Solid lipid nanoparticles: a review on recent perspectives and patents

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are solid core lipid nanocarriers, which can hold both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. They can be made up of biocompatible ingredients and therefore are one of the preferred choices for drug delivery. Surface modifications of SLNs may further provide unique features to them like mucoadhesiveness or targeting capability.

Areas covered: In this review, the authors have covered areas from the basic introduction of SLNs to its applications in controlled drug delivery. More specifically, the authors have covered patents disclosed related to the SLNs for the period 2014–2019; however, a summary of patents of 2008–2013 is also included.

Expert opinion: SLNs have been explored for development of compositions/formulations with improved therapeutics or cosmetic applications or for nutraceutical applications. Targeted SLNs compositions have been patented as evidenced from the literature; however, not such types of enough SLNs formulations have been claimed for the same.

KEYWORDS:

• Solid lipid nanoparticles
• nanosctructured lipid carriers
• drug delivery
• drug targeting
• patents
• gene delivery

Article highlights

• Nanosize lipid particles offer advantages related to biopharmaceutical aspects of nanoparticle trafficking in vivo followed by administration and controlled release of loaded cargos.

• Solid lipid nanoparticles have been developed and patents are disclosed for a variety of therapeutics including for oral, topical, parenteral, and cosmetic applications.

• Ligand anchored surface modified SLNs for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs are also reported and have been patented.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

A part of this project is supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (Grant No. BT/PR26950/NNT/28/1505/2017) to R Paliwal and JRF support to R Kenwat.