Patrícia Severino, Marcelo Szymanski, Marianna Favaro, Adriano R. Azzoni, Marco V. Chaud, Maria Helena A. Santana, Amélia M. Silva, f, Eliana B. Souto

Department of Biotechnological Processes, School of Engineering Chemical, University of Campinas-Unicamp, Campinas 13083-970, SP, Brazil.

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to produce a cationic solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) as non-viral vector for protein delivery. Cationic SLN were produced by double emulsion method, composed of softisan® 100, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), Tween® 80, Span® 80, glycerol and lipoid® S75 loading insulin as model protein. The formulation was characterized in terms of mean hydrodynamic diameter (z-ave), polydispersity index (PI), zeta potential (ZP), stability during storage time, stability after lyophilization, effect of toxicity and transfection ability in HeLa cells, in vitro release profile and morphology. SLN were stable for 30 days and showed minimal changes in their physicochemical properties after lyophilization. The particles exhibited a relatively slow release, spherical morphology and were able to transfect HeLa cells, but toxicity remained an obstacle. Results suggest that SLN are nevertheless promising for delivery of proteins or nucleic acids for gene therapy.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:Solid lipid nanoparticles; Proteins; Non-viral vectors; Gene delivery; Nanotechnology.