OBJECTIVE: To optimize the formulation of indomethacin-loading solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN). METHODS: Using indomethacin as model drug, glyceryl behenate as oil phase, poloxamer 188 and polyethylene glycol-12-hydroxystearic acid as emulsifier, with turbidity, entrapment efficiency and drug loading amount as index, Box-Behnken response surface methodology was used to optimize the amount of oil phase, emulsifier-oil phase ratio, drug-oil phase ratio. The physicochemical properties of SLNs were characterized by SEM and DSC. RESULTS: The optimal formulation was as follows as oil phase of 0.91%, emulsifier- oil ratio of 1 ∶ 1, drug-oil phase ratio of 1 ∶ 5. The turbidity, entrapment efficiency and drug loading amount of prepared nanoparticle were 1 025-1 030 NTU, 98.94%-99.08%, 2.43%-2.46%, respectively; particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) were 181.5- 182.3 nm and 0.340-0.341 (n=3). The results of DSC showed that indomethacin was not present in crystalline state dispersed into SLNs. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal formulation is screened successfully, and indomethacin-loaded SLNs have been prepared.