Lipid-core nanocapsules (LNCs) are core-shell structures, in which the core is an organogel formed by a solid lipid dispersed in a triglyceride, and the shell is a polymer. Those nanocapsules encapsulate poorly-water soluble drugs by dispersion in the core and/or interaction with the polymer. The core and the shell act as diffusional barriers differenting the LNC from previously developed polymeric nanocapsules containing an oily core and a polymer shell, which unique diffusional barrier is the shell. In this review, we discuss the supramolecular structure, the physico-chemical characterization, including sizing, surface potential, fluorescent labeling strategies, as well as the interfacial reactions in water to coat and functionalise the LNC surface. Different organometallic complexes have been synthesized to decorate the nanocapsules envisaging the treatment of atherosclerosis, cancer, mucopolysaccharidosis I, and hypertension. We also describe the main applications of the nanoformulations in the pharmaceutical, medical, and veterinary fields, including in vitro and in vivo evaluations of toxicity and efficacy. Lipidcore Lipid LNCs (LNCs coreshell structures triglyceride poorlywater poorly andor or review structure physicochemical physico chemical characterization sizing potential strategies atherosclerosis cancer I hypertension pharmaceutical medical fields efficacy

Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia. However, despite great interest for its chronic therapeutic use, quetiapine has some important side effects such as weight gain induction. The development of a quetiapine nanocarrier can potentially target the drug into central nervous system, resulting in a reduction of systemic side effects and improved patient treatment. In the present work, a simple liquid chromatography/ultraviolet detection (LC/UV) analytical method was developed and validated for quantification of total quetiapine content in lipid core nanocapsules as well as for determination of incorporation efficiency. An algorithm proposed by Oliveira et al. (2012) was applied to characterize the distribution of quetiapine in the pseudo-phases of the nanocarrier, leading to a better understanding of the quetiapine nanoparticles produced. The analytical methodology developed was specific, linear in the range of 0.5 to 100 µg mL−1 (r2 > 0,99), and accurate and precise (R.S.D < ±5%). The absolute recovery of quetiapine from the nanoparticles was approximately 98% with an incorporation efficiency of approximately 96%. The results indicated that quetiapine was present in a type III distribution according to the algorithm, and was mainly located in the core of the nanoparticle because of its logD in the formulation pH (6.86 ± 0.4).

This work reports the development of polymeric nanocapsules containing lipoic acid prepared by interfacial deposition of poli(ε-caprolactona). The suspensions showed acid pH and encapsulation efficiencies from 77 to 90%. Zeta potential values were from -7.42 to -5.43 mV and particle sizes were lower than 340 nm with polidispersion lower than 0.3. The stability of nanocapsules within 28 days was evaluated in terms of pH, lipoic acid content, diameter, size distribution, zeta potential and measurements of relative light backscattering. The stability of formulations containing free lipoic acid was also evaluated. Nanoencapsulation drastically improved the physico-chemical stability of lipoic acid.