Preparation of coenzyme Q₁₀ liposomes using supercritical anti-solvent technique

Abstract

Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) proliposomes were prepared using the supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) technique to encapsulate CoQ₁₀. The mixture of cholesterol and soya bean phosphatidylcholine (PC) was chosen as wall materials. The effects of operation conditions (temperature, pressure and components) on the recovery of CoQ₁₀ and the CoQ₁₀ loading in CoQ₁₀ proliposomes were studied. At the optimum conditions of pressure of 8.0 MPa, temperature of 35°C, the weight ratio of 1/10 between CoQ₁₀ and PC, and the weight ratio of 1/3 between cholesterol and PC, the CoQ₁₀ loading reached 8.92%. CoQ₁₀ liposomes were obtained by hydrating CoQ₁₀ proliposomes and the entrapment efficiency of CoQ₁₀ reached 82.28%. The morphologies of CoQ₁₀ proliposomes were characterized by scanning electron microscope, and their solid states were characterized by X-ray diffractometer. The structures of CoQ₁₀ liposomes were characterized by transmission electron microscope. The particle size distribution of CoQ₁₀ liposomes was determined by dynamic light scattering instrument. The results indicate that CoQ₁₀ liposomes with particle sizes about 50 nm can be easily obtained from hydrating CoQ₁₀ proliposomes prepared by SAS technique.

• soya bean phosphatidylcholine
• proliposome
• encapsulation