Digestibility of solid lipid nanoparticles of glyceryl dibehenate

Objective

To evaluate the digestibility of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN) of glyceryl dibehenate prepared either with surfactants by ultrasonication or without surfactant by spray-flash evaporation.

Methods

SLN of glyceryl dibehenate (Compritol® 888 ATO) were produced by two processes: (i) high-shear homogenization with a solution of water-soluble surfactants followed by ultrasonication (ii) and Spray-Flash Evaporation (SFE) of the pure lipid. The digestibility of these nanoparticles was then tested by in vitro lipolysis using a pH-stat apparatus and the assay of glycerides by gel phase chromatography.

Results

SLN of glyceryl dibehenate prepared by ultrasonication exhibited a mean particle size of 180 nm and showed a limited digestion of the lipid excipient. SLN comprising only glyceryl dibehenate produced by SFE have a mean particle size between 235 and 411 nm depending on process parameters. These nanoparticles were not digested by lipases. The presence of surfactant at the lipid/water interface of the SLN seems to be mandatory to allow the adsorption of the lipase and degradation of glyceryl behenate.

Conclusions

Glyceryl dibehenate as a solid particle – even as a SLN – is not digested by pancreatin during in vitro lipolysis test.

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Digestibility of solid lipid nanoparticles of glyceryl dibehenate