title: Strategies for oral delivery and mitochondrial targeting of CoQ10.
abstract: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone or ubidecarenone, is a powerful, endogenously produced, intracellularly existing lipophilic antioxidant. It combats reactive oxygen species (ROS) known to be responsible for a variety of human pathological conditions. Its target site is the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) of each cell. In case of deficiency and/or aging, CoQ10 oral supplementation is warranted. However, CoQ10 has low oral bioavailability due to its lipophilic nature, large molecular weight, regional differences in its gastrointestinal permeability and involvement of multitransporters. Intracellular delivery and mitochondrial target ability issues pose additional hurdles. To maximize CoQ10 delivery to its biopharmaceutical target, numerous approaches have been undertaken. The review summaries the current research on CoQ10 bioavailability and highlights the headways to obtain a satisfactory intracellular and targeted mitochondrial delivery. Unresolved questions and research gaps were identified to bring this promising natural product to the forefront of therapeutic agents for treatment of different pathologies.
authors.affiliation: a Toronto Health Economics and Technology Assessment (THETA) Collaborative Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Noha M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Zaki
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D001682:Biological Availability; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10
keywords: Absorption; coenzyme Q10; mitochondrial targeting; nanotechnology; nutraceuticals; oral bioavailability; permeability; solubility