Lycopene Nanoparticles Coated with Microemulsions to Improve Stability

Abstract

Delivery systems play important roles in improving drug efficacy. In particular, insoluble functional pigments must be handled carefully when increasing their solubility, in order to ensure that they remain active. In this study, the nanoparticles were coated by the oil phase in the microemulsion system (NPs-SEs), and this system was found to both increase the stability of the drug and improve drug loading. NPs-SEs containing lycopene, soybean oil, Span-40, Tween-20, stabilizer and glycerol were prepared by high pressure homogenization technology. It was characterized and its droplet size, and Zeta potential were 181±15 nm ( PDI 0.092±0.01), -70.83±1.64mV, respectively. The drug loading capacity of NPs-SEs was 1.02±0.16mg/ml and was nearly 4 times more than the highest concentration of lycopene O/W emulsion.