Preparation, characterization, and optimization of altretamine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles using Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to prepare solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) of altretamine (ALT) by the hot homogenization and ultrasonication method. The study was conducted using the Box-Behnken design (BBD), with a 3³ design and a total of 17 experimental runs, performed in combination with response surface methodology (RSM). The SLNs were evaluated for mean particle size, entrapment efficiency, and drug-loading. The optimized formulation, with a desirability factor of 0.92, was selected and characterized. In vitro release studies showed a biphasic release pattern from the SLNs for up to 24 h. The results of % EE (93.21 ± 1.5), %DL (1.15 ± 0.6), and mean diameter of (100.6 ± 2.1) nm, were very close to the predicted values.

Keywords::

• altretamine
• Box-Behnken design
• optimization
• response surface methodology
• solid lipid nanoparticles

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the Director, University Institute of Pharmacy, Pt Ravi Shankar Shukla University Raipur, Chhattisgarh, for providing necessary infrastructural facilities. The authors are also thankful to CCOST/MRP/2012 Endt. No. 1926 and UGC-MRP F. No. 42-706/2013 (SR), for providing financial assistance relating to this work. One of the authors (BG) is thankful to UGC-BSR for JRF, Department of Science and Technology (DST-FIST).

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.