The future of lactoferrin: A closer look at LipoDuo technology.

Background: Lactoferrin (Lf), a multifunctional glycoprotein known for its roles in immune modulation, iron metabolism, and antimicrobial activity, has limited therapeutic efficacy due to poor bioavailability. Liposomal encapsulation of lactoferrin (LLf) offers a potential solution by improving its stability, absorption, and sustained release, making it a promising candidate for various clinical applications. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of LLf and plain Lf in cellular uptake, proliferation, and wound healing using HEK-293T and Caco-2 cell lines.

Methods: Cell uptake, proliferation, and wound healing assays were conducted using HEK-293T and Caco-2 cells to evaluate the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of LLf compared to plain Lf. The cellular uptake was assessed over a 24-h period using an indirect ELISA method. Cell proliferation was measured using the MTT assay, while wound healing was evaluated using a scratch assay to observe cell migration over 48 h.

Results: LLf demonstrated significantly higher cellular uptake in both HEK-293T and Caco-2 cells, with peak internalization at 4 h, compared to plain Lf. In proliferation studies, LLf showed a dose-dependent increase in cell growth, achieving a 71% proliferation rate at 75 µg/mL, while plain Lf reached only 53%. LLf also accelerated wound healing, with nearly complete closure by 48 h, compared to 51.3% closure with plain Lf.

Conclusion: The results indicate that liposomal encapsulation significantly enhances lactoferrin's bioavailability, proliferation-inducing capacity, and wound healing efficacy. LLf's superior performance in these key areas suggests its potential for broader therapeutic applications, particularly in wound care, immune modulation, and tissue regeneration. Future clinical studies are warranted to validate the therapeutic benefits of LLf in vivo.