Lower Droplet Size Research Articles

Development and characterization of a self-nano emulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) for Ornidazole to improve solubility and oral bioavailability of BCS class II drugs

This study aimed to investigate the in vitro performance of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDSs) of Ornidazole (ORD), a poorly water-soluble drug. Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems of ORD were prepared using various oils, non-ionic surfactants, and/or water-soluble co-solvents and assessed visually/by droplet size measurement. Equilibrium solubility of ORD in the anhydrous and diluted SNEDDS was conducted to achieve the maximum drug loading. The in vitro dissolution of SNEDDS was studied to compare the solubility of the representative formulations with API. The results from the characterization and solubility studies showed that SNEDDS formulations were stable with lower droplet sizes and showed higher ORD solubility. From the dissolution studies, it was found that the developed A7-SNEDDS formulation provided a significantly higher rate of ORD release (98.94 ± 0.68 in 1.0 h) compared to API. ORD-loaded SNEDDS formulations could be a potential oral pharmaceutical product with high drug-loading capacity, improved drug dissolution, and enhanced oral bioavailability.

Characterization and antibacterial application of peppermint essential oil nanoemulsions in broiler

In order to mitigate the risk of antibiotic resistance in poultry, scientists nowadays consider plant secondary metabolites to be a major organic antibacterial substitute. This study aimed to characterize and investigate the in silico, in vitro, and in vivo antibacterial effects of peppermint essential oil (PEO) in the form of a nanoemulsion (NE), termed PEONE. Menthol as a major compound of PEO has been identified by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GCMS) analysis as 32.3 %, while lower droplet size, polydispersity Index (PDI), and optimum zeta potential values depicted the stability of PEONE have been observed and validated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrograph image. In silico antibacterial activity was studied by molecular docking of menthol and enrofloxacin with Topoisomerase IV protein (PDB: 1s16;) of Escherichia coli K12 MG1655 and this effect was validated by in vitro and in vivo analysis. In vitro analysis, sustained release of PEONE has been observed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In this study for in vivo experiments (n = 90) day-old broiler chicks were distributed into 6 dietary treatments with 5 replicates of 3 birds per replication. Dietary treatments included 1) Negative control (basal diet), 2) Positive control (basal diet + 200 µl enrofloxacin), 3) 25 µl PEONE + basal diet, 4) 50 µl PEONE + basal diet, 5) 75 µl PEONE + basal diet, and 6) 100 µl PEONE + basal diet. Analyzed data by different statistical tools confirmed that PEONE significantly affected body weight gain (BWG) with an improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to the control group. A significant increase in cecal Lactobacillus count and a decrease in total coliform was observed. Positive effects on physiological parameters, visceral organs, and meat quality characteristics have been observed. In conclusion, our experiments suggest that PEONE can be used in the broiler industry as a substitute for antibiotics to minimize bacterial resistance.

Ultrasound-assisted fabrication of chitosan-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose nanoemulsions loaded with thymol and cinnamaldehyde: Physicochemical properties, stability, and antifungal activity

This study investigated the influence of chitosan (CH) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (H), along with ultrasound power, on the physicochemical properties, antifungal activity, and stability of oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsions containing thymol and cinnamaldehyde in a 7:3 (v/v) ratio. Eight O/W formulations were prepared using CH, H, and a 1:1 (v/v) blend of CH and H, both with and without ultrasonication (U). Compared to untreated samples, U-treated nanoemulsions had lower droplet sizes (433–301 nm), polydispersity index (0.42–0.47), and zeta potential (−0.42–0.77 mV). The U treatment decreased L* and b* values, increased a* color attribute values, and increased apparent viscosity (0.26–2.17) at the same shear rate. After 28 days, microbiological testing of nanoemulsions treated with U showed counts below the detection limits (< 2 log CFU mL−1). The U-treated nanoemulsions exhibited stronger antifungal effects against R. stolonifer, with the NE/CH-U and NE/CH-H-U formulations demonstrating the lowest minimum inhibitory and fungicidal concentrations, measured at 0.12 and 0.24 μL/mL, respectively. On day 28, U-treated nanoemulsions demonstrated higher ionic, thermal, and physical stability than untreated samples. These findings suggest that the stability and antifungal efficacy of polysaccharide-based nanoemulsions may be improved by ultrasonic treatment. This study paves the way for innovative, highly stable nanoemulsions.

