes and CDOT@Ginkgo@Niosomes were 69.56 nm and 72.19 nm, respectively. HFF cell viability remained high at lower concentrations, whereas significant reductions in viability were observed at 10 and 50 μg/mL after 48 h, indicating concentration-dependent cytocompatibility. The formulation exhibited acceptable preliminary cytocompatibility at lower concentrations, whereas reduced viability was observed at higher concentrations. For both CDOT and Ginkgo, CDOT@Ginkgo@Niosomes showed a delayed release profile over 72 h, with near-complete release observed at the final time point.Conclusions CDOT@Ginkgo@Niosomes showed successful co-loading, preserved formulation-level fluorescence, delayed release, and acceptable cytocompatibility at lower concentrations in HFF cells. These findings support further formulation optimization and subsequent evaluation in disease-relevant neuronal, blood-brain barrier, and in vivo models. The present results do not demonstrate neuroprotection, diagnostic performance, blood-brain barrier transport, or the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
SN - 1755-5930
SN - 1755-5949
ER -