Enhancement of anti-inflammatory property of aspirin in mice by a nano-emulsion preparation

Aspirin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, widely used for its anti-inflammatory properties is associated with several systemic side effects including gastro-intestinal discomfort. Inflammation can be mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and, along with various other host factors eventually give rise to edema at the inflamed site. Because of the adverse side effects oftentimes associated with systemic exposure to aspirin, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether the anti-inflammatory property of aspirin would enhance if delivered as nano-emulsion preparation. Nano-emulsion preparations of aspirin prepared with a Microfluidizer® Processor were evaluated in the croton-oil-induced ear edema CD-1 mouse model using ear lobe thickness and the accumulation of specific in situ cytokines as biomarkers of inflammation. The results showed that particle size (90 nm) populations of nano-emulsion preparations of aspirin compared to an aspirin suspension (363 nm), significantly decreased (p < 0. 05) ear lobe thickness approximately 2 fold greater than the aspirin suspension. In addition, the aspirin nano-emulsion further reduced the auricular levels of IL-1α (− 37%) and TNFα (− 69%) compared to the aspirin suspension preparation (p < 0.05). The reductions in ear lobe thickness were also significantly associated with accumulated tissue levels of IL-1α (r = 0.5, p < 0.009) and TNFα (r = 0.7, p < 0.0004), respectively. In conclusion, these studies indicate that a nano-emulsion preparation of aspirin significantly improved the anti-inflammatory properties of an aspirin suspension in a CD-1 mouse model of induced inflammation.