Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 23, 2026

Targeted Plasma Membrane Delivery of a Hydrophobic Cargo Encapsulated in a Liquid Crystal Nanoparticle Carrier
Published on: February 8, 2017
Liquid crystal nanoparticle formulation as an oral drug delivery system for liver-specific distribution
Dong Ryeol Lee1, Ji Su Park2, Il Hak Bae2
1Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Technology Development Center, BASF Company Ltd., Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Liquid crystal nanoparticles have been utilized as an efficient tool for drug delivery with enhanced bioavailability, drug stability, and targeted drug delivery. However, the high energy requirements and the high cost of the liquid crystal preparation have been obstacles to their widespread use in the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, we prepared liquid crystal nanoparticles using a phase-inversion temperature method, which is a uniquely low energy process. Particles prepared with the above method were estimated to be ~100 nm in size and exhibited a lamellar liquid crystal structure with orthorhombic lateral packing. Pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies of a hydrophobic peptide-based drug candidate formulated with the liquid crystal nanoparticles showed a five-fold enhancement of bioavailability, sustained release, and liver-specific drug delivery compared to a host-guest complex formulation.
Related Concept Videos
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Introduction
Factors Affecting Dissolution: Particle Size and Effective Surface Area
Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Permeability Enhancement
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Continuous-Release Systems
Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Delayed-Release Systems
Drug Delivery Systems: Different Types

