Preparation, optimization, and in-vitro characterization of α-tocopherol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs)

Abstract

Objective: The main scope of present investigation was preparation and physicochemical characterization of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded by α-tocopherol acetate (ATA).

Methods: ATA-loaded nanoparticles were prepared by solvent injection-homogenization technique using stearic acid as the solid lipid, phosphatidylcholine as the stabilizer and finally coated by chitosan with the aim of increasing z-potential and also having a more stable nano-formulation. Then, characterization of SLNs has been conducted using dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Results: Nanoparticles with average sizes of 175 ± 15 nm and zeta potential of +35 ± 2.5 mV were obtained. An excellent drug entrapment efficiency of 90.58 ± 1.38% was obtained with a no-burst slow release up to about 10 days tested. The final plateau of release of ATA from nanoparticulate system within 216 h was 61.13 ± 0.13% which was approached in about 150 h. Physical stability studies showed that the ATA nano-formulation remained stable with slight increase in mean particle size and polydispersity index over a 3-month period in refrigerated temperature. Considering both FTIR and DSC analysis, it can be concluded that there is no new band formation between materials and ATA in our nano-formulation. Particle sizes obtained using AFM images are in a good agreement to those established from the DLS analysis.

Conclusion: These data showed a promising delivery system for vitamin E based on SLN platform.

Keywords:

• Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs)
• α-tocopherol acetate
• solvent injection-homogenization technique
• vitamin E
• drug delivery

Acknowledgements

Authors thank the Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS) for providing financial and other supports for the present research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.