Emmanuel Chekwube Ossai¹ , Patience Chinenye Ugwuoke¹, Chukwuemeka Ome Agbom¹, Edith Ogochukwu Ossai², Momoh A Mumuni³, Christian Tobechukwu Ezike¹, Christian Chukwuemeka Mbah⁴

¹Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,; ²Department of Pediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu,; ³Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,; ⁴Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

For correspondence:-  Emmanuel Ossai   Email: emmanuel.ossai@unn.edu.ng   Tel:+2347038514389

Received: 22 January 2026        Accepted: 18 June 2026        Published: 29 June 2026

Citation: Ossai EC, Ugwuoke PC, Agbom CO, Ossai EO, Mumuni MA, Ezike CT, et al. Development of mucoadhesive solid lipid nanoparticles for enhanced oral bioavailability and antimalarial efficacy of artemether/lumefantrine. Trop J Pharm Res 2026; 25(6):761-772 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v25i6.2

© 2026 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To report the development of mucoadhesive solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) to enhance oral bioavailability and antimalarial efficacy of artemether and lumefantrine. Methods: The SLNs were prepared via hot emulsion–ultrasonication using a lipid matrix composed of dika fat (Irvingia gabonensis) and Phospholipon® 90H. Chitosan coating was applied to confer mucoadhesive properties and prolong gastrointestinal residence time. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were employed to determine the drug-excipient interaction and thermal properties of the nanoparticles, respectively. Antimalarial properties of the formulated nanoparticles were carried out in vivo using Plasmodium berghei-infected Wistar albino mice. Results: The SLNs, formulated as individual and co-drug-loaded systems, achieved high encapsulation efficiencies (> 99 % for artemether; > 92 % for lumefantrine). Co-loading improved drug release compared to single-drug SLNs (artemether: 86.2 vs. 58.7 %; lumefantrine: 74.8 vs. 63.8 % over 6 – 8 h). The nanoparticles were spherical, with mean diameters 91.3 – 140.1 nm and polydispersity indices < 0.42. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and DSC analyses confirmed drug–excipient compatibility and stable incorporation of both drugs within the lipid matrix. In vivo evaluation in Plasmodium berghei-infected Wistar albino mice revealed a dose-dependent, statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in parasitemia for the SLN formulations compared to control. Conclusion: Chitosan-coated SLNs offer a promising platform for oral delivery of artemether-lumefantrine, with potential to overcome current limitations in bioavailability and therapeutic consistency in malaria treatment

Keywords: Antimalarial efficacy, Artemether, Bioavailability, Chitosan coating, Drug release, Encapsulation efficiency, Lumefantrine, Malaria, Solid lipid nano

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