Development and characterization of arteether-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for the treatment of malaria

Figures & data

Table I. Optimization of variable parameters.

	Variable Parameters			Response parameters
Formulation Code	Lipid ratio (mg)	Pluronic F 68 (mg)	Homogenization speed (rpm)	Size (nm) range	PDI range	Level of opt.
F1-F4	350:150	150–300	6000	256.3–394.7 (302.5 ± 46.12)	0.248–0.297 (0.248 ± 0.043)	200 mg
5-F8	350:150	200	5000–8000	218.9–276.4 (253.8 ± 52.23)	0.288–0.361 (0.288 ± 0.004)	8000 rpm
F9-F12	300:200 to 450: 50	200	8000	218.9–299.6 (275.27 ± 18.42)	0.288–0.360 (0.288 ± 0.003)	350:150

Table II. Optimization of amount of drug. The optimized formulation F8 with lipid ratio (7:3), 200mg surfactant and homogenization speed 8000 rpm was furthur optimized for drug concentration.

Formulation Code	Drug Conc (mg)	Size range (nm)	PDI range	Entrapment	Zeta potential (mV)	Level of opt.
F13-F16	6–12	220.6–284.3 (226.7 ± 11.42)	0.275–0.317 (0.260 ± 0.034)	76–84 (84 ± 3)	−38.23 to −41.05 (−38.23 ± 2.74)	10 mg

Figure 1. SEM image of F14 formulation of NLC.

Figure 2. a) DSC of AE b) DSC of AE-NLC.

Figure 3. Dissolution profile of AE-NLCs.

Figure 4. Mean % parasitemia on 4th day of infection.

Figure 5. Reduction in parasitemia (%) in infected mice after treatment.

Table III. Mean percent parasitemia in mice infected with P. berghei after treatment.

S. No	Group	Route of administration	Percent mortality	Mean % parasitaemia on 12th day
1.	Control	Oral	100.0	63.39 ± 3.62
2.	AE	Oral	66.7	28.47 ± 1.72
3.	AE-NLC	Oral	0	13.87 ± 0.52