SNEDDS (SELF-NANOEMULSIFYING DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM) FORMULATION OF ?-CAROTENE IN OLIVE OIL (Olea europaea)

?-carotene was a powerful antioxidant with analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity which could be exploited to increase immunity and prevent chronic and degenerative diseases. ?-carotene was water insoluble and easily oxidised in water. These properties could be severe challenges for oral formulation. Therefore, the aim of the study was to formulate Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System (SNEDDS) of ?-carotene to facilitate oral delivery. SNEDDS of ?-carotene consisted of olive oil as the oil phase, Tween 80 as the surfactant and PEG 400 as the co-surfactant. Optimisation of the composition was achieved with simplex lattice design (SLD) method, software Design Expert? version 7.1.5. Optimum formula was determined by observing emulsification time and clarity of the nanoemulsions. Characterisation included physical stability in artificial gastric fluid (AGF), size and size distribution of the droplets and zeta potential value. The results showed that formula with ratio of 1:8.1:1 of olive oil, Tween 80 and PEG 400, respectively, for 3 mg/g of ?-carotene in SNEDDS formulation yielded the optimum result reflected by the emulsification time in AGF, 24.47 ? 0.906 seconds, transmittance value 91.17 ? 0.450 % and physically stable in AGF for 4 hours, droplet size 42.6 nm with polydispersity index 0.608 and zeta potential value -38.7 mV.