Original Article Characterization of Encapsulated Berberine in Yeast Cells of

Berberine was loaded in yeast cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a novel pharmaceutical carrier to improve the treatment of many diseases. The yeast-encapsulated active materials showed high stability and bioavailability due to the enhanced solubility and sustained releasing. In this study, different characteristics of prepared berberine loaded yeast cells (loading capacity, release kinetic order, MIC and stability) were evaluated by different analytical methods (fluorescence spectroscopy, HPLC and SEM).The loading capacity was about 78 % ± 0.6%. Berberine release patterns of microcapsules happened in two different stages and followed by zero and first-order kinetic,respectively. About 99 % of all active material released during 34 hours. MIC was improved by berberine loaded microcapsules in comparison with berberine powder. The microcapsules were completely stable. Berberine loaded Sac. cerevisiae could be considered as a favorite sustained release drug delivery system. The yeast would be applied as an efficient carrier to improve various properties of different active materials