Multifunctional emulsion for potential wound-healing applications: A development for co-administration of essential vitamins, silver nanoparticles, and potent active ingredients

This research explores the formulation of novel oil-in-water emulsion designed for the co-delivery of compounds with different properties that jointly represent an exceptional system to apply in skin regeneration, such as essential vitamins A and E, silver nanoparticles, silver sulfadiazine, and lidocaine. First, the preparation method of emulsions was optimized, characterizing their stability over storage time. Emulsions, which were prepared with certain stirring speed and time, presented the lower droplet size and the higher stability for 28 days. Second, the active ingredients were incorporated into the optimized emulsion, and their stability and antimicrobial capacity were evaluated. In addition to being a stable colloidal system, the emulsion with active ingredients demonstrated antimicrobial effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus (both usually present in skin wounds). The antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles and the healing-promoting characteristics of vitamins make this combination promising for applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. Utilizing natural oils and biocompatible components aligns with sustainable and health-conscious product development trends. The findings of this study hold implications for diverse applications in medicine and cosmetics.

Lentil protein isolate (Lens culinaris) subjected to ultrasound treatment combined or not with heat-treatment: structural characterization and ability to stabilize high internal phase emulsions

This study evaluated the effect of ultrasound treatment combined or not with heat treatment applied to lentil protein isolate (LPI) aiming to enhance its ability to stabilize high internal phase emulsions (HIPE). LPI dispersion (2%, w/w) was ultrasound-treated at 60% (UA) and 70% (UB) amplitude for 7 min; these samples were subjected to and then heat treatments at 70 °C (UAT70 and UBT70, respectively) or 80 °C (UAT80 and UBT80, respectively) for 20 min. HIPEs were produced with 25% untreated and treated LPI dispersions and 75% soybean oil using a rotor–stator (15,500 rpm/1 min). The LPI dispersions were evaluated for particle size, solubility, differential scanning calorimetry, electrophoresis, secondary structure estimation (circular dichroism and FT-IR), intrinsic fluorescence, surface hydrophobicity, and free sulfhydryl groups content. The HIPEs were evaluated for droplet size, morphology, rheology, centrifugal stability, and the Turbiscan test. Ultrasound treatment decreased LPI dispersions’ particle size (∼80%) and increased solubility (∼90%). Intrinsic fluorescence and surface hydrophobicity confirmed LPI modification due to the exposure to hydrophobic patches. The combination of ultrasound and heat treatments resulted in a reduction in the free sulfhydryl group content of LPI. HIPEs produced with ultrasound-heat-treated LPI had a lower droplet size distribution mode, greater oil retention values in the HIPE structure (> 98%), lower Turbiscan stability index (< 2), and a firmer and more homogeneous appearance compared to HIPE produced with untreated LPI, indicating higher stability for the HIPEs stabilized by treated LPI. Therefore, combining ultrasound and heat treatments could be an effective method for the functional modification of lentil proteins, allowing their application as HIPE emulsifiers.

Perilla seed oil high internal phase emulsion improve the gel properties of myofibrillar protein

The effects of perilla seed oil high internal phase emulsions stabilized by pea protein (PP-PSO HIPEs) on the gel properties and conformation of myofibrillar protein (MP) gels were investigated. The results showed that the PP-PSO HIPEs with 4.0 % (w/v) PP formed stable HIPEs with low droplet size and good viscoelasticity. The addition of PP-PSO HIPEs (5.0 % − 15.0 %) could significantly improve the MP gel properties (P < 0.05), while the addition of 10.0 % PP-PSO HIPEs showed the highest gel strength and water holding capacity. Otherwise, the MP gels with 10.0 % PP-PSO HIPEs showed higher proportions of immobile water (PT22) and lower proportion of free water (PT23), and the Raman spectra suggested that the content of α-helix decreased, while the content of β-sheet increased (P < 0.05), thus facilitating the formation of better gel properties. Therefore, the addition of PP-PSO HIPEs is a potential alternative for developing fat-reduced meat products.

