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A liposome of Licochalcone A (LCA‐Liposomes) was purposively prepared to ameliorate the low in vivo availability and efficacy of LCA. Physical characterization of LCA‐Liposomes was carried out mainly by determining particle size, morphology, zeta potential (Z‐potential), and efficiency of LCA encapsulation (EE) via appropriate techniques. Also, the rate of LCA release in vitro and distribution in vivo (plasma and tissues) was evaluated. Evaluation of the antirenal activity of LCA‐liposomes was carried out by establishing chronic renal failure (CRF) model in mice through intragastric administration of adenine (200 mg/kg) and subsequent determination of biochemical parameters and examination of tissue sections. Respectively, the mean size of liposomal particles, Z‐potential and EE of LCA‐Liposomes were 71.78 ± 0.99 nm, −38.49 ± 0.06 mV, and 97.67 ± 1.72%. Pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies showed that LCA‐Liposomes could improve the availability of LCA in the blood and tissues, whereas during pharmacodynamics studies, the liposome effectively improved the therapeutic effect of LCA on CRF mice by potentially protecting the renal tissues while exhibiting antioxidant activity. In conclusion, LCA‐Liposomes could effectively improve the bioavailability of LCA and provide platform for the development of LCA‐related functional products. Practical applications: As a traditional Chinese medicine, licorice is widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries. LCA is a small molecule flavonoid extracted from the root of licorice. In this study, LCA was loaded on liposome carriers, which significantly improved the water solubility and oral bioavailability, and proved that LCA‐Liposomes have certain therapeutic effects on chronic renal failure, thereby providing a basis for the development of LCA into drugs or functional food in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative strategy for the generation of chondrocytes was thoroughly studied in this paper. Polyetherimide-modified polysaccharides of Porphyra yezoensis (pmPPY) served as a nonviral gene vector and delivered Sox9 plasmid to directly reprogram mouse embryonic fibroblasts into chondrocytes. The gene transfer efficiency was evaluated through ELISA, RT-PCR, and Western blot. The induced chondrocytes were identified through toluidine blue, Safranin O, and the immunostaining. The expression level of collagen II was finally evaluated through western blot. The pSox9/pmPPY nanoparticles (1:50) showed lower cytotoxicity as well as greater gene transfection efficiency than Lipofectamine 2000 and polyetherimide (PEI) (p<0.05). The results of toluidine blue, Safranin O, and the immunostaining of collagen II further showed that the normal MEFs were successfully reprogrammed into chondrocytes. These findings indicate that pmPPY could be a promising gene vector for the generation of chondrocytes via single-gene delivery strategy, which might provide abundant chondrocytes for cartilage repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]