Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether-mediated nanostructured lipid carriers enhance trans-ferulic acid delivery by Caco-2 cells superior to solid lipid nanoparticles

This work aimed to compare the performance of -ferulic acid-encapsulated nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for transport by Caco-2 cells. The NLC particles (diameter: 102.6 nm) composed of Compritol 888 ATO, ethyl oleate, Cremophor EL, and Transcutol P were larger than the SLNs (diameter: 86.0 nm) formed without liquid lipid (ethyl oleate), and the former had a higher encapsulation efficiency for -ferulic acid ( < 0.05). cultured Caco-2 cell transport was used to simulate intestinal absorption, and the cellular uptake of NLCs was higher than that of SLNs ( < 0.05). Compared to SLNs, NLCs greatly enhanced -ferulic acid permeation through the Millicell membrane ( < 0.05). This work confirms that NLCs have better properties than SLNs in terms of increasing drug transport by Caco-2 cells. This helps to comprehend the approach by which NLC-mediated oral bioavailability of -ferulic acid is better than that mediated by SLNs, as shown in our previous report.