Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have a crystalline lipid core which is stabilised in solution by interfacial surfactants. They are considered favourable candidates for future drug delivery vehicles as they are capable of storing and release bioactive molecules. However, when stored over time it is thought that the lipids undergo polymorphic transitions which result in the premature expulsion of the drug molecules. To date, significant experimental studies have been conducted with the aim of investigating the physico-chemical properties of SLNs, including their long-term stability, but as-of-yet, no molecular scale investigations have been reported on the behaviours that drive SLN formation and their subsequent polymorphic transitions. Using a combination of small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations (MD) we have generated a detailed, atomistic description of the internal structure of an SLN formed from the triglyceride, tripalmitin, and the Brij O10 surfactant. We also reveal the molecular scale mechanisms by which the surfactants stabilise the crystalline structure of the SLN lipid core. By comparing these results to simulated liquid and solid aggregates formed from the tripalmitin lipids, we demonstrate how lipid morphology varies between the nanoparticles, providing further insight into the key molecular mechanisms that control drug encapsulation and release from SLNs.

On solid lipid nanoparticles

2019 Fall National Meeting

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