Development and Characterization of Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System (SNEDDS) of Red Fruit Oil (Pandanus conoideus Lam.) for Nutraceutical Applications

The restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters in livestock production have increased the interest in natural bioactive compounds such as red fruit oil (RFO), a carotenoid-rich extract from Pandanus conoideus Lam., widely recognized for the antioxidant and nutraceutical potential. However, practical application is hindered by poor water solubility, high viscosity, and instability in gastrointestinal environments. Therefore, this study aims to develop and optimize a Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System (SNEDDS) to enhance the dispersibility and physicochemical stability of RFO. A D-optimal mixture design was used to evaluate the effects of PEG 400, Tween 80, and RFO composition on transmittance, absorbance, and emulsification performance in distilled water, artificial gastric fluid, and artificial intestinal fluid. The results showed that the optimized formulation, consisting of 10 PEG 400, 80 Tween 80, and 10 RFO, demonstrated high optical clarity (88.05), rapid emulsification (17.2-28.3 s), and small droplet size (14.97 nm) with acceptable uniformity (PDI 0.314). Zeta potential (7.05 mV) and viscosity (0.89 cP) indicated moderate colloidal stability, further supported by successful thermodynamic stress testing, including heating cooling cycles, freeze thaw cycles, and centrifugation. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified the presence of spherical, well-dispersed nano-sized droplets. These results collectively demonstrate that SNEDDS formulation effectively enhances the solubility and dispersion behavior of RFO, presenting a promising strategy for improving suitability as a hydrophobic nutraceutical in feed additive applications. Further in vivo studies are needed to validate the bioavailability and functional performance of RFO-SNEDDS. © 2025 Ollong et al.