Microfluidic preparation of ceramide E liposomes and properties

Abstract Poor water solubility and limited stability of ceramide E (Cer-E) hinder its effectiveness when applied topically. To address this issue, this work developed a microfluidic-controlled method to prepare Cer-E-loaded liposomes, which were stabilized within phospholipid bilayers of liposomes. The influence of key formulation parameters on the size and stability of liposomes was systematically evaluated, including flow rate, drug-to-lipid ratio, cholesterol content, and surfactant type. Additionally, the moisture retention ability, transdermal performance, and antioxidant capacity of the microfluidic-prepared liposomes were examined. Cer-E proved to be effectively encapsulated within liposomes under optimized conditions. Physicochemical characterization revealed uniform vesicles with an average diameter of 121 nm and a zeta potential of −20.2 mV, along with high encapsulation efficiency of 92.8% and drug loading content up to 9.5%. Functional assays demonstrated enhanced moisture retention, improved transdermal delivery, and superior antioxidant activity compared to liposomes produced by ethanol injection method. These performance improvements are attributed to the precise mixing and increased stability provided by microfluidic processing. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of microfluidic liposomal systems to overcome delivery challenges for hydrophobic skin actives like Cer-E.