Solid lipid nanoparticles enhance oral bioavailability of resveratrol, a natural polyphenol

Nanotechnology has provided remarkable prospects for the efficient delivery of food molecules which usually suffer from low aqueous solubility, insufficient bioavailability and stability issues. The objective of the present investigation was to explore the potential of the solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) for oral delivery of resveratrol, a natural polyphenol that faces problems of low and variable oral bioavailability. Resveratrol loaded stearic acid-based SLNs (RLNs) coated with poloxamer 188 were produced successfully by solvent diffusion–solvent evaporation method. RLNs had smooth surface with an average diameter of 134 ± 7.6 nm with a zeta potential of − 34.3 ± 2.5 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of resveratrol in RLNs was found to be 88.9 ± 3.1%, showed prolonged drug release in vitro up to ~ 120 h and followed Higuchi kinetics. Pharmacokinetic parameters were evaluated using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) after oral administration of RLNs and a resveratrol control in Wistar male rats. The lipid formulation produced a significant 8.035 fold improvement in the oral bioavailability of resveratrol as compared to drug suspension. Thus, stearic acid-based RLNs could act as promising sustained release system with enhanced bioavailability for resveratrol after oral administration.