8. Solid lipid nanoparticles for passive colon targeting

Combination of nanocarriers and electroporation techniques is named as electropermeabilization which is commonly used for enhancing drug transport. The Cyanine–type IR 780 and Baicalein (BAI) co-encapsulated SLNs were developed for both imaging and therapy of colorectal carcinoma where cyanine–type IR 780 and baicalein (flavonoid derivative) were acting as a diagnostic agent (photosensitizer) and therapeutic cargo respectively. For preparation of SLNs the organic phase was prepared by dissolving IR-780, BAI, and melted lipid in dichloromethane. The organic phase was then added dropwise to hot aqueous phase containing surfactant under vigorous stirring. Supplementary material (flavonoids) facilitated in the reduction of dose and reduction in normal cell toxicity in cancer chemotherapy. The external electric field pulses applied in electroporation helped in increased of cell membrane permeability, either by generating transient pores or membrane electropermeabilization [74]. Electropermeabilization mediated administration of the developed SLNs showed cytoskeletal abnormalities more significantly then without electropermeabilization. The prepared SLNs particles were with good physical stability. With electroporation support, the developed SLNs showed increased p53 and manganese superoxide dismutase expression with significant higher cytotoxicity, thus validating their suitability for combined therapy and molecular imaging simultaneously [75].

List of SLNs and their different ligand conjugated form for colon targeting have been summarized in Table 5.
