Loading, release profile and accelerated stability assessment of monoterpenes-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN)

Glycerol monostearate solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) were produced by hot high-pressure homogenization technique to load alpha-pinene, citral, geraniol or limonene. SLN were composed of 1wt.% monoterpene, 4wt.% of Imwitor® 900K as a solid lipid and 2.5wt.% of Poloxamer188 as a surfactant. Empty SLN consisted of 5wt.% of Imwitor® 900K and 2.5wt.% of Poloxamer188. The mean particles size (Z-Ave) and polydispersity index (PDI) of SLN were analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), while the zeta potential (ZP) of each formulation were measured by electrophoretic light scattering. LUMiSizer® was applied to calculate the velocity distribution in the centrifugal field and instability index. Drug release profile from SLN was analyzed using Franz cell diffusion cells assayed by UVVis spectrophotometry, whereas the gas chromatography technique was applied to determine the encapsulation parameters of volatile monoterpenes. The matrix state, polymorphism and phase behavior of SLN were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD, low and wide angles) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Selected monoterpenes were successfully loaded in glycerol monostearate SLN. A burst release profile within the first 15min was observed for all formulations, being the modified release profile dependent on the type of monoterpene and on the encapsulation efficiency.The authors acknowledge the financial support received from Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT/MCT) and from European Funds (PRODER/COMPETE) under the project reference [M-ERA-NET/0004/2015-PAIRED and UIDB/04469/2020] (strategic fund), co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement [PT2020].