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Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) for Intracellular Targeting Applications
Published on: November 17, 2015
Lipid nanoparticles for brain targeting II. Technological characterization.
Paolo Blasi1, Aurélie Schoubben, Giovanna Valentina Romano
1Department of Chemistry and Technology of Drugs, via del Liceo 1, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy. kaolino@unipg.it
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
|May 29, 2013
Summary
This study characterizes lipid nanoparticles for parenteral drug delivery, finding cetylpalmitate nanoparticles suitable up to 0.16 volume fraction. Rheological properties and drying methods were investigated for pharmaceutical applications.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Materials Science
Background:
- Lipid nanoparticles are crucial for parenteral drug delivery.
- Characterizing their rheological properties is essential for formulation and processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To rheologically characterize lipid nanoparticles for parenteral administration.
- To investigate freeze-drying and spray-drying conditions for re-dispersible powders.
Main Methods:
- High-pressure homogenization for nanoparticle preparation.
- Rheological measurements (viscosity, complex modulus) at varying lipid volume fractions.
- Freeze-drying and nano spray-drying with trehalose additive.
Main Results:
- Particle size increased with lipid volume fraction (0.121 to 0.255).
- Newtonian, shear thinning, and shear thickening behaviors observed.
- Trehalose enabled successful freeze-drying and spray-drying, yielding nanoparticles of 198.7±1.1nm and 207.7±10.0nm, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Cetylpalmitate nanoparticles are suitable for parenteral applications up to 0.16 volume fraction.
- Pharmaceutical operations involving shear stress are unlikely to be critical issues for these nanoparticles.

