Abstract:Objective: To invetigate effect of particle size on oral absorption of silymarin-loaded solid lipid nanoparuicles.Method: Solid lipid nanoparticles(SLN) of various sizes(150 nm,500 nm and 1 000 nm) using Compritol 888 ATO as the material and silymarin(SM) as a model drug were prepared.Silybinin concentration in plasma of rats were determined by RP-HPLC with UV detector.The main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by 3p97. Result: Results showed that the AUC of 150 nm SLN was 2.08 fold that of 500 nm SLN and 2.54 fold of 1 000 nm SLN treated orally to rats(P<0.05).The oral bioavailability of 150nm SLN was remarkably higher than the other two size SLN.Conclusion: This has important implications in designing of SM-SLN as a new oral drug delivery system.