BOC Sciences offers a comprehensive range of solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) products and customizable solutions to meet diverse research and application requirements. If you require custom synthesis of solid lipid nanoparticles with specific compositions, sizes, surface modifications, or encapsulation properties, please feel free to contact us. We provide professional synthesis support and tailored solutions. Below is a list of our available products. For any further needs, please get in touch.
| Category Type | Product Category | Price |
| By Route of Delivery | Injectable SLNs | Inquiry |
| Oral SLNs | Inquiry | |
| Transdermal SLNs | Inquiry | |
| Ophthalmic SLNs | Inquiry | |
| By Function | Targeted SLNs | Inquiry |
| Stimuli-Responsive SLNs | Inquiry | |
| PEGylated SLNs | Inquiry | |
| By Application | Drug-Delivery SLNs | Inquiry |
| Vaccine Adjuvant SLNs | Inquiry | |
| Cosmetic-Grade SLNs | Inquiry | |
| Food/Nutraceutical SLNs | Inquiry | |
| Gene/Nucleic Acid Delivery SLNs | Inquiry |
Product Specifications
Storage and Handling
Solid lipid nanoparticles are colloidal carriers with particle sizes ranging from 10 to 1000 nm. They are composed of lipids that remain solid at both room and body temperature and are stabilized in an aqueous phase by surfactants. The lipid core can solubilize or encapsulate active molecules, forming a stable solid matrix. SLNs combine the advantages of liposomes, emulsions, and polymeric nanoparticles while avoiding issues such as polymer-associated toxicity, residual organic solvents, and phospholipid degradation in liposomes. By utilizing physiologically acceptable solid lipids, such as triglycerides, fatty acids, waxes, and sterols, along with food-grade emulsifiers, SLNs exhibit excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. They are suitable for multiple administration routes, including oral, transdermal, and intravenous delivery, and can carry both hydrophilic and lipophilic actives.
The typical architecture of SLNs consists of a "solid lipid core–surfactant shell" design. The core is formed from a single high-melting-point lipid, where the active ingredient can be incorporated either as a molecular solution, an amorphous dispersion, or in a concentrated crystalline state. The shell is usually composed of amphiphilic molecules such as phospholipids, polysorbates, or poloxamers, providing both electrostatic and steric stabilization. SLNs are generally spherical or near-spherical, with surface charge adjustable via surfactant selection; storage stability is optimal when the zeta potential absolute value is ≥30 mV.
The solid matrix forms a dense crystalline lattice that reduces drug migration and leakage. Additionally, the lipid's melting point, polymorphism, and crystalline defects directly influence drug loading and release kinetics. For instance, high-melting triglycerides can prolong release, whereas introducing monoacylglycerides may create lattice imperfections, increasing loading capacity.
Fig.1 Solid lipid nanoparticles structure overview 1,2.
SLNs have been extensively investigated as delivery platforms across multiple fields, including dermatology, ophthalmology, oral, and transdermal applications. Their solid lipid matrix provides controlled release and enhanced stability for incorporated molecules. In topical formulations, SLNs improve skin penetration and retention of active compounds such as vitamins and antifungal agents. In ophthalmic delivery, they prolong the residence time of poorly soluble drugs on the corneal surface, enhancing bioavailability. Oral SLNs enhance the absorption of hydrophobic drugs and proteins, potentially increasing systemic exposure while maintaining safety.
In addition, SLNs are utilized in the cosmetics field as carriers for vitamins, antioxidants, and other bioactive ingredients, enhancing their stability and skin penetration. For example, SLN-based creams containing coenzyme Q10 have been adopted by multiple brands for anti-aging and skin-repair applications.
