Nanopore and nanoparticle formation with lipids undergoing polymorphic phase transitions

Authors
D. Cholakova, D. Glushkova, S. Tcholakova, N. Denkov
Journal
ACS Nano
Year
2020
Volume
14
Pages
8594 - 8604
D. Cholakova, D. Glushkova, S. Tcholakova, N. Denkov
ACS Nano 2020
14
8594 - 8604
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Abstract

We describe several unexpected phenomena, caused by a solid-solid phase transition (gel-to-crystal) typical for all main classes of lipid substances: Phospholipids, triglycerides, diglycerides, alkanes, etc. We discovered that this transition leads to spontaneous formation of a network of nanopores, spreading across the entire lipid structure. These nanopores are spontaneously impregnated (flooded) by water when appropriate surfactants are present, thus fracturing the lipid structure at a nanoscale. As a result, spontaneous disintegration of the lipid into nanoparticles or formation of double emulsions is observed, just by cooling and heating of an initial coarse lipid-in-water dispersion around the lipid melting temperature. The process of nanoparticle formation is effective even after incorporation of medical drugs of high load, up to 50% in the lipid phase. The role of the main governing factors is clarified, the procedure is optimized, and the possibility for its scaling-up to industrially relevant amounts is demonstrated. Copyright