Investigations on the occlusive properties of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN)

Skin hydration can be influenced to a great extent by occlusive compounds. Conventional highly occlusive compounds tend to have an unacceptable appearance. Therefore, the development of innovative occlusive topicals is an essential issue regarding the formulation of cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) represent a novel carrier system for controlled release of topical cosmetic and pharmaceutical compounds. In addition to their controlled release characteristics, it has been found that SLN have an occlusive effect. The extent of the occlusive effect depends on various factors such as particle size, applied sample volume, lipid concentration, and crystallinity of the lipid matrix. These factors have been investigated in detail by an in vitro test, and the obtained data give insight into their importance.