High-pressure homogenization is our core technology for achieving high-quality, scalable production of SLNs. We disperse the molten lipid and active component uniformly into a hot aqueous phase, then force the mixture through a precise homogenization gap under extremely high pressure. This process generates intense shear forces and cavitation effects, efficiently breaking down the molten lipid into nanoscale droplets. Subsequent rapid cooling promotes the crystallization and solidification of the lipid core, forming structurally dense solid nanoparticles. This method features mature technology and excellent batch-to-batch consistency, particularly suitable for producing nanoparticle formulations with high drug loading and a narrow size distribution.
For thermosensitive active substances, we recommend the solvent evaporation method, a gentler preparation strategy. We first co-dissolve the lipid material and target molecules in a suitable low-boiling-point organic solvent. This organic phase is then injected into an aqueous phase containing stabilizers, forming a fine emulsion via high-speed homogenization. Under subsequent gentle agitation and reduced pressure, the organic solvent is completely removed, causing the dissolved lipid to precipitate and solidify in situ in the water, ultimately forming a colloidal dispersion of solid lipid nanoparticles. This entire process avoids high temperatures, maximizing the protection of the active ingredient's chemical stability.
Ultrasonic emulsification provides an efficient tool for rapid exploration at the laboratory scale and flexible small-batch preparation. After mixing the molten lipid phase with the aqueous phase, we process the system directly using a high-energy ultrasonic probe. The intense cavitation and microjets generated by the ultrasound powerfully disperse the lipid phase into nanoscale droplets, which are then solidified upon cooling to yield SLNs. This method features simple equipment and flexible parameter adjustment, making it highly suitable for preliminary formulation screening and initial optimization studies of process parameters.
The selection and ratio of lipids are the primary factors determining the physical stability, drug loading behavior, and release kinetics of SLNs. Our compound library includes a wide variety of lipid materials, such as monoacylglycerols, triacylglycerols, fatty acids, and wax esters. The melting point, crystallinity, and molecular structure of different lipids directly influence the integrity of the nanoparticle crystalline lattice, thereby determining its drug encapsulation efficiency and long-term stability during storage. Through systematic screening of single or composite lipid matrices and optimization of their ratios, we tailor-make different drug release profiles for you, ranging from immediate release to sustained release.
Surfactants and stabilizers are key functional excipients in SLN systems. They reduce the oil-water interfacial tension during preparation, facilitating the formation of nano-emulsion droplets. In the final product, they adsorb onto the nanoparticle surface, preventing particle aggregation or crystal growth during storage by providing powerful steric hindrance or electrostatic repulsion. Our formulation scientists will accurately screen and optimize the combinations and concentrations of various surfactants, such as non-ionic and ionic types, based on lipid properties and system environment, ensuring you obtain a nano-dispersion with exceptional colloidal stability.
The precise control of each process parameter is key to achieving the desired product characteristics. We systematically optimize critical variables such as homogenization pressure and cycle count, ultrasonic energy and duration, emulsification temperature and rate, solvent removal speed, and cooling protocols. Employing scientific design of experiments methodologies, we thoroughly analyze the impact of various process parameters and their interactions on the critical quality attributes of the final nanoparticles, including size, size distribution, Zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency. This allows us to establish a robust and reliable process operating window, ensuring a smooth transition and consistent results from small-scale development to scaled-up production.
To ensure the SLNs you receive meet design specifications, BOC Sciences provides comprehensive characterization services. Multidimensional testing data support formulation optimization and quality control.
We employ multiple key techniques for precise analysis:
Particle Size and Dispersity Analysis: Dynamic light scattering determines average particle size and polydispersity index.
Surface Charge Measurement: Electrophoretic light scattering analyzes Zeta potential to evaluate colloidal stability.
Morphology and Structure Observation: Transmission or scanning electron microscopy visualizes nanoparticle morphology and structural details.
Crystallinity and Thermal Behavior Study: Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analyze lipid crystalline state and phase transitions.
Long-term Stability Monitoring: Accelerated and real-time stability studies track changes in key parameters like size and charge.
