Beclomethasone-Loaded Lipidic Nanocarriers for Pulmonary Drug Delivery: Preparation, Characterization and In Vitro Drug Release

The purpose of this research paper was the development of lipid nanoparticles (LN) formulation suitable for beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) administration via the pulmonary route. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) were prepared by high-shear homogenization method; the effects of process and formulation parameters on nanoparticles characteristics were investigated. LN were characterized in terms of morphology, size, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro drug release and aerosol aerodynamic properties. Nano-sized BDP-loaded LN with high entrapment efficiency values reaching 99% were successfully obtained. Application of in vitro drug release data to the Higuchi kinetic equation indicated a diffusion-controlled release from the lipidic matrix. Aerosolisation and subsequent cascade impaction measurements proved that SLN and NLC were efficiently nebulized yielding aerosols of a suitable particle size for BDP deep lung delivery. Results demonstrate that LN are promising nebulized carriers for BDP opening the way for lipophilic drug-targeting strategies by nebulization.