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Updated: May 9, 2026
Solid Lipid Nanoparticles SLNs for Intracellular Targeting Applications
Published on: November 17, 2015
4-Hexylresorcinol Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Enhancing Anticancer Activity
Sooho Yeo1, Sukkyun Jung2, Haneul Kim1
1Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Cancer is one of the most significant threats to human health. Following surgical excision, chemotherapy is an effective strategy against remaining cancer cells. 4-hexylresorcinol (4-HR) has anti-cancer properties and exhibits hydrophobicity-induced aggregation in the blood that has trouble with targeted tumor delivery and cellular uptake of the drug. The purpose of this study is to encapsulate 4-HR into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) to enhance its anti-cancer effect by avoiding aggregation and facilitating cellular uptake.
Methods:
4-HR SLNs were prepared via hot melt homogenization with sonication. SLN characteristics were assessed by analyzing particle size, zeta potential, and drug release. Cytotoxicity, as an indicator of the anti-cancer effect, was evaluated against HeLa (cervical cancer in humans), A549 (lung cancer in humans), and CT-26 (colon carcinoma in mice) cell lines.
Results:
Particle size ranged from 169.4 to 644.8 nm, and zeta potential ranged from -19.8 to -40.3 mV, which are conducive to cellular uptake. Entrapment efficiency (EE) of 4-HR was found to be 75.0-96.5%. The cytotoxicity of 4-HR-loaded SLNs demonstrated enhanced anti-cancer effects compared to pure 4-HR. The enhancement of anti-cancer effects depended on reduced particle size based on cellular uptake, the EE, and the cell type.
Conclusions:
These findings imply that 4-HR-loaded SLN is a promising strategy for chemotherapy in cancer treatment.
