Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were prepared by biocompatible and biodegradable solid-phase lipids. beta-elemene is a safe natural essential oil with broad-spectrum anti-tumor activity. However, its clinical application has been adversely affected by its poor water solubility and limited bioavailability. SLN incorporation is a potential strategy to bypass the blood-brain barrier, the most important factor limiting the bioactivity of neurotherapeutics. The SLNs-beta has the same efficacy as commercially available elemene in vitro and an enhanced brain drug accumulation in vivo. The survival rate data was promising and acute toxicity experiment proved its safety. All these data suggested that SLN-beta is a safe and effective drug delivery system, especially for brain tumor therapy, and warrants further development. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.