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The aim of this study was to systematically obtain a model of factors that would yield an optimized self-nanoemulsified capsule dosage form (SNCDF) of a highly lipophilic model compound, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ). Independent variables such as amount of R-(+)-limonene (X 1 ), surfactant (X 2 ), and cosurfactant (X 3 ), were optimized using a 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken statistical design. The dependent variables selected were cumulative percentage of drug released after 5 minutes (Y 1 ) with constraints on drug release in 15 minutes (Y 2 ), turbidity (Y 3 ), particle size (Y 4 ), and zeta potential (Y 5 ). A mathematical relationship obtained, Y 1 = 78.503 + 6.058X 1 + 13.738X 2 + 5.986X 3 -25.831X 1 2 + 9.12X 1 X 2 -26.03 X 1 X 3 -38.67 X 2 2 +11.02X 2 X 3 -15.55 X 3 3 (r 2 = 0.97), explained the main and quadratic effects, and the interaction of factors that affected the drug release. Response surface methodology (RSM) predicted the levels of factors X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 (0.0344, 0.216, and 0.240, respectively), for a maximized response of Y 1 with constraints of >90% release on Y 2 . The observed and predicted values of Y 1 were in close agreement. In conclusion, the Box-Behnken experimental design allowed us to obtain SNCDF with rapid (>90%) drug release within 5 minutes with desirable properties of low turbidity and particle size.

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