REVOLUTIONIZING THERAPEUTIC DELIVERY: DIOSGENIN-LOADED SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES UNLEASH ADVANCED CARRIERS

Objective: The pharmaceutical industry has paid a lot of attention to solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) because they show promise as drug delivery vehicles. The purpose of this research was to create and characterize SLN loaded with Diosgenin. Methods: To create SLN, the natural bioactive component diosgenin was encapsulated in a solid lipid matrix of compritol ATO 888. A modified solvent emulsification-evaporation process was used to create the SLN. Using a Box-Behnken Design (BBD), we were able to identify the optimal values for the drug-to-solid lipid ratio, surfactant concentration, and ultrasonication period that constitute an effective formulation. Results: It was found that the improved formulation had particle sizes of 170.96 nm, polydispersity indices (PDI) of 0.231, and entrapment efficiencies of 64.549±0.553% %. The zeta potential value of -40.2 mV was indicative of a steady dispersion. The average particle size of the SLN was measured to be 103.1429 nm, and their spherical morphology was validated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. The optimized formulation did not undergo any chemical changes, as shown by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) testing. The in vitro drug release investigation showed that the SLN released Diosgenin continuously for 28 h. Conclusion: The optimized formulation of SLN, achieved through the BBD, offers a promising strategy to improve drug solubility while ensuring controlled drug release and long-term storage stability.