Application of Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization of β‐Carotene‐Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier from Mixtures of Palm Stearin and Palm Olein

Abstract

AbstractThe main purpose of this study was to optimize a β‐carotene‐loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (βC‐NLC) using the lipid matrix of palm stearin and palm olein and Tween 80 as a surfactant. The NLC was prepared by using the high shear homogenization method. Box–Behnken Design (BBD) response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the process and formulation. A three‐factor experimental model was used to optimize the combination of palm stearin ratio (A, %w/w), lipid:surfactant ratio (B, %w/w), and (lipid+surfactant):water ratio (C, %w/w). The formulations were evaluated for their responses on particle size (Y1), polydispersity index (Y2), zeta potential (Y3), and encapsulation efficiency (Y4). Subsequently, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal (DT‐TGA), x‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and in vitro release (Franz diffusion cell) analyses were utilized to observe the resulting optimum formulation. The optimum formulation was obtained at a combination of A (5.5:4.5), B (1:4.9), and C (24:76) %w/w. This resulted in βC‐NLC having a particle size of 166 nm, polydispersity index of 0.35, zeta potential of −26.9 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 91.2%. No strong interaction between different NLC components was observed based on FTIR, DT‐TGA, and XRD profiles. Round‐shaped NLC particles were observed under TEM. Franz diffusion cell observation resulted in diffusion profile of β‐carotene of 110.6 μg cm−2 with a flux of 1.06 (μg cm−2 hour−1). This indicates that palm stearin and palm olein can be prospectively developed as βC‐NLC.