Solid particulate compositions comprising coenzyme Q10
The present invention generally relates to improvements in the bioavailability and/or solubility of coenzyme Q10. For example, the present invention relates to methods for preparing particulate compositions including coenzyme Q10 that generally comprise dispersing and/or dissolving the coenzyme Q10 throughout a suitable solvent, and combining the coenzyme Q10 and an encapsulating (e.g., microencapsulating) agent. The present invention also generally relates to particulate compositions comprising coenzyme Q10 that exhibit improved bioavailability and/or solubility as compared to previous coenzyme Q10 products.
1. A method for preparing a particulate composition comprising coenzyme Q10, the method comprising:
combining an organic phase and an aqueous phase, thereby forming an oil-in-water emulsion having the organic phase dispersed throughout the aqueous phase; and
drying the emulsion, thereby forming a composition comprising solid particles comprising coenzyme Q10, wherein:
the organic phase comprises coenzyme Q10, a solvent, and a first surfactant, the first surfactant comprising tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate or a polyoxyglyceride selected from the group consisting of lauroyl macroglycerides, stearoyl macroglycerides, and combinations thereof;
the aqueous phase comprises water, starch, and an organic acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, succinic acid, ascorbic acid and mixtures thereof;
the organic phase and/or aqueous phase further comprises a second surfactant comprising phosphatidyl choline; and
wherein the solid particles comprising coenzyme Q10 have a particle size distribution such that at least about 90% by weight of the particulates have a particle size of from about 1 to about 4 μm.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the solvent comprises an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of hexanol, ethanol, butanol, heptanol, 2-methyl-1-pentanol, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, propylene glycol, ethyl acetate, and mixtures thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first surfactant comprises tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first surfactant comprises a polyoxyglyceride selected from the group consisting of lauroyl macroglycerides, stearoyl macroglycerides, and combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the organic phase comprises the second surfactant comprising phosphatidyl choline.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous phase comprises the second surfactant comprising phosphatidyl choline.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous phase further comprises a base selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the emulsion comprises discrete microdroplets of coenzyme Q10 associated with at least one surfactant.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the solid particles are in the form of colloidal particles comprising discrete microparticulates dispersed throughout a solid matrix, wherein the microparticulates comprise coenzyme Q10 associated with at least one surfactant.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the organic phase comprises an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of hexanol, ethanol, butanol, heptanol, 2-methyl-1-pentanol, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, propylene glycol, ethyl acetate, and mixtures thereof;
the first surfactant comprises tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate; and
the aqueous phase comprises a chemically modified starch.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the organic phase comprises hexanol as a solvent.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the organic phase comprises an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of hexanol, ethanol, butanol, heptanol, 2-methyl-1-pentanol, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, propylene glycol, ethyl acetate, and mixtures thereof;
the first surfactant comprises a polyoxyglyceride selected from the group consisting of lauroyl macroglycerides, stearoyl macroglycerides, and combinations thereof; and
the aqueous phase comprises a chemically modified starch.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the organic phase comprises hexanol as a solvent.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first surfactant comprises tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate and the aqueous phase comprises the second surfactant.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first surfactant comprises a polyoxyglyceride selected from the group consisting of lauroyl macroglycerides, stearoyl macroglycerides, and combinations thereof and the aqueous phase comprises the second surfactant.