Design and Preparation of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles to Enhance Physicochemical Properties of Etoricoxib

Abstract

Objective: Etoricoxib is a selective COX-2 inhibitor with poor aqueous solubility, which may limit its dissolution behavior and physicochemical performance. This study aimed to design, prepare, and optimize etoricoxib-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) to enhance the physicochemical properties and in vitro release profile of the drug. Methods: Etoricoxib-loaded SLNs were prepared using a box–behnken design to evaluate the effects of lipid concentration, surfactant concentration, lipid type, and surfactant type on particle size, zeta potential, and loading capacity. The formulations were characterized for their physicochemical properties, and the optimized formulation was further assessed for in vitro drug release. Results: The developed SLNs formulations showed particle sizes ranging from 101 to 3250 nm, zeta potential values of approximately-30 to-35 mV, and loading capacity values ranging from 20% to 25%. The optimized formulation exhibited a particle size of approximately 530 nm, acceptable stability, satisfactory loading capacity, and enhanced in vitro release compared with pure etoricoxib, the physical mixture, and the marketed formulation. Conclusion: Optimization of etoricoxib-loaded SLNs successfully improved the physicochemical properties and release behavior of etoricoxib. These findings suggest that SLNs may represent a promising strategy for enhancing the performance of poorly soluble etoricoxib.