title: Preparation of Coenzyme Q10 nanostructured lipid carriers for epidermal targeting with high-pressure microfluidics technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this work was to prepare coenzyme Q10 loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (Q10-NLC) and evaluate its epidermal targeting effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Q10-NLC was prepared by high-pressure microfluidics technique. Formulations and preparation parameters were optimized with response surface design. Q10-NLC was characterized by PCS, TEM, DSC and PXRD. The penetration of Q10 from the Q10-NLC formulations through skins and into skins were evaluated in vitro using Franz diffusion cells fitted with SD rat skins. In vitro release, long-term stability and light stability were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the concentration of solid lipid and emulsifier in formulation had a significant influence on particle size. The optimized preparation parameters were magnetic stirring for 20 min, high stirring at 8000 rpm for 1 min and high-pressure microfluidics at 1200 bar for three cycles. The size of Q10-NLC prepared by optimized formulation and parameters was (151.7 ± 2.31) nm, polydispersity (PDI) 0.144, ζ potential was (-44.1 ± 1.68) mV, drug loading 2.51%, encapsulation efficiency 100%. In vitro release study, Q10-NLC showed fast release during the first 3 hours and prolonged release afterwards. In vitro skin permeation study, the accumulative uptake of Q10 in epidermal of Q10-NLC was 10.11 times over Q10 emulsion. After exposure to day light for 24 hours, the amount of Q10 in Q10-NLC decreased only 5.59%, while in Q10 emulsion decreased 24.61% and Q10-ethanol solution 49.74%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Q10-NLC exhibited a significant epidermal targeting effect, which was proved to be a promising carrier for topical delivery of Q10.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Siyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiangling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Conghui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xiangliang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004817:Epidermis; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012869:Skin Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D008055:Lipids; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10