Micelle Formation of Coenzyme Q10 with Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Using Inclusion Complex of Coenzyme Q10 with γ‑Cyclodextrin

Micelles can be formed from coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and dipotassium glycyrrhizate (GZK2) by using an inclusion complex of CoQ10 with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD). The mechanism of micelle formation was kinetically investigated. Adding GZK2 to a supersaturated solution of the CoQ10/γ-CD inclusion complex led to a linear increase in the solubility of CoQ10 due to the formation of micelles of CoQ10 when the molar ratio of GZK2/γ-CD increased to ∼1.6, after which the concentration remained constant. The equilibrium constant K for micelle formation was 0.68 (−) and the ratio of GZK2 to CoQ10 was 1. These results suggest that the formation of CoQ10 micelles with GZK2 might proceed via the displacement of CoQ10 by GZK2 in the γ-CD cavity followed by the formation of CoQ10 micelles.