A Critical Review on Potential Advancements of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers in Drug Delivery

Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) are second generation solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) comprising of biocompatible solid-lipid and liquid-lipid along with an emulsifier. It exhibits superiority over conventional colloidal delivery systems in terms of enhanced drug loading, improved storage stability, increased biocompatibility and bioavailability, which allows researchers to explore their utility as delivery systems for proteins and small molecules. This review aims at discussing NLCs in-depth with regards to their application as drug delivery vehicles. A comprehensive discussion about the structural make-up, production techniques, and physico-chemical characterization have been elaborated along with an emphasis on various routes of administration for NLC delivery like ocular, pulmonary, oral, parenteral, and topical. This review also sheds light on the utility of NLCs in the field of cosmeceutical and herbal therapies. All summarized information in this extensive review exemplifies assurance for NLCs to be used as novel therapeutics for multiple disorders and highlights the versatility of the carrier system in pharmaceutical technology.