ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the preparation of lipid-based nanosystems including nanoemulsions (NEs), solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructure lipid carriers, and lipid nanocrystals. Nanoscale morphology greatly impacts delivery of encapsulated molecules. NEs are liquid-liquid dispersions developed for controlled and targeted delivery of food bioactives, improved entrapment efficiency, and protection of bioactives from degradation. NEs consist of two immiscible liquids mixed to form a single thermodynamically stable phase with the aid of appropriate surfactant or stabilizing agents. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used to analyze the state and thermodynamic properties of the lipid by measuring heat exchanges that occur when the lipid is melting or crystallizing. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is typically used in conjunction with DSC as a measurement used to confirm polymorphism behaviors previously established by DSC alone. XRD allows differentiation of the various polymorphs. XRD does so by characterizing the spacings of polymorphic forms distinguishing between long and short spacings of the lipid lattice.
