Design and Development of Butyrosomes as Novel Carriers Using Lipid Isolated from Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam

Purpose

Lipids are widely used as nanocarriers for drug delivery, but selecting an appropriate lipid remains a major challenge. Natural lipids provide a safer, more sustainable alternative over synthetic lipids. Diploknema butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam a sub-Himalayan tree of India and Nepal yields Cheura lipid. This is the first study that investigates the use of Cheura lipid for the development of SLNs (butyrosomes) using sertaconazole nitrate (STZN) as model drug, along with a comprehensive technical characterization.

Methods

A QbD based Box–Behnken Design was employed to develop butyrosomes using Cheura lipid, for particle size and PDI. TEM was used to examine the morphology and distribution of the nanoparticles. The %EE, and in-vitro drug release profiles were evaluated to determine the STZN-butyrosomes release behaviour. Comprehensive physiochemical, spectroscopical, microscopical, diffractometry, rheological and thermogravimetric characterization was performed.

Results

The optimized STZN-butyrosomes showed a particle size (230 nm), PDI (< 0.5), a zeta potential (– 25.7 ± 0.6 mV), and a % EE (97.04%). TEM confirmed a spherical morphology with uniform distribution. The in-vitro drug releases reached 98.49% over 24 h. The raw lipid showed high saturation, an amorphous structure, characteristic functional groups, and uniform droplets (300–400 nm). Elemental analysis confirmed the absence of toxic heavy metals and the presence of essential trace elements. Thermal stability was maintained up to 300 ℃.

Conclusion

The study suggests that Cheura lipid is a natural, safe, with potential as a nanocarrier for delivery systems such as SLNs, NLCs, niosomes, phytosomes, and nanoemulsions, making it a promising material in nanotechnology.

Graphical Abstract