Lipid extract from Black Soldier Fly larvae: A high value excipient for solid lipid nanoparticles tailored to tackle atopic dermatitis

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Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a complex pathogenesis involving epidermal barrier dysfunction and aberrant lipid composition, particularly ceramides and fatty acids (FA). Conventional management options, such as topical glucocorticoids (GC), often lead to adverse effects upon prolonged usage, prompting the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. The lipid extract from Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSFL) biomass, holding a rich blend of FA, holds substantial potential as a novel ingredient to tackle skin barrier impairment. This study aimed to achieve proof-of-concept validation of innovative nanotechnology-based formulations tailored to enhance the topical management of AD. Specifically, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with BSFL lipid extract were developed to perform both as a carrier for dexamethasone (DEX), a representative GC, and as skin barrier repair adjuvants. Through systematic optimization using Box-Behnken Design, BSFL lipid extract-based SLNs demonstrated favorable physicochemical properties for topical application and satisfactory stability over 2 months. Notably, these SLNs exhibited favorable drug release kinetics, delivering the total DEX payload within a therapeutically relevant timeframe. Furthermore, these nanocarriers showed the ability to permeate human keratinocytes without pronounced toxicity, suggesting their potential utility in enhancing drug delivery and cellular uptake. Overall, these findings suggest that BSFL lipid extract is a promising natural and sustainable ingredient for the development of nanotechnology-driven approaches to AD management, offering a potential avenue for addressing the unmet needs in this challenging dermatologic condition.

Original languageEnglish
Article number124929
Pages (from-to)124929
JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics
Volume667
Issue numberPt B
Early online date9 Nov 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Funding

This research was funded by FCT Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P. [DOI https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/04567/2020, DOI https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/04567/2020, and DOI https:// doi.org/10.54499/EXPL/BTM-MAT/0112/2021], as well as for the research grants attributed to C.A. [UI/BD/151423/2021] and J.V.

Keywords

  • Black Soldier Fly
  • Box-Behnken design
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Lipid nanoparticles
  • Skin barrier
  • Topical delivery systems

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