Potential technique for tiny crystalline detection in lycopene-loaded SLN and NLC development.
BACKGROUND
The advantage of solid nanocarriers like solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) or nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) is related to some degree of crystalline characteristics of the lipid. However, the detection of tiny content of crystalline structure in such nanoparticles is difficult.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore a potential method for detection of low degree of crystalline characteristics of lycopene-loaded SLN and NLC.


METHODS
Crystalline characteristics investigation was done by polarized light microscope (PLM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM).


CONCLUSIONS
It was found that high crystalline characteristics as anisotropic molecular organization crystal of pure orange wax and lycopene could be investigated by PLM, DSC and WAXS. Low crystallinity of lycopene-loaded SLN and NLC could not be detected by those techniques. Electron diffraction mode of TEM showed potential detection of tiny crystalline characteristics of such systems. The diffraction pattern of lycopene-loaded SLN and NLC exhibited obvious zero order laue zone indicating an isotropic fine grained polycrystalline of the nanoparticles.


CONCLUSIONS
It could be concluded that TEM is a promising method for detection of low-level crystallinity of solid nanocarriers.
Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University , Chiang Mai , Thailand.
Siriporn
S
Okonogi
Pornthida
P
Riangjanapatee
D016880:Anisotropy; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003460:Crystallization; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077276:Lycopene; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles; D049329:Nanostructures; D010316:Particle Size; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D008055:Lipids; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene
Crystallinity; TEM; electron diffraction pattern; lipid nanoparticles; nanocarriers