Physicochemical Improvement of Carvacrol Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (NLC)

Carvacrol (CAR) is a compound widely used in pharmaceuticals. However, CAR exhibits low solubility in water. Nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) can improve the physicochemical properties of CAR. This research aims to optimize and characterize the CAR-loaded NLC. The CAR-NLC formulation was optimized using the Box-Behnken design. The CAR concentration, surfactant concentration, and homogenization time are the independent variables. Particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and drug loading are the dependent variables. The Box-Behnken design optimized the CAR-NLC by demonstrating particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and drug loading of 174.5 nm, 98.46 %, and 42.20 %, respectively. The optimum CAR-NLC characterization showed a zeta potential of -24.83 mV, a round or oval particle shape, and exhibited an endothermic event at the range of 48.62 to 53.16°C. The CAR-NLC formulations are expected to be an alternative in improving the physicochemical properties of CAR for future applications.