Influence of the formulation for solid lipid nanoparticles prepared with a membrane contactor

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) emerged in the 1990s as advanced drug delivery systems.
• SLN offer advantages like biocompatibility and controlled, targeted drug release compared to older systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a new, scalable process for solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) preparation using membrane contactor technology.
• To investigate the impact of formulation variables on lipid phase flux and SLN characteristics.

Main Methods:

• A membrane contactor system was employed for SLN production, involving pressing a molten lipid phase through membrane pores.
• Droplet detachment and SLN formation were achieved using a tangential aqueous phase flow followed by cooling.
• Systematic studies evaluated the influence of aqueous and lipid phase compositions.

Main Results:

• The process successfully produced SLN with sizes ranging from 175 to 260 nm.
• Achieved lipid phase flux values were between 0.21 and 0.27 m³/h·m².
• The membrane contactor method demonstrated ease of use and scalability for SLN manufacturing.

Conclusions:

• The developed membrane contactor process is a viable and scalable method for producing solid lipid nanoparticles.
• This technique facilitates the large-scale production of SLN with controlled particle sizes.
• The process highlights the potential for efficient manufacturing of advanced nanocarriers for drug delivery.