PREPARATION OF LIPID-BASED FORMULATIONS USING LOCAL BEESWAX SOURCED FROM HONEYCOMBS

Abstract

Solid lipids used in formulation of novel drug delivery systems in most developing countries are sourced from abroad and are quite expensive. Wax from honeycombs is readily available, and is even disposed as waste, but can be utilized as a solid lipid for the formulation of different lipid-based drug delivery systems. This study aims to formulate and compare the features of the solid lipid nanoparticle (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carrier (NLCs) delivery systems of quinine hydrochloride made with local beeswax (that is beeswax from locally sources honeycomb waste) and other solid lipids sourced from abroad. Local beeswax was first purified by hot bath method. Solidified reverse micellar solutions (SRMS) were prepared by fusion method using Phospholipon®90H and either local beeswax, Softisan®154, foreign beeswax, or stearic acid, separately. SLNs and NLCs of quinine made with SRMS of each of these solid lipids were formulated using hot homogenization method. These SLNs and NLCs were characterized. The average particle size of SLNs and NLCs made with local beeswax was 93.60 ± 4.44 nm and 112.80 ± 3.89 nm, respectively, and was not significantly (p > 0.05) different from the sizes of formulations made from other solid lipids (SLNs: 96.64 to 118.9 ± 4.13 nm and NLCs: 99.68 ± 6.75 to 117.30 ± 4.60 nm). The particles were monodispersed having PDI ranging from 0.281±0.054 to 0.308±0.055. Encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity were generally poor, especially among the SLN formulations. However, SLNs made with local beeswax and stearic acid were able to encapsulate quinine, whereas foreign beeswax and Softisan®154 had zero encapsulation. This study reveals that the features of the SLNs and NLCs made with local beeswax where highly comparable with those formulated with the imported solid lipids. Therefore, local beeswax can serve as a suitable affordable and available alternative to other imported solid lipids for formulating different lipid drug delivery systems.