Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs): A comprehensive review of drug delivery advancements

Background: Nano-structured lipid carriers (NLCs) have emerged as a significant advancement in lipid-based drug delivery systems. Compared to Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs), NLCs offer improved drug loading capacity, stability, and controlled release profiles. Objective: This review article explor...

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Main Authors: Pramesh Panwar, Saurabh Kumar, Pallavi Chand, Ashish Singh Chauhan, Vikash Jakhmola
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Creative Pharma Assent 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://japtronline.com/index.php/joapr/article/view/676
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author Pramesh Panwar
Saurabh Kumar
Pallavi Chand
Ashish Singh Chauhan
Vikash Jakhmola
author_facet Pramesh Panwar
Saurabh Kumar
Pallavi Chand
Ashish Singh Chauhan
Vikash Jakhmola
author_sort Pramesh Panwar
collection DOAJ
description Background: Nano-structured lipid carriers (NLCs) have emerged as a significant advancement in lipid-based drug delivery systems. Compared to Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs), NLCs offer improved drug loading capacity, stability, and controlled release profiles. Objective: This review article explores the structural and functional benefits of NLCs, their enhanced bioavailability, and their potential in targeted therapeutic agent delivery. Methodology: We investigated the unique combination of solid and liquid lipids in NLCs, which creates an internal structure for improved drug encapsulation and sustained release. Various methods were analyzed for their contribution to NLC efficacy, including high-pressure homogenization and solvent emulsification. Results and Discussion: NLCs demonstrated encapsulation efficiency ranging from 85–95%, with particle sizes between 100–300 nm. Drug release was sustained over 24 hours, affirming their effectiveness in controlled drug delivery. Applications of NLCs were highlighted across diverse delivery modes, including topical, pulmonary, oral, parenteral, and ocular. Challenges such as scaling production, overcoming biological barriers, and ensuring regulatory compliance were also addressed. Conclusion: NLCs present a promising future in pharmaceutical sciences, with the potential to improve therapeutic outcomes in complex diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Continued research into NLC formulations is critical for advancing patient outcomes and addressing global health challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-b4f3941454804c9198eeb533dfe5bf392025-08-20T03:10:10ZengCreative Pharma AssentJournal of Applied Pharmaceutical Research2348-03352025-04-01132203810.69857/joapr.v13i2.676677Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs): A comprehensive review of drug delivery advancementsPramesh Panwar0Saurabh Kumar1Pallavi Chand2Ashish Singh Chauhan3Vikash Jakhmola4epartment of Pharmaceutics, Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun-248007, Uttarakhand, Indiaepartment of Pharmaceutics, Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun-248007, Uttarakhand, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun-248007, Uttarakhand, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun-248007, Uttarakhand, IndiaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun-248007, Uttarakhand, IndiaBackground: Nano-structured lipid carriers (NLCs) have emerged as a significant advancement in lipid-based drug delivery systems. Compared to Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs), NLCs offer improved drug loading capacity, stability, and controlled release profiles. Objective: This review article explores the structural and functional benefits of NLCs, their enhanced bioavailability, and their potential in targeted therapeutic agent delivery. Methodology: We investigated the unique combination of solid and liquid lipids in NLCs, which creates an internal structure for improved drug encapsulation and sustained release. Various methods were analyzed for their contribution to NLC efficacy, including high-pressure homogenization and solvent emulsification. Results and Discussion: NLCs demonstrated encapsulation efficiency ranging from 85–95%, with particle sizes between 100–300 nm. Drug release was sustained over 24 hours, affirming their effectiveness in controlled drug delivery. Applications of NLCs were highlighted across diverse delivery modes, including topical, pulmonary, oral, parenteral, and ocular. Challenges such as scaling production, overcoming biological barriers, and ensuring regulatory compliance were also addressed. Conclusion: NLCs present a promising future in pharmaceutical sciences, with the potential to improve therapeutic outcomes in complex diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Continued research into NLC formulations is critical for advancing patient outcomes and addressing global health challenges.https://japtronline.com/index.php/joapr/article/view/676nano-structured lipid carrierstargeted drug deliverycontrolled releasebioavailability
spellingShingle Pramesh Panwar
Saurabh Kumar
Pallavi Chand
Ashish Singh Chauhan
Vikash Jakhmola
Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs): A comprehensive review of drug delivery advancements
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Research
nano-structured lipid carriers
targeted drug delivery
controlled release
bioavailability
title Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs): A comprehensive review of drug delivery advancements
title_full Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs): A comprehensive review of drug delivery advancements
title_fullStr Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs): A comprehensive review of drug delivery advancements
title_full_unstemmed Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs): A comprehensive review of drug delivery advancements
title_short Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs): A comprehensive review of drug delivery advancements
title_sort nanostructured lipid carriers nlcs a comprehensive review of drug delivery advancements
topic nano-structured lipid carriers
targeted drug delivery
controlled release
bioavailability
url https://japtronline.com/index.php/joapr/article/view/676
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AT pallavichand nanostructuredlipidcarriersnlcsacomprehensivereviewofdrugdeliveryadvancements
AT ashishsinghchauhan nanostructuredlipidcarriersnlcsacomprehensivereviewofdrugdeliveryadvancements
AT vikashjakhmola nanostructuredlipidcarriersnlcsacomprehensivereviewofdrugdeliveryadvancements