Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Encapsulating a Benzoxanthene Derivative in a Model of the Human Blood–Brain Barrier: Modulation of Angiogenic Parameters and Inflammation in Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Stimulated Angiogenesis

Abstract

Lignans, a class of secondary metabolites found in plants, along with their derivatives, exhibit diverse pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiangiogenic ones. Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is a crucial process for cancer growth and development. Several studies have elucidated the synergistic relationship between angiogenesis and inflammation in various inflammatory diseases, highlighting a correlation between inflammation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis. Thus, the identification of novel molecules capable of modulating VEGF effects presents promising prospects for developing therapies aimed at stabilizing, reversing, or even arresting disease progression. Lignans often suffer from low aqueous solubility and, for their use, encapsulation in a delivery system is needed. In this research, a bioinspired benzoxantene has been encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles that have been characterized for their pharmacotechnical properties and their thermotropic behavior. The effects of these encapsulated nanoparticles on angiogenic parameters and inflammation in VEGF-induced angiogenesis were evaluated using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) as a human blood–brain barrier model.