Solubility enhancement of trans-chalcone using lipid carriers and supercritical CO2 processing

This work studies the possibility of enhancing the solubility of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenone, the core structure of chalcones, through lipidic formulations under supercritical CO2 processing. Microparticles of chalcone, alone and with lipid carriers, were produced by PGSS®, a method which involves the quick depressurization of a gas saturated solution through a nozzle, and takes advantage of the lower melting temperatures obtained from the presence of carbon dioxide in the bulk mixture. rticles obtained were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser diffraction and attenuated total reflection Fourier infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic imaging. Solubility tests in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids, without enzymes, were performed. The presence of the lipid carriers can influence the solubility of trans-chalcone in the solutions tested.