Idebenone

What is idebenone?

Idebenone is a synthetic analog of coenzyme Q10 (R, R) that was originally developed in the 1980s for treating dementia (R).

Is idebenone stable?

Idebenone is not very stable under conditions of moderately high temperature and humidity, with 58% of free idebenone lost after 45 days' storage at 40°C and a relative humidity of 75% (R). To overcome this limitation, idebenone can be encapsulated within nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers designed to enhance its chemical stability (R, R).

Does idebenone get absorbed?

Idebenone's low molecular weight, lipophilicity and other physicochemical properties indicate that it may be able to penetrate the skin passively (R). Indeed, a small amount (0.02% of the applied dose) of idebenone has been shown to permeate across pig ear skin (R).

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems such as nanostructured lipid carriers (R, R) and lipid nanoparticles (R, R) can increase the penetration and deposition of idebenone in the skin. They can also be combined with the use of penetration enhancers such as oleic acid and isopropyl myristate (R).

What happens after idebenone is absorbed?

Idebenone was found to be partly metabolised to idebenone acid during its passage through pig ear skin, as well as by mouse melanocytes (R).