Spectrophotometric assay of retinol via charge-transfer complexes

Simple and sensitive spectrophotometric methods for the assay of retinol have been presented. The first method was based on the reaction of retinol with iodine to give a molecular charge-transfer complex, the retinol acting as n-donor and iodine as -electron acceptor. The second method depends on the formation of a highly coloured stable radical anion between retinol and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ as a -electron acceptor. The molecular ratios of the reactants in the complexes have been established and the experimental conditions leading to maximum charge-transfer bands were also studied. Beer's law is obeyed over the retinol concentration range 2.5–26 µg/ml. The proposed procedures have been applied successfully to the analysis of drug formulation. The average recovery and average standard deviation was 99.99 ±1.13% with retinol-iodine and 100.001 ± 1.31% with retinol-TCNQ. A kinetic study was performed by heating retinol at 50°C for different periods of time, the result obtained by plotting log c against time indicates that thermal decomposition of retinol is of first order. The results obtained by both methods were in good agreement with those obtained by the official method. The developed procedures were found to be simple, accurate and precise and can be used for the determination of retinol in presence of its degradation products.     

Rapid determination of lipophilic vitamins in human serum by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography using a fluorinated column and high‐throughput miniaturized liquid–liquid extraction

A high‐throughput miniaturized liquid–liquid extraction procedure followed by a simple ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography method coupled with fluorescence detection for bioanalytical analysis of all tocopherol isomers and retinol in human serum has been developed and validated. In the extraction procedure, a synthetic internal standard tocol was used, which does not occur in the human body. The separation of structurally related vitamins was achieved using a new generation of pentafluorophenyl propyl core–shell stationary phase with elution using methanol and an aqueous solution of ammonium acetate. The fluorescence of retinol and tocopherol isomers was detected at λ_ex = 325, 295 nm and λ_em = 480, 325 nm, respectively. The rapid baseline separation of all analytes was accomplished within 4.0 min. The sensitivity of method was demonstrated with lower limits of quantification: retinol 0.01 μM, α‐tocopherol 0.38 μM, β‐tocopherol 0.18 μM, γ‐tocopherol 0.14 μM, and δ‐tocopherol 0.01 μM. Possible application of this method in clinical practice was confirmed by the analysis of human serum samples from healthy volunteers. Finally, the simultaneous determination of retinol and all tocopherol isomers in human serum can enable the clarification of their role in metabolism and in diseases such as cancer.     

Vitamin A and Bone Health: A Review on Current Evidence

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble micronutrient essential for growth, immunity, and good vision. The preformed retinol is commonly found in food of animal origin whereas provitamin A is derived from food of plant origin. This review summarises the current evidence from animal, human and cell-culture studies on the effects of vitamin A towards bone health. Animal studies showed that the negative effects of retinol on the skeleton were observed at higher concentrations, especially on the cortical bone. In humans, the direct relationship between vitamin A and poor bone health was more pronounced in individuals with obesity or vitamin D deficiency. Mechanistically, vitamin A differentially influenced the stages of osteogenesis by enhancing early osteoblastic differentiation and inhibiting bone mineralisation via retinoic acid receptor (RAR) signalling and modulation of osteocyte/osteoblast-related bone peptides. However, adequate vitamin A intake through food or supplements was shown to maintain healthy bones. Meanwhile, provitamin A (carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) may also protect bone. In vitro evidence showed that carotene and β-cryptoxanthin may serve as precursors for retinoids, specifically all-trans-retinoic acid, which serve as ligand for RARs to promote osteogenesis and suppressed nuclear factor-kappa B activation to inhibit the differentiation and maturation of osteoclasts. In conclusion, we suggest that both vitamin A and provitamin A may be potential bone-protecting agents, and more studies are warranted to support this hypothesis.     

Microencapsulation of cholesteryl alkanoate by polymerization‐induced phase separation and its association with drugs

A new microencapsulation technique is presented in which cholesteryl nonanoate (CN)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microcapsules are produced by the induction of phase separation between CN and PMMA within the droplets during the polymerization. The concentration of CN is the most important factor determining the final morphology of the microcapsules. For example, a polynuclear type is obtained at a low concentration (<20 wt %), a mononuclear type is obtained at a medium concentration (20–30 wt %), and an irregular phase is obtained at a high concentration (>40 wt %). To evaluate the effectiveness of the technique for stabilizing an unstable drug, we selected retinol (vitamin A) as a model drug and loaded it into the CN/PMMA microcapsules. We used a process called solute codiffusion, in which a fine solvent emulsion containing the retinol was diffused uniformly into the CN/PMMA microcapsules. The loading efficiency of retinol was predicted successfully with the aid of a thermodynamic equation. In the thermal stability test of retinol, we found that an effective association with the CN phase was the most important factor determining the limit of its molecular stability. The technique reported in this article has great potential for the microencapsulation of soft materials via a simple process and for the stabilization of unstable drugs. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2202–2213, 2004     