Boosting emulsion properties: The role of β-sheet content and fibril length in soy protein isolate emulsions

This study aimed to research the effects of β-sheet content and fibril length in three categories ((low, medium, and high β-sheet) and (short, medium, and long fibrils)) on soy protein isolate (SPI) emulsions. The highest surface hydrophobicity (H0) (27,600 ± 100) was detected in the sample with the highest β-sheet content and the longest fibril length. The interfacial tension presented that the sample with the highest β-sheet content and longest fibril length could adsorb quickly at the oil (O)/water (W) interface. The emulsion stabilized by high β-sheet content and long fibril length had a lower droplet size (202 ± 4.35 nm) with more homogenous distribution and higher viscosity (8.75 ± 0.13 cP) due to more entanglement. According to the environmental stresses results (i.e., various ionic strengths (0–400 mM), pH changes (2–9.5), thermal treatment, and 30 days of storage), the emulsion prepared by the sample with the highest β-sheet content and the longest fibril length was more stable than other emulsions. Moreover, all emulsions were unstable against freeze-thaw treatment. Finally, it could be concluded that higher content of β-sheet and longer fibril led to the stability of emulsion through higher initial absorption at the O/W interface, formation of a continuous and thicker membrane coating at the O/W interfaces, viscosity improvement, and H0 enhancement.

Thermo-induced changes in the structure of lentil protein isolate (Lens culinaris) to stabilize high internal phase emulsions

This study aims to assess the impact of heat treatment on the emulsifying properties of lentil protein isolate (LPI) dispersion to produce high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). The heat-treated LPI dispersion was characterized by size, turbidity, solubility, zeta potential, free sulfhydryl group, electrophoresis, differential scanning calorimetry, circular dichroism, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy and intrinsic fluorescence. HIPEs were produced with 25% of LPI dispersion (2%, w/w) and soybean oil (75%) using a rotor-stator (15,500 rpm/1 min). HIPEs were evaluated for their droplet size, zeta potential, centrifugal stability, microscopy, appearance, Turbiscan stability, and rheology over 60 days (25 °C). Heat treatment reduced the size of LPI, resulting in increased turbidity, solubility, and exposure of hydrophobic groups. HIPEs produced with heat-treated LPI at 70 °C (HIPE70) and 80 °C (HIPE80) for 20 min exhibited lower droplet sizes, increased stability, reduced oil loss, and a homogeneous appearance compared to HIPE produced with untreated LPI (HIPEc). In addition, HIPE70 and HIPE80 displayed resistance to shear stress, higher apparent viscosity, and increased storage modulus than HIPEc. HIPEs produced with heat-treated LPI were stable, suggesting that the treatment was efficient for improving the functional properties of the protein and the possibility of future research focusing on fat substitutes in food applications.

The Stability, Rheological Properties and Interfacial Properties of Oil-in-Water (O/W) Emulsions Prepared from Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Cold Plasma-Treated Chickpea Protein Isolate and Myofibrillar Protein Complexes.

