Diseño y optimización de liposomas para un uso como sistema de suministro de nutrientes a larvas de peces marinos.

Nutritional deficiencies of live preys used as first exogenous feeding in the rearing of marine fish larvae make necessary the supplementation of the diets with certain nutrients in order to fulfill the requirements of the fish. In most cases, larval nutrition studies have been focused on the essential fatty acid demands, but other compounds as phospholipids, vitamins and free amino acids have been proposed as crucial elements in the early development stages of several species of marine fish. The present study assesses the use of liposomes, phospholipid vesicles enclosing an internal aqueous space, for the delivery of both lipophilic and hydrophilic nutrients to marine fish larvae. Two different administration ways were studied. Firstly, liposomes were used as an enrichment product of live preys. Secondly, a direct system was assessed by immersing marine fish larvae in liposome suspensions. Bioencapsulation of liposomes in Artemia nauplii Several liposome formulations were employed for the enrichment of Artemia nauplii in some essential nutrients such as fatty acids, vitamins and amino acids. Liposomes formulated with marine phospholipids demonstrated the improvement of the essential fatty acid content in the nauplii, and an optimal protocol of use with this product was established. Additionally, our results showed that liposomes are useful tools for the enrichment of Artemia in both liposoluble (vitamin A) and hydrosoluble compounds (methionine). Immersion of marine fish larvae in liposome suspensions A novel technique to transfer nutrients to fish larvae consists of the immersion of larvae in liposomated substances, obviating their bioencapsulation in the live preys and avoiding their consequent metabolic activity over the administered substances. Several studies were carried out with the purpose of detecting the incorporation of lipophilic (EFA) and hydrophilic (ascorbate and methionine) nutrients into marine larvae by means of liposome baths. Results would indicate a low entry of liposomated nutrients into the larvae, although analyses seem to reflect slightly higher average contents of EFA and ascorbate nutrient in larvae treated with liposomes compared to control non-treated larvae. These results could be confirmed optimizing the experimental designs.