SRMS-based SLMs would likely offer a reliable means of delivering gentamicin intramuscularly.

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Novel solid lipid drug delivery systems such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) have attracted wide and increasing attention in recent years. It has been sought as an interesting alternative drug delivery carrier system for bioactives for a variety of delivery routes. They show major advantages such as sustained release, improved bioavailability, improved drug incorporation and very wide application. This paper presents a discussion on the production protocols of SLN, lyophilization of SLN and delivery of SLN across the blood-brain barrier. Special attention was also paid to entrapment and release of drugs from SLN and strategies to enhance drug entrapment in SLN for sustained release. Analytical methods for the characterization of SLN were also discussed. Various routes of administration of SLN were presented as well as a consideration of the ethical issues and future prospects in the production and use of SLN for sustained release of bioactives.

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Oral delivery and bioavailability of artemether and lumefantrine could be improved using SRMS-based SLMs.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of microparticles based on biocompatible phytolipids [Softisan® 154 (SF) (hydrogenated palm oil) and super-refined sunseed oil (SO)] and polyethylene glycol- (PEG-) 4000 to improve intravaginal delivery of miconazole nitrate (MN) for effective treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Lipid matrices (LMs) consisting of rational blends of SF and SO with or without PEG-4000 were prepared by fusion and characterized and employed to formulate MN-loaded solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) by melt-homogenization. The SLMs were characterized for physicochemical properties, anticandidal activity, and stability. Spherical discrete microparticles with good physicochemical properties and mean diameters suitable for vaginal drug delivery were obtained. Formulations based on SO:SF (1:9) and containing highest concentrations of PEG-4000 (4 %w/w) and MN (3.0 %w/w) were stable and gave highest encapsulation efficiency (83.05–87.75%) and inhibition zone diameter (25.87±0.94–26.33±0.94 mm) and significantly (p<0.05) faster and more powerful fungicidal activity regarding killing rate constant values (7.10 x 10−3–1.09 x 10−2 min−1) than commercial topical solution of MN (Fungusol®) (8.00 x 10−3 min−1) and pure MN sample (5.160 x 10−3 min−1). This study has shown that MN-loaded SLMs based on molecularly PEGylated lipid matrices could provide a better option to deal with VVC.

The objective of our work was to study the micromeritic properties of lyophilized diclofenac potassium-loaded lipospheres and to evaluate in vivo, the analgesic properties of diclofenac potassium in the lipospheres in addition to other in vitro properties. Solidified reverse micellar solutions were prepared by fusion using 1:1, 2:1, and 1:2% w/w of Phospholipon® 90H and Softisan® 154. Diclofenac potassium (1, 3, and 5% w/w) was incorporated into the solidified reverse micellar solutions. Solidified reverse micellar solutions-based lipospheres were formulated by melt homogenization techniques using Ultra-Turrax homogenizer, and thereafter lyophilized to obtain water-free lipospheres. The lipospheres were characterized in terms of particle size and morphology, stability, thermal analysis, drug content, encapsulation efficiency, and loading capacity. The flow properties of the lipospheres were studied using both direct and indirect methods of assessing flow. The analgesic properties of the lipospheres were studied using the hot plate method. Results obtained showed that the yield of diclofenac potassium-loaded lipospheres was high and the particle size ranged from 0.61±0.07 to 2.55±0.04 μm. The lipospheres had high encapsulation efficiency of 95%, which was affected by the amount of drug loaded, while the loading capacity increased with the increase in drug loading. Diclofenac potassium-loaded lipospheres exhibited poor flow. The formulations exhibited good analgesic effect compared with the reference and had 84 to 86% drug release at 13 h. The lipospheres based on solidified reverse micellar solutions could be used for oral delivery of diclofenac potassium.