Coenzyme Q10 dripping pills as a nutraceutical delivery system: Formulation optimization, bioavailability enhancement, and protection against oxidative cardiac stress

To overcome the poor bioaccessibility of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), we developed a polyethylene glycol-based dripping pill (DP) solid dispersion system. The optimized formulation achieved an amorphous state, resulting in uniform morphology, significantly accelerated dissolution, and enhanced oral bioavailability compared to crystalline CoQ10. In an isoproterenol-induced oxidative cardiac stress model, CoQ10 DPs showed demonstrated cardioprotective bioactivity by alleviating cardiac remodeling and oxidative injury. These protective effects were associated with reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, restored superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and decreased inflammatory marker levels. This study presents a robust formulation strategy to maximize the bioactivity of lipophilic nutrients for functional food applications.