Tucuma (Astrocaryum vulgare Mart.) oil-composed nanostructured lipid carriers for topical administration: Optimization by 22 experimental factorial design and stability assessment

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2025

Authors

Rocha, MEB (Author) Other; da Ana, R (Author) Other; Fathi, F (Author) Other; Beatriz B P P Oliveira (Author) FFUP; Kakuda, L (Author) Other; Oliveira, WP (Author) Other; Souto, EB (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Chemistry and Physics of Lipids

Vol. 273

ISSN: 0009-3084

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

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Other information

Authenticus ID: P-01A-8ZK

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2025.105548

Abstract (EN): The selection of lipids and their ratios play a critical role in determining drug loading capacity and the structural properties of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), directly impacting their stability. Among liquid lipids, vegetable oils have been explored both as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and as excipients in NLCs intended for topical use. The pulp oil of Tucuma, derived from Brazilian biodiversity, is known for its antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties, attributed to its high content of carotenoids. This study focused on evaluating the compatibility of Tucuma oil with various solid lipids (SLs) commonly used in NLC production, developing an optimized NLC formulation containing this oil, and monitoring its stability over a 28-days' period. Lipid screening was performed to assess the compatibility of Tucuma oil with a series of SLs, followed by preliminary formulations to determine the type of SL and surfactant for the experimental design. A 22 experimental factorial design was used to understand and identify the significant effects and interactions of lipid phase and surfactant concentrations on Tucuma oil-loaded NLCs, and the stability of the optimized formulation was monitored by determining the mean particle size (z-Ave), polydispersity index (PI), zeta potential (ZP), and recrystallization index (RI%) over 28 days. Compritol (R) was identified as the most suitable SL, resulting in round shaped NLCs with z-Ave of 309 nm, PI of 0.23 and high ZP (-25.5 mV). The RI% was shown to be influenced by the storage time and temperature. The optimal formulation contained 8 % of lipid phase (at a 20:80 ratio of oil to SL) and 3 % of Tween (R) 80 as surfactant, showing stability at 5 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C. The experimental factorial design revealed a positive effect of surfactant concentration on z-Ave and PI, with no significant impact on ZP. Over time, NLCs exhibited a gradual color loss (becoming whiter), with no other signs of instability. These findings support the potential use of Tucuma oil for producing stable NLCs suitable for topical delivery.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11