Aim Early detection and intervention (EDI) is a main challenge in psychosis research. The Chilean schizophrenia (SZ) national program has universal support and treatment by law for all SZ patients, but this does not yet extend to earlier stages of illness. Therefore, we have piloted an ultra‐high risk (UHR) program to demonstrate the utility and feasibility of this public health approach in Chile. Methods We introduce “The University of Chile High‐risk Intervention Program,” which is the first national EDI program for UHR youths. Longitudinal follow‐up included clinical and cognitive assessments, and monitoring of physiological sensory and cognitive indices, through electroencephalographic techniques. Results We recruited 27 UHR youths over 2 years. About 92.6% met criteria for attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS). Mean Scale of Psychosis‐Risk Symptoms (SOPS) ratings in the cohort were 6.9 (SD 4.6) for positive, 9.1 (SD 8.3) for negative, 5.4 (SD 5.3) for disorganized and 6.3 (SD 4.1) for general symptoms. About 14.8% met criteria for comorbid anxiety disorders and 44.4% for mood disorders. Most participants received cognitive behavioural therapy (62.9%) and were prescribed low dose antipsychotics (85.2%). The transition rate to psychosis was 22% within 2 years. Conclusions We describe our experience in establishing the first EDI program for UHR subjects in Chile. Our cohort is similar in profile and risk to those identified in higher‐income countries. We will extend our work to further optimize psychosocial and preventive interventions, to promote its inclusion in the Chilean SZ national program and to establish a South American collaboration network for SZ research.

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Lipid nanocarriers have a great potential for improving the physicochemical characteristics and behavior of poorly water-soluble drugs, such as aqueous dispersibility and oral bioavailability. This investigation presents a novel nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) based on a mixture of solid lipid glycerides, fatty acid esters of PEG 1500 (Gelucire® 44/14), and an oil mix composed of capric and caprylic triglycerides (Miglyol® 812). These NLCs were developed by a simple low-energy method based on melt emulsification to yield highly encapsulating and narrowly distributed nanoparticles (~100 nm, PdI = 0.1, and zeta potential = ~−10 mV). Rhodamine 123 was selected as a poorly water-soluble drug model and owing to its spectroscopic properties. The novel NLCs were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and colloidal stability. The drug release was determined through a dialysis bag and vertical Franzs’ cells to provide insights about the methods’ suitability, revealing similar performance regardless of their different fluid dynamics. Rhodamine 123 followed a characteristic biphasic release profile owing to the swelling of the hydrophilic polymer coating and diffusion process from the lipid core as revealed by the Korsmeyers–Peppas kinetic modeling. Moreover, to elucidate the formation and incorporation of Rhodamine 123 into the NLC core, several molecular dynamics simulations were conducted. The temperature was shown to be an important condition to improve the formation of the nanoparticles. In addition, the liquid lipid incorporation to the formulation forms nanoparticles with imperfect centers, in contrast to nanoparticles without it. Moreover, Miglyol® 812 improves hydrophobic molecule solubility. These results suggest the potential of novel NLC as a drug delivery system for poorly water-soluble drugs.