In order to increase the development and utilization of chickpea protein isolate (CPI) and improve the stability of myofibrillar protein (MP) emulsions, the effect of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma-modified CPI on the emulsifying properties of MP was investigated. Three different O/W emulsions were prepared using MP, MP + CPI complex, or MP + DBD-treated CPI complex as the emulsifier. Compared with the emulsion prepared from MP, the emulsifying activity index and stability of DBD-treated CPI and MP complex (MP + CPIDBD) were increased (p < 0.05) from 55.17 m2/g to 74.99 m2/g and 66.31% to 99.87%, respectively. MP + CPIDBD produced more stable emulsions with the lowest Turbiscan stability index (TSI) values for a given 3600 s. At shear rates from 0 to 1000-1, MP + CPIDBD-stabilized emulsions had higher viscosities, which helped to reduce the chance of aggregation between oil droplets. The optical microscope and particle size distribution of emulsions showed that MP + CPIDBD emulsions had the lowest droplet size (d4,3) and exhibited more uniform distribution. MP + CPIDBD emulsions had lower interfacial tension. DBD pretreatment increased the adsorbed protein content in the emulsion stabilized by MP + CPIDBD as compared to the MP + CPI complex and promoted the adsorption of CPI by higher ratios of adsorbed proteins as indicated by its intensity in SDS-PAGE. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the emulsion prepared from MP + CPIDBD had smaller particle size and more uniform dispersion. Therefore, using DBD-modified CPI could enhance the stability of MP emulsions.

Exploring the relationship between the interfacial properties and emulsion properties of ultrasound-assisted cross-linked myofibrillar protein

This work aimed to illustrate the correlation between the dynamic adsorption process of ultrasound-assisted cross-linked MP on the oil-water interface and the stability of the fabricated emulsion. The interfacial pressure, adsorption kinetic coefficient, dynamic rheological properties of crosslinked MP (E-MP5), sonication before MP crosslinking (E-UMP5), and sonication after MP crosslinking (E-MPU5) and the corresponding emulsion properties, adsorbed proteins, microrheological properties, and multiple light scattering were determined. The results showed that the emulsion properties were positively correlated with the interfacial properties of MP. Ultrasound treatment could more effectively improve the interfacial properties and emulsion stability of the MP molecules than the Native treatment. Among the ultrasonic groups, the E-MPU5 group exhibited the highest interfacial pressure (15.81 mN/m), diffusion rate (Kdiff), penetration rate (KP), rearrangement rate (KR), dilatational modulus, elastic modulus, and E-π slope (2.65). Correspondingly, based on the change of Kdiff, KP, and KR, E-MPU5-fabricated emulsion had the lowest droplet size (1.56 μm), the maximum adsorbed protein content (93.08%), and the highest absolute zeta potential value. Additionally, the decreased viscosity, elastic index, macroscopic viscosity index, and turbiscan stability index in the E-MPU5-fabricated emulsion indicated the formation of a more stable emulsion. Therefore, this work suggests that sonication after crosslinking could greatly improve the interfacial adsorption behavior of MP, and the improvement of interfacial properties is conducive to the enhancement of emulsion stability.

Optimization of nanofiber‐caproate/laurate esters synthesis, their characterization, and usage as emulsifier in o/w emulsion

AbstractThe aim of this study is to optimize the esterification of nanofibers with caproyl/lauroyl chlorides at different substitution degrees' (DS) and to investigate the usage of nanofiber derivatives in model emulsions. First, cellulosic material was obtained and milled into nanofibers using a micro‐fluidizer. Then, these nanofibers were esterified with caproyl/lauroyl chlorides in a solvent of DMAc/LiCl with DMAP as an acid scavenger. The esterification of nanofibers with caproyl/lauroyl chlorides was optimized for fatty acid chloride mole and reaction time. Esterification reactions were carried out at 80°C with various molar ratios of acyl chlorides (3–15 moles) versus anhydroglucose unit of nanofibers and for various time durations (30–360 min). The hydrophobic derivatives with DS in the range of 0.34–2.77 were successfully obtained. Using the data obtained as a result of the optimization, nanofiber‐fatty acid esters with different DS (0.50–2.75) were produced and characterized. Analyzes showed that the esterification process was successful and as the degree of esterification increased, the crystallinity index and thermal stability of the derivatives decreased. Then, the nanofiber‐caproate/laurate esters with different DS were used as emulsifier (0.5 wt%) in an oil‐in‐water model emulsion containing 25 wt% oil and the emulsions were analyzed. The nanofiber caproate/laurate esters with a DS of 0.50–1.25 were suitable for o/w emulsions, while samples with a DS of 2.00 and above were not found suitable. Emulsions prepared by using nanofiber derivatives with 1.25 DS had higher G′ and G″ and viscosity values and lower droplet sizes than those of other group.

