Optimization and Fabrication of Curcumin Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles using Box-Behnken Design for Nasal Delivery

Abstract

To prepare curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for nasal administration using Box-Behnken design. The effectiveness of curcumin in neurological disorders is widely studied by various researchers, but its use is limited due to its poor bioavailability. The brain-targeting efficiency of curcumin can be improved using solid lipid nanoparticles via nasal administration. In present work, Curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (CUR-SLN) were formulated and optimized for nasal administration. In the present work, Curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (CUR-SLN) were formulated and optimized for nasal administration. On the basis of solubility, cetostearyl alcohol as lipid and Poloxamer 407 as surfactant were selected for further studies. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to analyze effects of drug to lipid ratio (X1), surfactant concentration (X2) and homogenization time (X3) on particle size (Y1) & % entrapment efficiency (Y2). The CUR-SLN were formulated by high shear homogenization method. The optimized formulation was evaluated for DSC, TEM, drug release & ex-vivo studies. Based on solubility studies, cetostearyl alcohol and poloxamer 407 were selected as lipid and surfactant, respectively. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to analyze the effects of drug-to-lipid ratio (X1), surfactant concentration (X2) and homogenization time (X3) on particle size (Y1) and % entrapment efficiency (Y2). The CUR-SLN were formulated by the high shear homogenization method. The optimized formulation was evaluated for DSC, TEM, drug release and ex-vivo studies. Good results were obtained for the particle size and entrapment efficiency analyzed using BBD. The optimized formulation of CUR-SLN obtained using BBD was observed with a particle size of 96.09 nm and % EE of 78.23. In-vitro release of the drug was found to be 82.93± 0.15% after 8 hours. DSC studies revealed that crystalline form of curcumin changed to an amorphous form in SLN. TEM results of optimized CUR-SLN were in correlation with the results obtained using a zeta sizer. No harmful effects were observed on nasal mucosa in the histopathology study. Good results were obtained for the particle size and entrapment efficiency analyzed using the BBD. The optimized formulation of CUR-SLN obtained using BBD was observed with particle size of 96.09 nm The SLN can be safely utilized for the intranasal administration of curcumin. The SLN can be safely utilized for the nasal administration of the curcumin. Nasal administration of curcumin-loaded SLN