Theoretical Study of Retinol,Niacinamide and Glycolic Acid with Halloysite Clay Mineral as Active Ingredients for Topical Skin Care Formulations

The adsorption of retinol, niacinamide and glycolic acid active ingredients on the internal surface of halloysite in an aqueous environment was explored at the molecular level by means of calculations based on quantum mechanics and force fields from empirical interatomic potentials. These active ingredients are stably adsorbed on the internal surface of halloysite forming hydrogen bonds between the hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen atoms with the hydroxyl groups of the inner surface of the halloysite. In addition, electrostatic interaction between these active ingredients with the water molecules was observed. Therefore, the theoretical results indicate that the adsorption of these active principles is favourable in the halloysite nanotube, which allows directing future experimental investigations for the development and design of retinol, niacinamide and glycolic acid with halloysite nanotubes systems, which may be topical formulations for skincare.     

Calorimetric study of the solubilization of cholesterol,retinol and retinal by reversed AOT micelles

Distribution constants and standard enthalpies of transfer of cholesterol, retinol and retinal partitioned between n-heptane and water containing reversed sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) micelles as a function of the molar concentration ratio (R=[water]/[AOT]) were evaluated by a calorimetric method. The results indicate that, in spite of the bulky hydrocarbon radical, these solubilizates behave like alcohols with a short alkyl chain. Moreover, cholesterol is always solubilized in the palisade layer of the reversed micelles whereas retinol and retinal are preferentially solubilized in the aqueous pseudophase. The influence of the enthalpic and the entropic contributions to the transfer of the solubilizates from n-heptane to reversed AOT micelles are also considered.     

Simultaneous determination of benzophenone-3, retinol and retinyl acetate in pig ear skin layers by high-performance liquid chromatography

A new and simple HPLC method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of benzophenone-3, retinol and retinyl acetate in pig ear skin layers and percutaneous penetration samples after in vitro permeation experiments. HPLC analysis was performed utilizing a NovaPak C18 column with acetonitrile-water-acetic acid as mobile phase. UV detection was at 325 nm and the run time was 25 min. The detector response was found to be accurate, precise and linear across the analytical range. Analyte extraction from skin layers was done with methanol from the stratum corneum and epidermis, and with acetone from the dermis. Recovery was in all cases better than 90%. The HPLC assay and extraction procedure proposed are simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate. The method was then applied for the determination of benzophenone-3, retinol and retinyl acetate in pig ear skin layers after topical application.     

Stabilization of All-trans-retinol by Cyclodextrins: A Comparative Study Using HPLC and Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Purpose: To formulate preparations incorporating cyclodextrins (CDs) which could be used for direct delivery to the retina of vitamin A (all-trans-retinol), while also protecting it from degradation in the aqueous environment. Vitamin A supplementation is being considered for treatment of several ophthalmic diseases characterised by progressive photoreceptor degeneration. Methods: The complexation between vitamin A and ten cyclodextrins, Captisol^®(sulfobutyl ether-7--cyclodextrin), hydroxypropyl--CD, 2-hydroxypropyl--CD, -CD, hydroxypropyl--CD, hydroxypropyl--CD, -CD, methyl--CD,Heptakis-(2,6-di-O-methyl)--CD andHeptakis-(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)--CD,was investigated using bothhigh sensitivity fluorescence spectrometry and HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography). Samples of retinol-CD complexes in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 were analysed for up to 72 hours. Optimum conditions for formation of the Captisol-retinol complexes were investigated. Results: Using spectroscopic measurements and HPLC, the complexes formed between ten cyclodextrins and all-trans-retinol were evaluated. The results indicate that all cyclodextrins tested were able to form inclusion complexes as shown by the fluorescence signals which are considerably larger than those obtained in the absence of cyclodextrin. Only minimal degradation of retinol over 48 hours was observed with three of these cyclodextrins. Captisol was able to stabilise all-trans-retinol for up to 72 hours, as shown by HPLC, and the optimum ratio of Captisol to retinol was determined to be 50 to 1. Addition of glutathione and decrease in pH did not improve stability of the complex. Conclusions: This survey suggests that Captisol and other cyclodextrins could be used to stabilise and solubilise vitamin A in aqueous media and this establishes the basis for an ocular Captisol-retinol drug delivery system now under development in our laboratory.     

Determination of Vitamin A in Presence of its Degradation Product by First - Derivative U.V.- Spectrophotometry

Abstract

A rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of retinol palmitate (vitamin A) in the presence of its oxidative degradation product is presented. The method is based on the first-derivative measurement of the peak-trough amplitude at 288 – 336 nm. The mean percentage recovery for mixtures of vitamin A with their respective degradation product was 100(1.0). Graphs of log 0% versus time for vitamin A in 0.1 N hydrochloric acid/isopropanol was a straight line with a slope of ?0.0007 min^?1. The method has been succesfuly applied to monitor the vitamin stability.