Paclitaxel-loaded lipid nanoparticles prepared by solvent injection or ultrasound emulsification

Lipid nanoparticles were fabricated as an injectable carrier system for paclitaxel. The components for the lipid matrix were based on phospholipids, and sucrose fatty acid ester was used as an emulsifier. Formulation prepared with solvent injection has a slightly larger particle size (187.6 nm) than the formulation (147.7 nm) prepared with ultrasound emulsification. Differential scanning calorimetry results indicated that paclitaxel entrapped in the lipid nanoparticles existed in an amorphous state in the lipid matrix. In vitro drug release was rather slow; only 12.5-16.5% of the drug released from the formulations within 14 days. Lipid nanoparticles demonstrated their potential as a promising pharmaceutical formulation of paclitaxel.