Title:Practicality Assessment of a Frugal Nanoparticle Generator: Opening
Doors to Nano Pharmaceuticals for the Researchers and Students of
Underprivileged Academic Institutions
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Author(s): Swayamprakash Patel*, Ashish Patel, Mruduka Patel, Umang Patel, Mehul Patel and Nilay Solanki
Affiliation:
- Ramanbhai Patel College of Pharmacy, Charotar University of Science and Technology, Vadodara, India
Keywords:
Frugal Innovation, Nanoparticle, Piezoelectric, Quasi-Emulsion, Albendazole, SLN
Abstract: Background: Probe sonication and high-speed homogenizer are comparatively costly
equipment to fabricate the nanoparticles. Many academic and research institutions cannot afford the
procurement and maintenance of such sophisticated equipment. In the present work, a newer idea is
conceptualized, which can be adopted by underprivileged research institutions to fabricate solid lipid
nanoparticles (SLN) in the absence of sophisticated equipment. The current work describes the pilotlevel
trials of this novel approach. This study represents the preliminary proof-of-concept trials for
which the Indian patent application (3508/MUM/2015) is filed.
Method: A frugal piece of equipment was made using a 50 ml centrifuge tube with conical bottom
and a piezoelectric mist maker or humidifier. SLNs were prepared by combining the quasi-emulsion
solvent evaporation approach and ultrasonic vibration approach. A quasi-emulsion was composed by
the dropwise mixing of the organic solvent containing drug and lipid with an aqueous solution containing
surfactant under continuous ultrasonic vibration in the piezoelectric chamber. The size of the
droplets was significantly reduced due to piezoelectric ultrasonic vibration. Under the provision of
mild vacuum and heat generated by vibration, the organic solvent was evaporated, which leaves behind
a suspension of SLN. In the present work, albendazole was selected as a model drug. Various
trials with Compritol 888 ATO® and Precirol ATO 5® as a lipid carrier and Tween 80 and Poloxamer
188 as a surfactant were performed. Zeta potential of SLNs was improved by the addition of
polyelectrolytes like K2SO4 and Na4P2O7.
Result and Conclusion: The ratio of drug to lipid was optimized to 1:4 for the most favorable results.
SLNs with a minimum Z-average diameter of 98.59 nm, -21 mV zeta potential, and 34.064 %
(SD 10.78, n=9) entrapment efficiency were developed using the Precirol ATO 5 ® as a lipid carrier.
The proof of concept for this novel approach is established through the development of Albendazole
SLNs. This approach must also be evaluated for the development of polymeric nanoparticles and
vesicular formulations. The further sophistication of the frugal equipment may allow more control
over the quality of SLNs. This approach will enable underprivileged researchers to prepare
nanopharmaceuticals. Researchers and students of such institutions can focus on the application of
SLN by resolving the constraint of sophisticated equipment with this novel approach. This novel
approach should also be tried for polymeric and vesicular nanopharmaceuticals.
