Optimization of Preparation Variables for Trimyristin Solid Lipid Nanoparticles

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have been regarded to behave similar to the vegetable oil emulsions because emulsions of lipid melts are formed before lipid droplets being solidified to turn into SLNs. Compared to lipid emulsion, however, it has been more difficult to obtain stable SLNs and needs more extensive considerations on stabilizer and manufacturing process. In the present study, we tried to prepare phosphatidylcholine-based trymyristin (TM) SLNs using high pressure homogenization method and optimize the manufacturing variables such as homogenization pressure, number of homogenization cycles, cooling temperature, co-stabilizer and freeze-drying with cryoprotectants. Nano-sized TM particles could be Prepared using egg Phosphatidylcholine and pegylated phospholipids ($PEG_{2000}$PE) as stabilizers. Based on the optimization study, the dispersion was manufactured by homogenization under the pressure of 100 MPa for more than 5 cycles, and solidifying the intermediately formed lipid melt droplets by dipping in liquid nitrogen followed by thawing at room temperature. In addition, TM SLNs could be freeze-dried and then redispersed easily without significant particle size changes after freeze drying with 10% and 12.5% sucrose or trehalose. The TM SLNs established in this study can be used as delivery system for drugs and cosmetics.