Lipid Nanoparticles: An Effective Tool to Improve the Bioavailability of Nutraceuticals

Abstract

Nano-range bioactive colloidal carrier systems are envisaged to overcome the challenges associated with treatments of numerous diseases. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), one of the extensively investigated drug delivery systems, not only improve pharmacokinetic parameters, transportation, and chemical stability of encapsulated compounds but also provide efficient targeting and reduce the risk of toxicity. Over the last decades, nature-derived polyphenols, vitamins, antioxidants, dietary supplements, and herbs have received more attention due to their remarkable biological and pharmacological health and medical benefits. However, their poor aqueous solubility, compromised stability, insufficient absorption, and accelerated elimination impede research in the nutraceutical sector. Owing to the possibilities offered by various LNPs, their ability to accommodate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules and the availability of various preparation methods suitable for sensitive molecules, loading natural fragile molecules into LNPs offers a promising solution. The primary objective of this work is to explore the synergy between nature and nanotechnology, encompassing a wide range of research aimed at encapsulating natural therapeutic molecules within LNPs.

Natural-Origin Betaine Surfactants as Promising Components for the Stabilization of Lipid Carriers

“…Interestingly, in the case of TEM, we can observe a clear, tidy-packed lipid core and a darker surfactant shell. The structure is typical for internal turbulence of the SLN as described in the literature data [2][3][4][5]; however, it is not often observed in microscopic images. It is also worth noting that the size and polydispersity of the systems obtained are in agreement with the measurements made using DLS.…”

“…Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), a primary class of lipid formulations, are made only of solid lipids, creating a crystalline and organized structure. In the second generation nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), a portion of a solid lipid is replaced by a liquid lipid (oil); due to this, the lipid matrix changes to a more imperfect one, which reduces the order of the structure, resulting in an increase in the space available for the encapsulated drug [4]. Drug delivery platforms based on solid lipids have allowed some disadvantages of the other nanocarrier types to be overcome.…”

“…Additionally, the use of a solid lipid as a matrix enables the protection of thermolabile active substances [5][6][7]. Among the ways of application of colloidal systems based on solid lipids extensively documented in the literature are cosmetic [5,8,9], food [4,6,10], and, above all, in the pharmaceutical industry (i.e., drug delivery) [7,11,12]. In recent years, lipid formulations have enabled the effective encapsulation of active substances successfully delivered intravenously [13][14][15], orally [16][17][18], transdermally [19][20][21], and also directly into the eye [22][23][24] or nose [25][26][27].…”

Diet and Lipid-Lowering Nutraceuticals in Pediatric Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia

“…Moreover, a warning is issued regarding the absence of studies stating that nutritional compounds may exert a preventive action against CHD-related morbidity and mortality [44]. Lipid nanoparticles are bioactive carrier systems that can improve transport, pharmacokinetics, and stability of encapsulated nutraceuticals; nanoemulsions and microemulsions have also been employed [46]. These formulations have been utilized to deliver nutraceuticals for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in adult subjects, such as polyphenols and bergamot [47].…”

Skin Protection by Carotenoid Pigments

“…To facilitate bioavailability and protect the structure against enzymatic decomposition and physicochemical degradation, carotenoids are transformed into so-called nanotechnology products, or "controlled release systems", i.e., liposomes, micelles, lipid nanoparticles, polymer micro-, and nano-particles or nanocapsules [296][297][298][299][300][301]. Thanks to appropriate nanoencapsulation, nanosystems are protected against degradation and ensure active substance release control [202,295,[302][303][304][305]. Despite these undeniable advantages, some reservations are raised by the tendency of nanoparticles to agglomerate, potential toxicity, possibility of bioaccumulation, and production costs [306].…”