Review Article

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Improved Delivery of Therapeutics via the Oral Route

Table 1

List of solid/liquid lipids, surfactants, and surface modifiers commonly used in the fabrication of NLCs.

Solid lipidsMelting point (°C)

Stearic acid67–69
Behenic acid80
Palmitic acid83
Lauric acid43
Carnauba wax78–88
Goat wax40–50
Beeswax62–64
Theobroma oil35–37
Tristearin/glyceryl tristearate70–74
Cetyl palmitate54
Glyceryl monostearate54–64
Imwitor 372P, 491, 900k, 92861–77, 34
Glyceryl palmitostearate50–60
Glyceryl behenate65–77
Trilaurin (Dynasan 112)43–46
Trimyristin (Dynasan 114)55–58
Tristearin (Dynasan 118)70–73
Tripalmitin (Dynasan 116)61–65
Tribehenate (Dynasan 122)81–85
Hydrogenated palm oil (Dynasan P60)58–62
Hydrogenated palm oil (Softisan 154)53–58
Softisan 100, 138, 142, 154, 378, 601, 645, 64933–58
Witepsol (E, W, S, H)31–44

Liquid lipidsViscosity (mPas at 20–30°C)

Miglyol (808, 810N, 812N, 818)23–33
Capric acid25–32
Caprylic acid26–32
Oleic acid40
Fatty acid esters6.57
Propylene glycol fatty acid esters6.98
Mineral oil95–100
Vitamin ENA
Olive oil85
Castor oil390
Palm oil130
Coconut oil85
Soybean oil55
Jojoba oil33.3
Mustard oil117
Garlic oil80
Clove oil9

Emulsifiers/coemulsifiersHLB value

Polysorbate 20, 8015–17
Solutol HS15
Poloxamer 18829
Poloxamine 90831
Cremophor El12–17
Sodium cholate18
Sodium dodecyl sulfate40
Polyvinyl alcohol18
Sodium oleate18
Soy lecithin4
Egg lecithin6.6
Lecithin3–5

Surface innovators
Wheat germ agglutinin
Hyaluronic acid
Mannose
β-d-galactosides
Ferritin
Transferrin
Biotin
L-arginine
Oligochitosan
Polyethylene glycol
Folic acid