Nanoformulations-based functionalized boron nitride nanosheets delivering nicotinamide mononucleotide with enhanced in vitro anti-aging properties

Abstract

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is currently one of the most important and promising anti-aging agents on the global market because it is ultimately converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), which affects multiple cellular functions in the human body. Here, we developed a novel nanoformulation design using boron nitride nanosheets (BNN) functionalized with polydopamine (BNNPDA). After efficient NMN loading on BNN or BNNPDA nanocarriers, additional enteric coating by Eudragit S100 polymer was successfully attached to achieve a nanoformulation design. For uncoated nanoformulations, both BNN and BNNPDA effectively demonstrated high loading content (29.92–45.95 %) and entrapment efficiency (89.75–92.19 %) of NMN. In vitro release studies showed a long-term sustained release pattern at pH 7.2. BNNPDA/NMN1:1@ES100 exhibited the highest NMN release (∼67 %) over 150 h. Compared to NMN and the positive control, the anti-elastase activity of PDA-based and coated nanoformulations was significantly increased by more than 2-fold. In contrast, all nanoformulations had a lower anti-tyrosinase activity with a maximum inhibition of 75 % for uncoated nanoformulations compared to positive control and NMN (80–90 % inhibition). These findings indicate that specially coated nanoformulations represent a viable approach for sustained delivery of NMN with improved anti-aging activity, which could be explored for in vivo administration in animals.