Lipid-based nanocarriers for drug delivery and targeting: a patent survey of methods of production and characterization

Among the colloidal vectors proposed for the controlled delivery and targeting of drugs and other biologically active compounds, lipid-based nanocarriers are acquiring increasing role for a number of peculiar technological and physical features. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), lipid nanocapsules (LNC), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), and drug-lipid conjugates (DLC) are all examples of how it can be possible to combine the properties of the more acknowledged liposomal systems, such as biocompatibility and biodegradability, with the stability and composition flexibility, distinctive of polymeric nanosystems. This review work introduces recent patents, filed in years 2007-2013, and dealing with novel or amended methods of production of the various types of lipid-based nanocarriers. Although a significant gap still remains between basic research and patenting activity in this field, many of the proposed methods can attain an industrial value. It is also confirmed as a general revision of patenting systems at an international level would be necessary for nanosized pharmaceutical systems.