Physicochemical Morphological Evaluation and Stability Assessment of Nanoemulsions Containing Nutrients for Parenteral Nutrition

TY - JOUR

T1 - Physicochemical Morphological Evaluation and Stability Assessment of Nanoemulsions Containing Nutrients for Parenteral Nutrition

AU - Papandreou, Panos

AU - Triantafyllopoulou, Efstathia

AU - Pispas, Ioannis

AU - Havaki, Sophia

AU - Papagiannopoulos, Aristeidis

AU - Gorgoulis, Vassilis G.

AU - Pippa, Natassa

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors.

PY - 2025/9/24

Y1 - 2025/9/24

N2 - Parenteral nutrition is an integral part of the nutritional support of critically ill neonates, infants, and children in the intensive care units (ICUs) and at home. Therefore, the adequacy and the effectiveness of parenteral nutrition, PN, support are among the major concerns of doctors and pharmacists. The aim of this study is the physicochemical and stability evaluation of nanoemulsions, which are used for parenteral nutrition. These nanoemulsions are for intravenous (IV) administration of lipids, amino acids, glucose, electrolytes, trace elements as well as vitamins. Light scattering techniques are used for the identification of the hydrodynamic diameter (Dh), size polydispersity index (PDI), and the ζ-potential of the prepared nanoemulsions. Stability assessment is performed in different conditions, mimicking those of the hospital. The stability studies involve shelf-life measurement of these NEs over 10 days in two storage conditions (25 °C and 4 °C) using dynamic light scattering. According to the US Pharmacopeia, the droplet size should be under the upper limit of 500 nm (0.5 μm). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used for the shape of the droplets of the nanoemulsion emulsion for parenteral nutrition for the first time. The results showed that the droplet size was around 300 nm, with a homogeneous population and negative ζ-potential. The morphology was vesicular and spherical, typical for NE droplet shape. The results from all the characterization techniques show that the formulations meet the high-quality standards of nanoemulsions for neonates, infants and children.

AB - Parenteral nutrition is an integral part of the nutritional support of critically ill neonates, infants, and children in the intensive care units (ICUs) and at home. Therefore, the adequacy and the effectiveness of parenteral nutrition, PN, support are among the major concerns of doctors and pharmacists. The aim of this study is the physicochemical and stability evaluation of nanoemulsions, which are used for parenteral nutrition. These nanoemulsions are for intravenous (IV) administration of lipids, amino acids, glucose, electrolytes, trace elements as well as vitamins. Light scattering techniques are used for the identification of the hydrodynamic diameter (Dh), size polydispersity index (PDI), and the ζ-potential of the prepared nanoemulsions. Stability assessment is performed in different conditions, mimicking those of the hospital. The stability studies involve shelf-life measurement of these NEs over 10 days in two storage conditions (25 °C and 4 °C) using dynamic light scattering. According to the US Pharmacopeia, the droplet size should be under the upper limit of 500 nm (0.5 μm). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used for the shape of the droplets of the nanoemulsion emulsion for parenteral nutrition for the first time. The results showed that the droplet size was around 300 nm, with a homogeneous population and negative ζ-potential. The morphology was vesicular and spherical, typical for NE droplet shape. The results from all the characterization techniques show that the formulations meet the high-quality standards of nanoemulsions for neonates, infants and children.

KW - nanoemulsions

KW - nutritional support

KW - stability assessment

KW - TEM

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105019929107

U2 - 10.3390/colloids9050064

DO - 10.3390/colloids9050064

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105019929107

VL - 9

JO - Colloids and Interfaces

JF - Colloids and Interfaces

IS - 5

M1 - 64

ER -