Michael A. Henson Group

Stabilization of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have great potential as delivery systems for the encapsulation, protection, and release of active lipophilic compounds (e.g., drugs, nutraceuticals, antimicrobials, antioxidants, and vitamins) in the pharmaceutical, food, personal care, and agro-chemical industries. SLNs are commonly prepared by making an oil-in-water nanoemulsion using high pressure homogenization followed by controlled cooling so that the fluid lipid droplets crystallize and produce solid lipid nanoparticles (r < 100 nm). SLNs offer several advantages for encapsulation of active components including improved physical stability, protection to chemical degradation, and precise control over release rates. A major obstacle to the widespread industrial use of SLNs is their tendency to aggregate and form gels when stored at ambient temperatures.

We are performing targeted experiments and developing population balance equation (PBE) models to better understand SLN instability with the goal of engineering the surfactant system and processing conditions to minimize aggregation. Our current research is focused on incorporating crystal polymorph transformation and nanoparticle surfactant coverage into the PBE model to predict aggregation dynamics.

Funding: Procter & Gamble

Student: Yihui Yang (3rd year Ph.D. student), Nicholas Skarzynski (undergraduate student), Britta Kunkemoeller (REU student, U. Connecticut)

Collaborator: Al Corona (Procter and Gamble), Julian McClements (UMass)