Application of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles to Improve the Efficiency of Anticancer Drugs

Abstract

Drug delivery systems have opened new avenues to improve the therapeutic effects of already-efficient molecules. Particularly, Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) have emerged as promising nanocarriers in cancer therapy. SLNs offer remarkable advantages such as low toxicity, high bioavailability of drugs, versatility of incorporation of hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, and feasibility of large-scale production. Their molecular structure is crucial to obtain high quality SLN preparations and it is determined by the relationship between the composition and preparation method. Additionally, SLNs allow overcoming several physiological barriers that hinder drug delivery to tumors and are also able to escape multidrug resistance mechanisms, characteristic of cancer cells. Focusing on cell delivery, SLNs can improve drug delivery to target cells by different mechanisms, such as passive mechanisms that take advantage of the tumor microenvironment, active mechanisms by surface modification of SLNs, and codelivery mechanisms. SLNs can incorporate many different drugs and have proven to be effective in different types of tumors (i.e., breast, lung, colon, liver, and brain), corroborating their potential. Finally, it has to be taken into account that there are still some challenges to face in the application of SLNs in anticancer treatments but their possibilities seem to be high.

Recent Advances in the Structural Design of Photosensitive Agent Formulations Using “Soft” Colloidal Nanocarriers

“…The second group, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), are characterized by core which, despite of the solid lipid phase also contains the addition of liquid lipid (oil). As a result, the formation of an amorphous structure (an imperfect crystal) is obtained [26,77]. Nevertheless, both types of the non-vesicular lipid nanocarriers ( Figure 1) have numerous advantages.…”

“…Selective delivery of medicines to their places of action allows improving their effectiveness and reducing the side effects. It is also worth mentioning that lipid-based nanostructures can transfer drugs by two different mechanisms: passive delivery (using the EPR effect) or active delivery mechanisms (applying surface functionalization through ligands and receptors) [26,79].…”

“…Intravenous administration of drugs is the most common and the most effective delivery route of photosensitizers and chemotherapeutics that offers high drug availability with an insignificant delay and controlled delivery rate. Furthermore, the desired concentration of therapeutic drug can be achieved in the target tissues or cells [18,26]. The administration of compounds that are poorly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and drugs that cause severe pain after intramuscular or subcutaneous action can be delivered by intravenous route.…”

“…Thanks to their unique double compartment structure, hybrid agents variable in their hydrophobicity may be effectively loaded into W/O/W or O/W/O phases, similarly to lipid vesicles such as liposomes, ethosomes, niosomes or transferosomes [22][23][24]. Non-vesicular lipid nanostructures, including solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), successfully tackle poor colloidal stability of nanocarriers and low solubility of the active cargo what is the main goal of all pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations [25][26][27].…”

Chitosan-Based Non-viral Gene and Drug Delivery Systems for Brain Cancer

“…Conversely, matricial structures are referred to as "nanospheres" and denote particulate systems where the active molecule is incorporated into the polymer network (48). Moreover, "solid-lipid" NPs refer to systems that utilize lipids in the solid phase and subsequent emulsification with a surfactant for structure stability (49). This structure is advantageous when delivering cargo that is poorly water soluble.…”