Acute oral toxicity of squalene nanoparicles in wistar albino rats

Abstract

Squalene, a naturally occurring lipid characterised by its isoprenoid structure, possesses antioxidant properties that enable it to neutralise reactive oxygen species. However, the high lipophilicity of squalene limits the oral bioavailability of drug. Nanoparticles, which were solid spherical entities made from either natural or synthetic polymers and typically measured around 100 nm in size, were recognised for their ability to protect drugs against degradation while improving their solubility and bioavailability. Squalene loaded PLGA nanoparticles (SQ-NP) were synthesised by single emulsion solvent evaporation method and characterised to assess the size by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and morphology was determined by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Limit test was performed with three female Wistar albino rats of 8-12 weeks of age, weighing 150-200g for which SQ-NP administered at the dose rate of 2000 mg/kg. The results revealed that SQ-NP had a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 97.8 ± 16.51 nm with less uniform spherical shape. Acute toxicity test unveiled that LD50 for SQ-NP was greater than 2000mg/kg. This study divulged that SQNP can effectively be used in further therapeutics.