In recent years, many procedures for fabricating solid lipid nanoparticles have been explored, including high-pressure homogenization, microemulsion techniques, and solvent emulsification evaporation methods. However, each technique has its disadvantages. The coacervation method is studied as a novel, solvent-free technique. Creative Biolabs has been focusing on providing quality Lipid Nanoparticle development services using this technology.
The basic process of the coacervation technology is relatively simple. Solid lipid nanoparticles of fatty acids are precipitated from their sodium salt micelles. In brief, when the pH of the micellular solution of fatty acid salts is lowered by acidification, the fatty acid precipitates due to proton exchange between the soap and the acid solution.
Fig.1 Schematic steps of coacervation method. (Fahrurrozi, 2016)
Peptide and protein drugs play an important role in the advancement of physiology and pathology, as well as biotechnology and genetic engineering. Unfortunately, despite being effective, peptide and protein drugs have side effects, such as short biological half-life and easily degraded by proteolytic enzymes. To solve these problems, a solvent-free, feasible and versatile method called coacervation technique was developed. Insulin and leuprolide were chosen as model peptide drugs to be encapsulated within nanoparticles obtained by coacervation. The coacervation technique was proved to be a suitable approach for delivering peptide and protein drugs.
Studies showed that a recombinant, humanized monoclonal antibody was successfully entrapped in solid lipid nanoparticles prepared by the fatty-acid coacervation technique owing to the formation of a hydrophobic ion pair. The activity of the monoclonal antibody greatly increased when delivered in solid lipid nanoparticles. In addition, it is generally accepted that solid lipid nanoparticles have been proposed as significant drug carrier systems for baicalin, a kind of flavonoid, which has the effect of regulating certain diseases and also has an effect on cancer. Another example is amphotericin B. Amphotericin B is well known to form mixed micelles with surfactants. Because of its low water solubility, amphotericin B should be administered in lipid formulations. In recent decades, several studies have been performed to develop lipid preparations of amphotericin B, aimed at increasing its efficacy and reducing its toxicity. Good encapsulation efficiency of amphotericin B was obtained in stearic acid nanoparticles. Stearic acid solid lipid nanoparticles were prepared according to the coacervation technique. The coacervation method seems to be a potentially suitable technique to prepare nanoparticles for amphotericin B delivery.
The coacervation technique is an innovative process for solid lipid nanoparticles production. The technology has the potential to overcome the shortcomings of other known techniques and has a wide range of applications. If you have any requirements for RNA delivery, please contact us.
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