Tuning structure and morphology of lipidic cubosomes by encapsulation of novel porphyrin-derivatives

C did not affect neither the hydrodynamic size nor the polydispersity of the cubosomes, influencing mainly the ζ-potential - positive in the case of the tetrapeptide and negative for the bile acid derivatives. The samples formulated with 0.50 mg/mL exhibited higher colloidal stability over time, with no significant changes in size or ζ-potential for over a month. Interestingly, the formulations containing the bile acid derivatives displayed the typical morphology of cubosomes in solution and a reduced number of vesicles (ca. 60:40 as cubosomes-to-vesicles ratio), whereas the sample containing the porphyrin attached to the tetrapeptide led to a ratio of cubosomes-to-vesicles estimated as 26:74, similar to the results of the empty formulation. The experiments at body temperature highlighted that the structure of the different formulations was not affected in a significant manner with retention of the phases observed at room temperature. The promising physico-chemical properties, especially at body temperature, could make these samples suitable as nanoplatforms for drug delivery applications.