Synthesis and Characterization of Pullulan Encapsulated Ursolic Acid Nanoparticles for Enhanced Bioavailability and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition in Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to cognitive decline and memory loss, primarily due to the dysfunction of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the brain. Natural compounds, such as Ursolic Acid (UA), have demonstrated significant neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the therapeutic potential of UA is often hindered by its low solubility and poor bioavailability. To address these limitations, we synthesized Pullulan-encapsulated Ursolic Acid nanoparticles (UA-Pull-NPs) with the aim of improving drug delivery efficiency and enhancing AChE inhibition in AD therapy.