Preparation and pharmacodynamic evaluation of sodium aescinate solid lipid nanoparticles

Abstract

Recent advancements in nanotechnology have spotlighted lipid nanocarriers as potent mediums for drug delivery, with solid lipid nanocarriers (SLNs) emerging as a key focus due to their unique structural attributes. This research specifically addresses the development and evaluation of the anti-inflammatory properties of SLNs loaded with sodium aescinate. To identify the most effective composition, a detailed pseudo-ternary phase diagram was employed. The production process of these SLNs involved sophisticated high-pressure homogenization techniques. For characterization, the average particle size and zeta potential were precisely measured using advanced laser diffractometry. Additionally, to ascertain the effectiveness of the drug encapsulation, the SLNs underwent a rigorous high-speed centrifugation process, enabling accurate determination of both the encapsulation efficiency and drug-loading capacity. The results of this research reveal that a relatively refined method for determining sodium aescinate content has been established, and a reasonable formulation has been selected for the preparation of sodium aescinate solid lipid nanoparticles. The average particle size was 142.32 ± 0.17 nm, the zeta potential was 1.60 ± 0.32 mV, and the encapsulation rate was 73.93 ± 4.65%. The drug loading was 13.41 ± 1.25%. In conclusion, this method can produce stable solid lipid nanoparticles containing sodium aescinate with uniform particle size, even distribution after encapsulation, and significant anti-inflammatory activity.