Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as Innovative Carriers in Drug Delivery: A Review

Background: Nanoparticle technology is a new drug delivery system with nano-scale-size. The solid lipid nanoparticles are dynamic systems adopted for formulating water-soluble and insoluble drugs in a colloidal carrier. Their matrix is solid lipids at room temperature and their size ranges from 10 - 1000 nm. Solid lipid nanoparticles have many privileges including protection of drugs from chemical, photochemical, and oxidative degradation. Also, they could be modified to be formulated as sustained-release or controlled-release dosage forms. Their limitations involve the low drug loading capacity with the possibility of leakage and damage during storage. The components of solid lipid nanoparticles are different but generally regarded as safe. Their preparation methods are numerous, ranging from the usual high-pressure homogenization to the green strategies. The most important applications of solid lipid nanoparticles include parasitic infection, cancers and brain diseases. The bioavailability and efficacy of drugs like praziquantel, nitazoxanide, and amphotericin B were greatly enhanced by solid lipid nanoparticles, improving treatment outcomes for conditions such as Leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis, and schistosomiasis. In cancer therapy, solid lipid nanoparticles have been employed to target breast, lung, liver, and colon cancers, offering improved cellular uptake, increased cytotoxicity, and reduced systemic toxicity through surface decoration approaches. Furthermore, by overcoming the blood-brain barrier, solid lipid nanoparticles have shown a trustworthy promise in facilitating effective brain delivery of therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders and brain tumors. Aim: This review highlights the solid lipid nanoparticles' privileges, limitations, components, preparation techniques and their most important applications. Conclusion: solid lipid nanoparticles applications in parasitic infection, cancers and brain disease could overcome the traditional drug delivery challenges. By reducing systemic toxicity, enhancing bioavailability, and improving targeting, they pave the way for more effective therapies.