**3.3 Single-step preparation method**

The poor entrapment and easy leakage of the drug from the polymeric core of the LPHNPs prepared by the conventional two-step methods urged the development of some newer methods that overcome these shortcomings and enhance the therapeutic efficiency of the prepared formulation [14, 28]. The development of single-step method provides the way to control the particle size, PDI, uniformity of the structural components. It also overcomes the variability in different batches and other properties of the LPHNPs in term of their physicochemical properties and stability. The method involves the single preparatory step that considers the mixing of two different phases containing the lipid and polymer in each of the given phase. The mixing process followed by the self-assembling of the structural components that either make the matrix or core shell morphology [29].

Various techniques in the single-step preparation method might include the single or double emulsification method, sonication technique, nanoprecipitation, solvent evaporation method and solvent diffusion method.
