2.3.1. Emulsifying Behavior in FaSSIF-V2

The amount of Lipomatrix powder containing 640 mg of SRO has been dispersed in FaSSIF-V2 at 37 ◦C under moderate stirring conditions for 1 h, according to the method described in Materials and Methods section (Section 3.2.1.2 and Section 3.2.3). The same experiment has been conducted testing two soft-gel capsules containing the same amount of unformulated SRO. Lipomatrix, in force of the auto-emulsifying profile awarded by the association of MDGFA and ASP at the duodenal simulated conditions, allows a much better emulsification of SRO in FaSSIF-V2, creating the postulated synergy with bile salts that prelude to a better bio-accessibility of the oil to the absorbing epithelium. On the contrary, the soft-gel containing unformulated SRO does not take place to any significant emulsion or micellar dispersion that could be visually recognizable (Figure 5). This experimental evidence confirms the hypothesis of reduced and incomplete emulsifying property of sole bile towards oily active ingredients.

**Figure 5.** Differential behavior in FaSSIF-V2 at 37 ◦C, 60 min. of 2 gelatin based soft-gel containing not formulated SRO, 640 mg (left) and Lipomatrix powder containing the same amount of SRO (right). It is possible to recognize the emulsifying capability of Lipomatrix in comparison with soft-gel in which no apparent emulsification occurs. Some insoluble particles suspended in FaSSIF-V2 and ascribable to insoluble excipients such as Magnesium Stearate and amorphous silica are appreciable.
