Carvedilol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were prepared using solubility parameter (δ) to select the lipid, and hot homogenization to fabricate SLNs. The effect of concentration of Compritol 888 ATO (COMP) and Poloxamer 188 (P-188) on the particle size of blank SLNs was studied using the design of experiments. Further narrow concentration range of COMP and P-188 was selected and carvedilol-loaded SLNs were prepared to obtain an optimized formulation which was lyophilized (L-SLNs), transformed into enteric compression-coated tablet and evaluated for drug release, X-ray diffraction and cellular uptake mechanism. COMP was chosen as lipid due to its least value of Δδ with carvedilol. The optimized formulation (7.5% COMP, 5.0% P-188 and 1.11% carvedilol) had 161 nm particle size and 94.8% entrapment efficiency. The enteric-coated carvedilol-loaded SLNs tablet protected carvedilol from acidic environment and similar prolonged release profiles were obtained from L-SLNs, core tablet and enteric-coated tablet. Absence of crystalline carvedilol XRD peak indicated the presence of amorphous carvedilol in SLNs. Higher carvedilol uptake from SLNs compared to drug solution in the Caco-2 cell line exhibited a potential prolonged drug release. Moreover, upon cellular uptake, SLNs could then enter the lymphatic system which will avoid first pass metabolism and hence higher oral bioavailability.
Enhanced oral bioavailability of poorly aqueous soluble drugs encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) via lymphatic delivery has been documented. Since no in-vitro lymphoid tissue is currently available, human excised Caco-2 cell monolayer could be alternative tissue for development of an in-vitro model to be used as a screening tool before animal studies are undertaken. Therefore, optimized carvedilol-loaded SLNs (FOPT-SLNs) were prepared, characterized, and evaluated using Caco-2 cell line as an in-vitro model. Physical mixture of components of FOPT-SLNs (FOPT-PM) and carvedilol solution were used as control groups. From the studies of effect of SLNs concentration and cells incubation time, suitable carvedilol concentration and incubation time were selected for the model in which cells were subjected to five pretreatments for 24 h or 1 h of cell incubation and then followed with treatment of FOPT-SLNs, FOPT-PM or 100 µg/mL solution of carvedilol, for additional 24 h of cell incubation. The results obtained in this model suggest that main absorption mechanism of FOPT-SLNs could be endocytosis and, more specifically, clathrin-mediated endocytosis. When Transwell® permeable supports were used for the cells, carrier-mediated mechanism for FOPT-SLNs and passive absorption mechanism (transcellular and paracellular) for FOPT-PM and drug solution were concluded.
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