Ayat Faraj Noor , Ahmed AA Alsaad

Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Basra, Basra, Iraq;

For correspondence:-  Ayat Noor   Email: Ayatph93.ay@gmail.com

Received: 24 March 2026        Accepted: 17 May 2026        Published: 29 June 2026

Citation: Noor AF, Alsaad AA. Preparation and in vitro - ex vivo evaluation of ticagrelor solid lipid nanoparticles. Trop J Pharm Res 2026; 25(6):773-786 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v25i6.3

© 2026 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the physicochemical properties of Ticagrelor solid lipid nanoparticles (TCG-SLN). Methods: Formulations were developed based on a 3-level factorial design and subsequently produced using the microemulsion technique. Quality-by-design technique was used to establish correlations between formulation parameters (surfactant ratio, surfactant type, and sonication time) and key quality attributes such as particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), and entrapment efficiency (EE %). Results: Optimized TCG-SLN showed PS of 67 nm, PDI of 0.165, and EE of 87.5 % with 88 % drug release achieved in 24 h in a controlled manner. Ex vivo permeability showed a 3.3-fold increase in TCG-SLNs permeation compared to Ticagrelor suspension. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) showed that Ticagrelor was effectively encapsulated in the nanoparticulate system, having a non-aggregated, spherical surface with no distinct change in functional groups. Conclusion: This study shows that TCG-SLN appears as non-aggregated, spherical SLNs with various sizes, exhibits a biphasic release profile, exhibits high intestinal permeability, restores histological structure resembling normal morphology, with short-term stability

Keywords: Entrapment efficiency, In vitro, Nanoparticles, Ticagrelor, Solid lipid nanoparticles

Impact Factor
Thompson Reuters (ISI): 0.6 (2023)
H-5 index (Google Scholar): 49 (2023)