Abstract
Microemulsions (MEs) are discussed in this chapter. MEs refer to monophasic, optically isotropic, thermodynamically stable, and clear dispersions formulated from oil, water, surfactant, and a cosurfactant. The term microemulsion, which was first used in 1943 by Hoar and Schulman, is ambiguous because it is not clear from the term that several phases and structures can be present. Water or oily droplets and bicontinuous structures can form even within the microemulsion domains. Microemulsions are effective drug delivery vehicles since they are simple to prepare (an external energy source is not required) and are thermodynamically stable (ME phases do not easily separate over time and a majority of microemulsions are stable for many years). Compared to regular emulsions, microemulsions form spontaneously following the mixing of the correct amounts of the constituents, with no need for a supplementary source of mechanical energy. Another difference is that microemulsions are clear or translucent with droplet size in nanometers, while emulsions are coarse, milky dispersions with droplet size usually measured in micrometers. The use of microemulsions for the transdermal delivery of specific therapeutic agents is also described.
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