TITLE:
Lipid Pickering Nano-Emulsions Stabilized by Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as Potential Carrier for Biomedical Applications
AUTHORS:
Sidy Mouhamed Dieng, Nicolas Anton, Marie Jeanne Arlette Ciss, Ysia Idoux-Gillet, Abdou Faye, Bara Ndiaye, Papa Mady Sy, Alphonse Rodrigue Djiboune, Louis Augustin Diouf, Gora Mbaye, Nadia Benkirane-Jessel, Mounibé Diarra, Thierry Vandamme
KEYWORDS:
Pickering Nano-Emulsion, Solid Lipid Nanoparticles, Biocompatibility, Cellular Uptake, Thermo-Sensitivity, In Vitro Digestion
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology,
Vol.17 No.4,
October
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: In this paper, we investigated the behavior of Pickering nano-emulsions stabilized by solid lipid nanoparticles, when administrated by oral route. A first part of the study is dedicated to the characterization and stability studies of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and SLNs-stabilized Pickering nano-emulsions, against incubation in gastric and intestinal mediums. Characterizations were performed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The SLNs measured around 40 nm, while the resulting nano-emulsions reached approximately 200 nm with low polydispersity. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed their spherical and homogeneous morphology. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed a thermal transition between 30˚C and 40˚C, indicating temperature sensitivity suitable for controlled drug release. The second part of the study was related to interactions, cellular uptake, and toxicology of the SLNs-stabilized Pickering nano-emulsions incubated with different cell lines: a healthy cell line MSC-2 and three cancer cell lines A549, U87 and MG-63. This work allows emphasizing the optimal conditions for cellular interactions without toxicity, showing the potential of these lipid Pickering nano-emulsions to be used for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. In vitro digestion studies showed good stability of the emulsions, even in the presence of digestive enzymes. Cytotoxicity assays on healthy (MSC-2) and cancerous (A549, U87, MG-63) cell lines showed no toxicity at low concentrations. At 1/1000 and 1/10,000 dilutions, cell metabolism was slightly enhanced, suggesting active uptake. Fluorescence imaging confirmed efficient internalization of intact nano-emulsions into cells. These findings highlight the biocompatibility and stability of the system. Overall, the developed Pickering nano-emulsions show strong potential as safe drug delivery carriers.