Characterization of GABA-loaded nanoliposomes and its health benefits

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a non-protein amino acid widely distributed in animals and plants, strongly affected the early stage of sleep. Nevertheless, exogenous GABA was easily decomposed by GABA transaminase (GABA-T) in body. Therefore, in this study, GABA-loaded nanoliposomes (GN) were constructed by the freeze-drying double emulsion (FDE) method. The average size, encapsulation efficiency and loading efficiency of GN was 171.9 nm, 89.9 % and 7.7 %, respectively, and GN were able to be stored at 4 °C for at least 30 days. GN showed sustained release effect, and significantly increased the effective content of GABA by 16 % in vivo than free-GABA treatment. On the one hand, the sleep quality of Caenorhabditis elegans was effectively enhanced by GN, including the improvement of sleep duration and frequency, the increase of the contents of inhibitory neurotransmitters, and the reduction of heat-stress-induced neurons damages. On the other hand, GN improved the health benefits of worms by enhancing the locomotion ability, promoting the growth and alleviating mitochondrial structure disorders. Overall, this study had improved the stability and bioavailability of GABA by embedding GABA in liposome. [Display omitted] •GABA-loaded liposomes (GN) were constructed stably and absorbed by worms.•GN increased the effective content of GABA in vivo than free-GABA.•GN enhanced the sleep quality and health benefits in C. elegans.