Nanobiotechnology for health-care

Interactions in alkaloid-nonionic surfactant systems
Szaniawska M.1, Szymczyk K.1 
1 Department of Interfacial Phenomena, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. M. Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland. 
E-mail: magdalena.szaniawska@poczta.umcs.lublin.pl

Berberine is an isoquinolinone alkaloid isolated from a variety of Chinese herbs such as Berberis vulgaris, Hydrastis canadensis and Coptis chinensis. It shows a variety of pharmacological actions that include antimicrobial, antisecretory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective properties, used for the treatment of skin diseases. It has also potent antineoplastic potential in combating different types of cancer [1]. In spite of various berberine pharmacological applications, its therapeutic effect is restricted by low oral bioavailability (less than 5%) and its low water solubility [2]. 
The key property that needs to be improved is the solubility of biologically active substances. Nonionic surfactants are widely used to improve dissolution and delivery of biologically active substances [3]. The aim of presented study was to investigate the interactions between berberine and two nonionic Kolliphor (Kolliphor RH40 and Kolliphor ELP) surfactants at 293K. 

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