Authors : Madhumitha Jegadeeshwaran; Jaya Krishnan Sakthivel; Dr. Dinesh Raja Anbazhagan

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 9 - September

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/mr6jdae6

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/y95bfnpd

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25sep096

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.

Abstract : Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) are colloidal drug delivery systems consisting of a solid lipid matrix stabilized by surfactants. They are particularly advantageous for poorly soluble drugs (BCS Class II and IV) owing to their biocompatibility, reduced toxicity, and ability to enhance stability, absorption, and controlled release. The solid lipid matrix minimizes drug migration, lowers molecular mobility, and delays lipid digestion, thereby sustaining drug release and protecting chemically sensitive compounds. SLNs can be prepared by several techniques, including high-pressure homogenization, microemulsion, solvent emulsification–diffusion, double emulsion, membrane contactor, precipitation, solvent injection, and film–ultrasound dispersion. Post-processing methods such as lyophilization and spray drying are used to improve long-term stability. Characterization involves particle size and zeta potential determination using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Static Light Scattering (SLS), electron microscopy, acoustic methods, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Crystallinity is assessed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), while entrapment efficiency and drug loading are quantified by direct extraction or separation followed by analytical methods such as HPLC or UV–Visible spectrophotometry. In vitro release studies commonly employ dialysis tubing and reverse dialysis, whereas ex vivo intestinal models assess permeability and absorption. Despite limitations such as gel formation and reduced drug loading, SLNs remain a promising platform for improving bioavailability and controlled delivery of therapeutic agents.

Keywords : Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs); Drug Delivery; Bioavailability; Controlled Release; High-Pressure Homogenization; Lyophilization; Particle Size; in Vitro Drug Release.

References :

