Effect of gastrointestinal digestion on the stability and cytotoxicity of conventional and PEGylated liposomes encapsulated with stigmasterol and its esters

Conventional and pegylated liposomes encapsulated with free stigmasterol or its esters with myristic or oleic acid were subjected to in vitro digestion. After the digestion step in the stomach and small intestine, the amount of released stigmasterol and formed oxidized derivatives were determined. Cytotoxicity was determined after the gastrointestinal digestion against normal cells of the small and large intestine.