Design expert assisted formulation, characterization and optimization of microemulsion based solid lipid...

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Materials Science

Background:

• Repaglinide is an oral hypoglycemic agent from the meglitinide class used for managing type 2 diabetes.
• Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) offer a promising drug delivery system for enhancing the efficacy of oral anti-diabetic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To formulate and characterize repaglinide-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for improved anti-diabetic delivery.
• To evaluate the in vitro release profile and stability of repaglinide SLNs.

Main Methods:

• Repaglinide SLNs were prepared using an oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsion technique with lipids (glyceryl monostearate, cetyl palmitate, tristearin) and poloxamer 188 surfactant.
• Particle size, entrapment efficiency, in vitro drug release (dialysis bag method), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and stability studies were performed.

Main Results:

• SLNs exhibited a mean particle size of approximately 339 nm and an entrapment efficiency of 82.20%.
• In vitro studies showed a cumulative drug release of 88.4% within 12 hours, with slower release observed from SLNs formulated with an equal ratio of tristearin and glyceryl monostearate.
• DSC indicated an amorphous state of repaglinide within SLNs, and SEM confirmed a spherical morphology. Stability testing showed no significant changes after one month at 2-8°C.

Conclusions:

• Repaglinide-loaded SLNs, particularly those using tristearin and glyceryl monostearate, offer a viable formulation for controlled drug release and high entrapment.
• The developed SLNs demonstrate good physical characteristics, spherical morphology, and short-term stability, suggesting potential for enhanced repaglinide delivery in anti-diabetic therapy.