1. Loxley A. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for the Delivery of Pharmaceutical Actives. Drug Delivery Technology2009; 9 Suppl 8 :32
2. Mandawgade SD, Patravale VB. Development of SLNs from natural lipids: Application to topical delivery of tretinoin. International Journal of Pharmaceutics2008; 363 :132-138.
3. Helgason T, Awad TS, Kristbergsson K, McClements DJ, Weiss J. Effect of surfactant surface coverage on formation of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). Journal of Colloid and Interface Science2009; 334 :75–81
4. Sinha VR, Srivastava S, Goel H, Jindal V. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN’S) – Trends and Implications in Drug Targeting. International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences2010; 1 :212-238.
5. Prastiwi N., Lesbatta K. Application of solid lipid nanoparticles preparation in infection caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Indonesian Journal of Pharmacology and Therapy.2(3).
6. A. Zielinska, ´ N.R. Ferreira, A. Feliczak-Guzik, I. Nowak, E.B. Souto, Loading, release profile and accelerated stability assessment of monoterpenes-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), Pharm. Dev. Technol. 25 (7) (2020) 832–844
7. G. Amasya, A.D. Ergin, O.E. Cakirci, A.T. Ozçelikay, Z.S. Bayindir, N. Yuksel, A study to enhance the oral bioavailability of s-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAMe): SLN and SLN nanocomposite particles, Chem. Phys. Lipids 237 (2021) 105086
8. S. Scioli Montoto, G. Muraca, M.E. Ruiz, Solid lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery: pharmacological and biopharmaceutical aspects, Front. Mol. Biosci. 7 (2020) 587997.
9. M. Muchow, P. Maincent, R.H. Müller, Lipid nanoparticles with a solid matrix (SLN®, NLC®, LDC®) for oral drug delivery, Drug Dev. Ind. Pharm. 34 (12) (2008) 1394–1405.
10. S.B. Routray, C.N. Patra, R. Raju, K.C. Panigrahi, G.K. Jena, Lyophilized SLN of Cinnacalcet HCl: BBD enabled optimization, characterization and pharmacokinetic study, Drug Dev. Ind. Pharm. 46 (7) (2020) 1080–1091.
11. A. Alsaad, A.A. Hussien, M.M. Gareeb, Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) as a novel drug delivery system: a theoretical review, Syst. Rev. Pharm. 11 (5) (2020) 259–273.
12. Y. Duan, A. Dhar, C. Patel, M. Khimani, S. Neogi, P. Sharma, et al., A brief review on solid lipid nanoparticles: Part and parcel of contemporary drug delivery systems, RSC Adv. 10 (45) (2020) 26777–26791.
13. V.J. Lingayat, N.S. Zarekar, R.S. Shendge, Solid lipid nanoparticles: a review, Nanosci. Nanotechnol. Res. 4 (2) (2017) 67–72
14. S. Scioli Montoto, G. Muraca, M.E. Ruiz, Solid lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery: \pharmacological and biopharmaceutical aspects, Front. Mol. Biosci. 7 (2020) 587997
15. M. Muchow, P. Maincent, R.H. Müller, Lipid nanoparticles with a solid matrix (SLN®, NLC®, LDC®) for oral drug delivery, Drug Dev. Ind. Pharm. 34 (12) (2008) 1394–1405.
16. S.B. Routray, C.N. Patra, R. Raju, K.C. Panigrahi, G.K. Jena, Lyophilized SLN of Cinnacalcet HCl: BBD enabled optimization, characterization and pharmacokinetic study, Drug Dev. Ind. Pharm. 46 (7) (2020) 1080–1091.
17. S. Mukherjee, S. Ray, R. Thakur, Solid lipid nanoparticles: a modern formulation approach in drug delivery system, Indian J. Pharm. Sci. 71 (4) (2009) 349.
18. N. Jawahar, S. Meyyanathan, G. Reddy, S. Sood, Solid lipid nanoparticles for oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs, J. Pharm. Sci. Res. 4 (7) (2012) 1848.
19. V.R. Sinha, S. Srivastava, H. Goel, V. Jindal, Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN’S)- trends and implications in drug targeting, Int. J. Adv. Pharm. Sci. 1 (3) (2010).
20. M. Hanumanaik, S.K. Patel, K.R. Sree, Solid lipid nanoparticles: a review, Int J. Pharm. Sci. Res 4 (3) (2013) 928–940.
21. R. Paliwal, S. Rai, B. Vaidya, K. Khatri, A.K. Goyal, N. Mishra, et al., Effect of lipid core material on characteristics of solid lipid nanoparticles designed for oral lymphatic delivery, Nanomed.: Nanotechnol., Biol. Med. 5 (2) (2009) 184–191.
22. S.M. Hosseini, R. Abbasalipourkabir, F.A. Jalilian, S.S. Asl, A. Farmany, G. Roshanaei, et al., Doxycycline-encapsulated solid lipid nanoparticles as promising tool against Brucella melitensis enclosed in macrophage: a pharmacodynamics study on J774A. 1 cell line, Antimicrob. Resist. Infect. Control. 8 (1) (2019) 1–12
23. N. Jawahar, S. Meyyanathan, G. Reddy, S. Sood, Solid lipid nanoparticles for oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs, J. Pharm. Sci. Res. 4 (7) (2012) 1848
24. H. Yuan, L.-F. Huang, Y.-Z. Du, X.-Y. Ying, J. You, F.-Q. Hu, et al., Solid lipid nanoparticles prepared by solvent diffusion method in a nanoreactor system, Colloids Surf. B: Biointerfaces 61 (2) (2008) 132–137
25. Ekambaram P, Sathali AH, Priyanka K. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: A Review. Scientific Reviews and Chemical. Communication2012; 2 Suppl 1 :80-102.
26. Cavalli R, Donalisio M, Civra A, Ferruti P, Ranucci E, Trotta F, Lembo D. Enhanced antiviral activity of Acyclovir loaded into β- cyclodextrin-poly (4-acryloylmorpholine) conjugate nanoparticles. Journal of Controlled Release 2009; 137 :116–122.
27. Pandita D, Ahuja A, Velpandian T, Lather V, Dutta T, Khar RK. Characterization and in vitro assessment of paclitaxel loaded lipid nanoparticles formulated using modified solvent injection technique. Pharmazie2009; 64 :301–310.
28. Shah M, Pathak K. Development and Statistical Optimization of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles of Simvastatin by Using 23 FullFactorial Design. AAPS PharmSciTech2010; 11 Suppl 2 :489-496.
29. Sinha VR, Srivastava S, Goel H, Jindal V. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN’S) – Trends and Implications in Drug Targeting. International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences2010; 1 :212-238.
30. Mehnert W, Mader K. Solid lipid nanoparticles-Production, characterization and applications. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2001; 47 :165–196.
31. Ohshima H, Miyagishima A, Kurita T, Makino Y, Iwao Y, Sonobe  T, Itai S. Freeze-dried nifedipine-lipid nanoparticles with long term nano-dispersion stability after reconstitution.  International Journal of Pharmaceutics2009; 377 :180–184.
32. Subedi RK, Kang KW, Choi KH. Preparation and characterization of solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences2009; 37 :508–513.
33. Dong X, Mattingly CA, Tseng M, Cho M, Adams VR, Mumper RJ. Development of new lipid-based paclitaxel nanoparticles using sequential simplex optimization. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics2009; 72 :9–17.
34. Ye J, Wang Q, Zhou X, Zhang N. Injectable actarit-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles as passive targeting therapeutic agents for rheumatoid arthritis. International Journal of Pharmaceutics2008; 352 :273–279.
35. Huang G, Zhang N, Bi X, Dou M. Solid lipid nanoparticles of temozolomide: Potential reduction of cardial and nephric toxicity. International Journal of Pharmaceutics2008; 255 :314–320.
36. Elnaggar YSR, El-Massik MA, Abdallah OY. Fabrication, appraisal, and transdermal permeation of sildenafil citrate loaded nanostructured lipid carriers versus solid lipid nanoparticles. International Journal of Nanomedicine 2011;