title: Formulation, characterization and pharmacokinetics of praziquantel-loaded hydrogenated castor oil solid lipid nanoparticles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to formulate praziquantel (PZQ)-loaded hydrogenated castor oil (HCO) solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) to enhance the bioavailability and prolong the systemic circulation of the drug.
  
  
  METHODS
  PZQ was encapsulated into HCO nanoparticles by a hot homogenization and ultrasonication method. The physicochemical characteristics of SLN were investigated by optical microscope, scanning electron microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy. Pharmacokinetics were studied after oral, subcutaneous and intramuscular administration in mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diameter, polydispersivity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of the nanoparticles were 344.0 +/- 15.1 nm, 0.31 +/- 0.08, -16.7 +/- 0.5 mV, 62.17 +/- 6.53% and 12.43 +/- 1.31%, respectively. In vitro release of PZQ-loaded HCO-SLN exhibited an initial burst release followed by a sustained release. SLN increased the bioavailability of PZQ by 14.9-, 16.1- and 2.6-fold, and extended the mean residence time of the drug from 7.6, 6.6 and 8.2 to 95.9, 151.6 and 48.2 h after oral, subcutaneous and intramuscular administration, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PZQ-loaded HCO-SLN could be a promising formulation to enhance the pharmacological activity of PZQ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, 2 Yuanmingyuan Road West, Beijing 100193, PR China.
authors.forename: Shuyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Baoliang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Luyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Fenghua
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Xiaofang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: WenZhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D001682:Biological Availability; D002368:Castor Oil / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D011223:Praziquantel; D002368:Castor Oil