Chondroitin sulfate (CS), a glycosaminoglycan, supports health through various physiological functions, including tissue protection, bone growth, and skin aging prevention. It also contributes to anticoagulant or anti-inflammatory processes, with its primary clinical use being osteoarthritis treatment. This study presents the results of the valorization of lipids and CS, both extracted from salmon co-products through enzymatic processes. The polar lipids, naturally rich in long-chain fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid DHA C22:6 n-3 and eicosapentaenoic acid EPA C20:5 n-3), and the CS, primarily located in the nasal cartilage, were separated and concentrated before being characterized using various techniques to determine functional and lipid composition. These compounds were then used to formulate liposomes of 63 to 95 nm in size composed of 19.38% of DHA and 7.44% of EPA and encapsulating CS extract with a Δdi-4S/Δdi-6S ratio of 0.53 at 2 weight masses (10-30 kDa and >30 kDa) or CS standard all at two different concentrations. Liposomes were tested on human chondrocytes in inflamed conditions. Thus, compatibility tests, the expression of various inflammation markers at transcriptional and molecular levels, nitrites, and the amount of collagenase produced were analyzed. The results showed that CS, in synergy with the liposomes, played a positive role in combating chondrocyte inflammation even at a low concentration.
Keywords: Salmo salar; anti-inflammatory; chondroitin sulfate; encapsulation; enzymatic hydrolysis; liposome; phospholipid.