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Review
. 2020 Oct 18;25(20):4781.
doi: 10.3390/molecules25204781.

Preparation of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Drug Delivery and the Effects of Preparation Parameters of Solvent Injection Method

Van-An Duong  1 , Thi-Thao-Linh Nguyen  2 , Han-Joo Maeng  2
Affiliations
Review

Preparation of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Drug Delivery and the Effects of Preparation Parameters of Solvent Injection Method

Van-An Duong et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have emerged as potential drug delivery systems for various applications that are produced from physiological, biodegradable, and biocompatible lipids. The methods used to produce SLNs and NLCs have been well investigated and reviewed, but solvent injection method provides an alternative means of preparing these drug carriers. The advantages of solvent injection method include a fast production process, easiness of handling, and applicability in many laboratories without requirement of complicated instruments. The effects of formulations and process parameters of this method on the characteristics of the produced SLNs and NLCs have been investigated in several studies. This review describes the methods currently used to prepare SLNs and NLCs with focus on solvent injection method. We summarize recent development in SLNs and NLCs production using this technique. In addition, the effects of solvent injection process parameters on SLNs and NLCs characteristics are discussed.

Keywords: aqueous phase; diffusion; emulsifier; entrapment efficiency; lipid nanoparticles; liquid lipid; organic phase; solid lipid; solvent injection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of lipid-nanoparticle formation using the solvent injection method. Lipids and drugs are dissolved in a water-miscible solvent (organic phase) and injected into an aqueous phase containing emulsifiers (a). Following injection, the solvent gradually diffuses into the aqueous phase (b), which leads to droplet division and a reduction in droplet size while lipid concentration is increased (c). Consequently, solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers are formed and stabilized by the emulsifiers (d).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of aqueous and organic phases on solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). (a) Effects of aqueous phase pH on entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL) of ondansetron hydrochloride-loaded NLCs (data obtained from [76]). (b,c) Effects of aqueous phase temperature on particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), EE, and DL of ondansetron hydrochloride-loaded NLCs (data obtained from [76]). (d,e) Effects of aqueous phase viscosity and ethylacetate concentration in the organic phase on PS (●) and PDI (○) of SLNs. Reprinted from [36] with permission from Elsevier.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of the ratio of aqueous phase to organic phase (Va/Vo ratio) on SLNs and NLCs. (a) Effects of Va/Vo ratio on PSs (●) and PDIs (○) of SLNs. The aqueous volume was 60 mL, whereas the volume of isopropanol was varied from 0.5 to 10 mL. Reprinted from [36] with permission from Elsevier. (b) Effects of Va/Vo ratio on PSs and PDIs of ondansetron hydrochloride-loaded NLCs. Reprinted from [76] with permission from Elsevier, Copyright (2019). (c) Effects of Va/Vo ratio on EEs and DLs of ondansetron hydrochloride-loaded NLCs, data obtained from [76].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of emulsifier on SLNs and NLCs. (a) Effects of polysorbate 80 concentration on PSs and PDIs of NLCs, data obtained from [76]. (b) Effects of poloxamer 188 concentration on PSs and PDIs of SLNs, data obtained from [165]. (c,d) Effects of polysorbate 80 concentration on EEs of SLNs, data obtained from [161] (for (c)) and [160] (for (d)).
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