Solidified reverse micellar solution-based chitosan-coated solid lipid nanoparticles as a new approach to enhance oral delivery of artemether in malaria treatment.

Solidified reverse micellar technology and surface-modification are promising techniques for improving the biopharmaceutical properties of poorly water-soluble drugs such as artemether, a first-line antimalarial drug. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop and evaluate artemether-loaded chitosan-coated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) based on solidified reverse micellar solution (SRMS) for improved oral malaria therapy. Artemether-loaded and unloaded SLNs were prepared from optimized SRMS (consisting of Phospholipon 90G and Compritol ATO 888 at 3:7 ratio) with or without chitosan by high-shear melt-homogenization, and thereafter characterized for physicochemical performance, stability, safety and antimalarial activity using Plasmodium berghei-infected mice.