Lipid nanocarriers (LNs), for example nanoemulsions (NE), are an emerging tool for drug delivery due to their ability to incorporate drugs, protect the drug from degradation, improve bioavailability, and control release. Although LNs are widely studied and applied, especially in the pharmaceutical field, knowledge about their toxicity is scarce. Moreover, the majority of studies focus on their efficiency rather than safety. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible toxic effects of NE in vivo. Male Wistar rats (2 months old, 250 g) were treated once daily for 21 days with NE via oral or intraperitoneal delivery at 200, 400 or 800 mg lipid/kg body weight. At the end of the experiment, biochemical, hematological, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity parameters were analyzed. Our results showed that treatment with NE did not modify organ weight or biochemical parameters when compared to controls. The highest NE dose (800 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection caused changes in hematological parameters, namely increased plasma proteins, platelets, total leukocytes, and neutrophils, findings that suggest an inflammatory reaction. Further, the same dose evoked lipid peroxidation in the liver. Taken together, the results from this study suggest that NEs can be considered safe for oral administration, but high doses via the parenteral route can cause toxic effects. This study contributes to knowledge about NE toxicity and provides important data about their safe use in the pharmaceutical field.
Keywords: Nanoemulsions; inflammation; lipid nanocarriers; nanotoxicology; oxidative stress.