Drug loading and release are core functional metrics for SLNs, and we provide precise quantitative analysis:
Drug Loading Efficiency Analysis: Ultracentrifugation combined with HPLC precisely determines encapsulation efficiency and drug loading capacity.
Release Kinetics Study: Dialysis bag or Franz diffusion cell methods simulate physiological environments to systematically investigate drug release profiles.
In drug delivery, SLNs significantly enhance the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, enabling controlled and targeted delivery. Their solid lipid core protects drug activity and is suitable for various administration routes like oral, transdermal, and injectable, offering innovative solutions for new dosage form development.
In cosmetics, SLNs act as efficient carriers for active ingredients, promoting the transdermal absorption and providing sustained release of vitamins and antioxidants. They also enhance ingredient stability and improve product sensory feel, supporting advanced skincare formulations.
In functional foods, SLNs effectively encapsulate nutrients, protecting sensitive components like probiotics and polyphenols from degradation during processing and storage. Their nanoscale size improves ingredient dispersibility in aqueous systems, enhancing product stability and bioavailability.
As vaccine adjuvants and delivery carriers, SLNs protect antigens from degradation and promote uptake by immune cells like dendritic cells. Their nanoparticulate nature can enhance immune responses, providing an ideal platform for developing novel vaccines such as subunit and mRNA vaccines.
The solid lipid core provides robust protection against light, oxidation, hydrolysis, and other destabilizing factors, significantly improving formulation stability and reducing degradation of active components during storage and use.
Their nanoscale size and lipid-based structure enhance skin permeation and promote better retention of actives at the target site. SLNs can effectively load both hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules, improving delivery efficiency and overall product performance.
SLNs are typically composed of physiologically acceptable or food-grade lipids and surfactants, offering high biocompatibility and biodegradability. This reduces irritation potential and enables broad applicability across oral, transdermal, and topical use scenarios.
The crystalline structure, polymorphism, and lipid composition of SLNs can be precisely adjusted to achieve various release patterns, such as rapid release, sustained release, or controlled release, supporting diverse functional delivery needs.
Possess mature and scalable production techniques, such as high-pressure homogenization, solvent evaporation, or ultrasonic emulsification, ensuring uniform particle size, high drug-loading capacity, and strong stability to meet diverse research and industrial applications.
Implement a comprehensive quality management framework, including raw material selection, process monitoring, and final product characterization (particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, etc.), ensuring high reproducibility and reliability of each batch.
Provide tailored solutions based on client requirements, including different drug types, surface modifications, or functionalized SLNs, supporting applications in drug delivery, cosmetics, or nutraceuticals, and enhancing clients' R&D efficiency and market competitiveness.
Maintain stable raw material sourcing and efficient production and logistics systems, ensuring timely delivery to support large-scale research or product development, and minimizing risks of supply interruptions.
Liposomes are composed of amphiphilic phospholipid bilayers with an aqueous core, mainly suitable for hydrophilic molecules. SLNs utilize a solid lipid matrix at room temperature with a solid core, optimized for lipophilic actives and offering higher physical stability and controllable sustained-release potential.
SLNs disperse the drug in molecular or nanocrystalline form within the lipid matrix, improving dissolution and surface area. Their nano-scale and lipid properties can support enhanced absorption pathways and permeability, elevating overall bioavailability.
Gentle preparation methods such as solvent evaporation or cold microemulsion are prioritized for sensitive biomolecules. Lipid–stabilizer systems are engineered to provide a protective microenvironment, complemented by lyoprotectant strategies in the final dosage form.
A controlled design space and critical parameter management ensure manufacturing robustness. Each batch undergoes standardized analytical evaluation, including DLS for particle size, HPLC for drug loading, and ELS for Zeta potential, with full data supported in the Certificate of Analysis.
SLNs are fully adaptable. Lipid composition can be tuned for transdermal affinity, and surface engineering—such as PEGylation or ligand conjugation—supports targeted delivery. Formulation and process design are tailored to application objectives.
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