Preparation and characterization of stearic acid nanostructured lipid carriers by solvent diffusion method in an aqueous system

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces, B, Biointerfaces Vol. 45; no. 3; pp. 167 - 173
• Main Authors: Hu, Fu-Qiang, Jiang, Sai-Ping, Du, Yong-Zhong, Yuan, Hong, Ye, Yi-Qing, Zeng, Su
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 10.11.2005
• Subjects: Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; Diffusion; Drug Carriers - chemical synthesis; Drug Carriers - chemistry; Drug Compounding; Drug Stability; In vitro release; Lipids - chemical synthesis; Lipids - chemistry; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanostuctured lipid carriers; Oleic acid; Oleic Acids - chemistry; Particle Size; Solvent diffusion method; Solvents - chemistry; Stearic acid; Stearic Acids - chemical synthesis; Stearic Acids - chemistry; Surface Properties; Water - chemistry; Solvent diffusion method; In vitro release; Stearic acid; Oleic acid; Nanostuctured lipid carriers
• ISSN: 0927-7765; 1873-4367
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2005.08.005

Nanostuctured lipid carriers (NLC) based on mixture of solid lipids with spatially incompatible liquid lipids are a new type of lipid nanoparticles, which offer the advantage of improved drug loading capacity and release properties. In present study, stearic acid (SA) nanostuctured lipid carriers with various oleic acid (OA) content were successfully prepared by solvent diffusion method in an aqueous system. The size and surface morphology of nanoparticles were significantly influenced by OA content. As OA content increased up to 30 wt%, the obtained particles showed pronounced smaller size and more regular morphology in spherical shape with smooth surface. Compared with solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), NLC exhibited improved drug loading capacity, and the drug loading capacity increased with increasing OA content. These results were explained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) investigations. The addition of OA to nanoparticles formulation resulted in massive crystal order disturbance and less ordered matrix of NLC, and hence, increased the drug loading capacity. The drug in vitro release behavior from NLC displayed biphasic drug release pattern with burst release at the initial stage and prolonged release afterwards, and the successful control of release rate at the initial stage can be achieved by controlling OA content.