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.