Development, characterization and in vitro assessement of stearylamine-based lipid nanoparticles of paclitaxel

The objective of the study was to design and evaluate a solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) drug delivery system for delivery of paclitaxel. Components of the SLN were lipid (stearylamine) and surfactants (Pluronic F68 and Soya lecithin). The paclitaxel loaded nanoparticles were prepared by a modified solvent injection method. Experiments were carried out with excipients, where surfactants, lipid and drug molar ratios were varied to optimize the formulation characteristics. The in vitro drug release profile from the nanoparticles followed a diffusion controlled mechanism. The modified solvent injection method ensured high entrapment efficiency (approximately 75%), produced smaller, stable nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution and proved to be a reproducible and fast production method. The present study describes the feasibility and suitability of stearylamine based SLN produced using a mixture of surfactants to develop a clinically useful system with targeting potential for poorly soluble antineoplastic drugs.