Lycopene-Loaded Nanoemulsion Production

Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems containing lycopene purified from red guava (nanoLPG) were produced according to Yen et al. [54 (link)], with modifications by Vasconcelos et al. [17 (link)]. LPG, sorbitan monostearate, and coconut oil (1:10:0.06, w:w:v) were mixed in ethanol:acetone (1:8, v:v) under magnetic stirring for 10 min at 40 °C. The mixture was poured into distilled water (pH 7.0) containing polysorbate 80 (0.45 g) under the same conditions of stirring and temperature, following the organic:aqueous phase proportion of 1:2.5 (v:v). The formulation was concentrated under reduced pressure (30 mbar) at 37 °C in an R-215 rotary evaporator (Büchi Labortechnik, Switzerland) until a final volume of 20 mL, eliminating the organic solvents. The nanoLPG formulation was stored in tightly closed plastic bottles in a refrigerator (5–8 °C). The preparation of nanoLPG was carried out under dim light.