Nanostructured Lipid Carriers

Abstract

At present, nanotechnology is widely utilized in drug delivery, facilitating both passive and active targeting through various administration routes. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are the two primary types of lipid-based nanoparticles. Muller developed the NLCs in 1999-2000. NLCs come in three different forms: Imperfect, Amorphous and Multiple. Compared to SLNs, NLCs have a greater drug loading efficiency because their partially crystalline lipid system is created by blending liquid and solid lipids. Various excipients are used in formulating NLCs are commonly used liquid lipids and solid lipids, emulsifying agent, counter ions and surfactant for preparation of NLCs. For thermostable and thermos sensitive medication the high shear homogenization and micro emulsion like various methods for fabrication of NLCs have been described in this review. Evaluation of NLCs includes particle size determination, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency test, NLCs morphology, polydispersity index, stability test, structural analysis. NLCs have numerous pharmaceutical applications like inhalational, parenteral, topical, oral, ocular, brain and other.