Ultrasonication Versus High Pressure Homogenization in the Preparation of Ginkgolides A and B Long-circulating Solid Lipid Nanoparticles

OBJECTIVE:To study the preparative methods of the long-circulating solid lipid nanoparticles(LSLN)carrying ginkgolides A and B(GAB)and to study the physicochemical characteristics of the GAB-LSLN.METHODS:GAB-LSLN was prepared by ultrasonication or high pressure homogenization.Transmission electron microscopy was employed to study its shape.Particle size,zeta potential,and entrapment efficiency of GAB-LSLN were determined,and its stability after storage under room temperature for 4 weeks was determined as well.RESULTS:The GAB-LSLN prepared by ultrasonication was platelet-shaped and irregular,and that prepared by high pressure homogenization was spherical and regular in shape.The particle diameters of GAB-L SLN prepared by ultrasonication and high pressure homogenization were(219.6±14.3)nm and(173.9±10.4)nm respectively(P0.001);the Zeta potentials were(—21.12±1.03)mv and(—27.43±2.14)mv respectively(P0.001);the entrapment efficiencies were(85.05 ±0.67)% and(92.49 ±0.88)%(P0.001)respectively.GAB-LSLN prepared by high pressure homogenization showed no obvious increase in particle size after storage at room temperature for 4 weeks(P0.05).CONCLUSION:High pressure homogenization is superior to ultrasonication in that the prepared GAB-LSLN has small particle size,high stability and high entrapment efficiency.