Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a strongly hydrophobic lipid that functions in the electron transport chain and as an antioxidant. CoQ10 was conferred with aqueous solubility by incorporation into nanoparticles containing phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) and apolipoprotein (apo) A‐I. These particles, termed CoQ10 nanodisks (ND), contain 1.0 mg CoQ10/5 mg PtdCho/2 mg apoA‐I (97% CoQ10 solubilization efficiency). UV/Vis absorbance spectroscopy of CoQ10 ND revealed a characteristic absorbance peak centered at 275 nm. Incorporation of CoQ10 into ND resulted in quenching of apoA‐I tryptophan fluorescence emission. Gel filtration chromatography of CoQ10 ND gave rise to a single major absorbance peak and HPLC of material extracted from this peak confirmed the presence of CoQ10. Incubation of cultured cells with CoQ10 ND, but not empty ND, resulted in a significant increase in the CoQ10 content of mitochondria as well as enhanced oxidative phosphorylation, as observed by a ~24% increase in maximal oxygen consumption rate. Collectively, a facile method to solubilize significant quantities of CoQ10 in lipid nanoparticles has been developed. The availability of CoQ10 ND provides a novel means to investigate biochemical aspects of CoQ10 uptake by cells and/or administer it to subjects deficient in this key lipid as a result of inborn errors of metabolism, statin therapy, or otherwise.

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