Preparation and characterization of artemether loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: a 3² factorial design approach

ABSTRACT

This study represents preparation and characterization of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs) containing artemether. Nano-emulsion technique was employed to produce artemether loaded SLNPs. 2-factor 3-level design was employed to observe the effect of independent variables on dependent variables. 2D counter plots and 3D surface response plots were drawn and based on desirability factor the optimized formulation was selected. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of SLNPs were performed to check the compatibility of artemether with lipid. The optimized formulation shows average particle size 692.6 nm with smooth surface. Prepared formulation shows encapsulation efficiency in the range of 58.31% to 78.69% and maximum 82.23% drug release over a period of 30 h. The FTIR study shows no drug-excipients interaction. The artemether loaded SLNPs were successfully prepared with good encapsulation efficiency to achieve improved bioavailability and controlled drug release.

KEYWORDS:

• Artemether
• nanoemulsion
• solid lipid nanoparticles
• controlled release

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Technical Education Quality Improvement Program (TEQIP-II), World Bank and MHRD, New Delhi for providing financial support to carry out this work. Authors are also thankful to Intas Pharmaceuticals, Ahmadabad, India for providing artemether as gift sample.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Technical Education Quality Improvement Program [DTE/TEQIP/SPFU/2012-13/47].