Abstract
Lipidic vehicles are novel industrial products, utilized as components for pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical and nutraceutical formulations. The present study concerns a newly invented method to produce lipidic vehicles in the nanoscale that is simple, nontoxic, versatile, time-efficient, low-cost and easy to scale up. The process is a modification of the heating method (MHM) and comprises (i) providing a mixture of an amphiphilic lipid and a charged lipid and/or a fluidity regulator in a liquid medium composed of water and a liquid polyol, (ii) stirring and heating the mixture in two heating steps, wherein the temperature of the second step is higher than the temperature of the first step and (iii) allowing the mixture to cool down to room temperature. The process leads to the self-assembly of nanoparticles of small size and good homogeneity, compared with conventional approaches that require additional size reduction steps. In addition, the incorporation of bioactive molecules, such as drugs, inside the nanoparticles is possible, while lyophilization of the products provides long-term stability. Most importantly, the absence of toxic solvents and the simplicity guarantee the safety and scalability of the process, distinguishing it from most prior art processes to produce lipidic vehicles.
Highlights
Lipidic-based nanoparticles are clinically and markedly established nanosystems for the delivery of drug molecules, supplements and cosmetic substances, having shown great benefit in the formulation, administration, and delivery of poorly water-soluble bioactive ingredients
Suspensions of lipidic vehicles were developed through the present investigation, composed of HSPC:SA 9:0.25 and EPC:CHOL:SA 9:0.5:0.25 or 9:1.8:0.25 and glycerine 20%, 15% or 10% v/v of the total aqueous volume
The hydrodynamic diameter (Dh ) is an indication whether the proposed method is efficient in producing systems of small particle size, while the polydispersity index (PDI) regards the homogeneity/heterogeneity of these systems and should preferably be of low value
Summary
Lipidic-based nanoparticles are clinically and markedly established nanosystems for the delivery of drug molecules, supplements and cosmetic substances, having shown great benefit in the formulation, administration, and delivery of poorly water-soluble bioactive ingredients. Since they are lyotropic liquid crystalline systems, their structure and morphology depend on the concentration of the composing lipids and phospholipids, as well as on their molecular geometry, which is related to their chemical structure [1,2,3]. The nature of their components profoundly affects the final biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic profiles of the delivered bioactive ingredients [4]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have