Disclosed is an ink carrier and a method for forming same, and a phase change ink including same. The ink carrier comprises a colloidal dispersion of at least one of silica nanoparticles and metal oxide nanoparticles. The ink carrier can also include a low melting wax, and a gelling agent. The ink carrier exhibits a substantially uniform distribution of the nanoparticles so that they are discretely distributed therewithin, and are substantially resistant to the aggregation of the nanoparticles distributed therewithin.