Title:Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) as Effective Drug Delivery
Systems: Methods of Preparation and their Therapeutic Applications
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Author(s): Hind M. Alatawi, Shemah S. Alhwiti, Khwlah A. Alsharif, Shyma S. Albalawi, Shroug M. Abusaleh, Ghada K. Sror and Mona Qushawy*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutics,
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, 71491, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of
Pharmacy, Sinai University, Alarish, North Sinai, 45511, Egypt
Keywords:
Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), bioavailability, drug targeting, homogenization, chemotherapy, gene delivery, drug delivery systems.
Abstract: One of the drug delivery technologies is nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), which
improve drug permeability and thus bioavailability. NLCs are nanoparticles made from a lipid matrix
made up of a mixture of solid and liquid lipids. The inclusion of liquid lipids is useful in lowering
the ordered structure of solid lipids, increasing nanoparticle loading capacity, and drug entrapment
efficiency within NLCs. Hot homogenization, cold homogenization, micro-emulsion,
emulsification-solvent diffusion, high shear homogenization, and/or ultrasonication techniques,
double emulsion technique, melting dispersion method, membrane contractor technique, and
evaporation solvent injection are some of the methods that can be used to make NLCs. Both hydrophilic
and lipophilic medicines can be carried out by NLCs. They can deliver medications in a
variety of ways, including oral, topical, transdermal, parenteral, and ophthalmic. During the process
of preparing this review article, several distinct studies and patent reports about various
methods of NLCs formulations, their various therapeutic applications, and various routes of administration
were investigated and discussed. The study conducts an in-depth evaluation of the
most recent research publications and patents. NLCs have been utilized to treat a variety of disorders,
including cancer, fungal infections, bacterial infections, inflammation, liver diseases, and ocular
infections, due to their benefits. They can deliver medications to specific locations throughout
the body, allowing for drug targeting and a reduction in unwanted side effects. They can also be
used to improve bioavailability, reduce the medication's supplied dose, and improve the drug's
pharmacological activity.
