How coatings of silica nanoparticles improve the performance of lipid based encapsulation and delivery systems

Many commercial products (e.g., agrochemicals, paints, household products, foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics) contain active ingredients in lipid-based colloidal carriers. For example, emulsions, lipid nanoparticles, micelles, liquid crystals and liposomes are attractive as encapsulation and delivery systems for both oil- and water-soluble molecules. A challenge for the formulation scientist in optimizing such lipid-based carriers is to enhance their shelf lives and carrier performance without utilizing large quantities of surfactants that may have detrimental human toxicological and environmental concerns.