Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Targeted Plasma Membrane Delivery of a Hydrophobic Cargo Encapsulated in a Liquid Crystal Nanoparticle Carrier
Published on: February 8, 2017
Modulation of Donepezil Release Through Hydrophobic Ion- Pairing with Oleic Acid in Liquid Crystalline
Priscila Pires da Silva1, Victor Cavalcanti Marques1, Lorena Kelly Santiago Ramos1
1Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, UFOP, Ouro Preto 35400-000, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Abstract:
Precursor liquid crystals based on unsaturated monoglycerides, with or without oleic acid (OA), exhibited anisotropy characteristic of an inverse hexagonal phase. Donepezil-loaded liquid crystalline nanodispersions (LCNs) were produced by sonication and exhibited encapsulation efficiencies of 91.3-97.9%, with the OA-containing formulation (LCN-2) displaying a smaller particle size (183.0 ± 1.5 nm), lower polydispersity (0.183 ± 0.006), and improved colloidal stability over 90 days. NMR (1H NMR, 1D NOESY/ROESY and DOSY), molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations consistently demonstrated hydrophobic ion-pair formation between donepezil and oleic acid. These molecular interactions reduced drug mobility within the lipid domains, resulting in anomalous release behavior (n = 0.79), more sustained in vitro release, and an approximately 45% higher steady-state skin flux than the control donepezil solution. Overall, hydrophobic ion-pair formation with oleic acid represents an effective strategy to modulate drug release and enhance the transdermal performance of liquid crystalline nanodispersions for donepezil delivery.
Related Concept Videos
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated
Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Site-Targeted
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Drug Release Characteristics
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Rate-Programmed I
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Rate-Programmed II