Vitamin E encapsulated nano-emulsions formulation, rheological and antimicrobial analysis

Vitamin E is an important food ingredient that individuals ingest to help prevent numerous diseases. Nano-emulsions are frequently employed in pharmaceutical, food, and personal care applications as means of delivering a variety of lipophilic active substances, namely vitamins that are oil-soluble. Both high-energy and low-energy methods are used to create nano-emulsions. The latter, however, offers advantages including less cost, convenience of use, and increased energy efficiency. In this work, we used the emulsion phase inversion technique to create nano-emulsions containing vitamin E. We investigated the rheological and physical characteristics of nano-emulsions created at different stirring rates ranging from 30 to 110 minutes. The emulsion phase inversion approach mixes an organic phase made up of oil, vitamin E, and a surfactant with an aqueous phase. The droplet size, zeta potential, and rheology of all the nano-emulsions were measured. The size distribution of nano-emulsions was measured in the particle size examination method utilizing dynamic light scattering and average droplet diameter was observed to be within a range of 141 nm to 177 nm and to follow a sequence: 110 &lt; 70 &lt; 30 min. The lowest droplet size, 141 nm, with a polydispersity index of 0.234, was obtained at 110 minutes. The zeta potential of formulated nano-emulsions ranged from – 7.1 m to – 14.3 mV. The rheological properties of nano-emulsions revealed non-Newtonian flow behavior. The antimicrobial test of nano-emulsions was examined with Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and the emulsions were resistant to S. aureus.

Emulsion Liquid Membrane for Pesticides Removal from Aqueous Solution: Emulsion Stability, Extraction Efficiency and Mass Transfer Studies

The current study investigated the stability and the extraction efficiency of emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) for Abamectin pesticide removal from aqueous solution. The stability was investigated in terms of droplet emulsion size distribution and emulsion breakage percent. The proposed ELM included a mixture of corn oil and kerosene (1:1) as a diluent, Span 80 (sorbitan monooleate) as a surfactant and hydrochloric acid (HCl) as a stripping agent without utilizing a carrier agent. Parameters such as homogenizer speed, surfactant concentration, emulsification time and internal to organic volume ratio (I/O) were evaluated. Results show that the lower droplet size of 0.9 µm and higher stable emulsion in terms of breakage percent of 1.12 % were formed at 5800 rpm of homogenizer speed, 4 v% of span 80 surfactant, 8 min of emulsification time and 1:1 (I/O) ratio while 86.4% of Abamectin pesticides were extracted under these conditions. Extraction kinetics and mass transfer study were also accomplished. The outcome of this study can be extended to the removal of other type of pesticides from water and wastewater.

In‐Situ Production of Modified Starch and Pickering Emulsions by Planetary Ball Milling

AbstractRice starches with different degrees of modification are obtained by high impact‐milling and evaluated as stabilizers of oil/water (O/W) Pickering emulsions. The objective is to produce in‐situ Pickering emulsions in a planetary ball mill (PBM), analyzing the effect of starch milling time (10, 40, 70 min) and starch concentration (3%, 9%, 15%, 21%, 27%) on emulsion attributes such as droplet size (D50, D[4,3]), oil retention (OR) capacity, creaming percentage (C), and stability time (ST). The traditional homogenization method using a rotor‐stator device is adopted as a reference. By homogenization in PBM, good quality emulsions (droplet size lower than 50 µm and 18 days stable period) are obtained by using 15% of rice starch milled during 40 min. In contrast, the emulsion cannot be obtained by traditional homogenization for the same process conditions. However, with 70 min of PBM and 21%–27% of starch content, a long‐term ST (60 days) is achieved by means of both homogenization methods. These optimal emulsions show a low droplet size (D50 ∼ 10 µm) and a great affinity of the milled starch toward the interface in optical microscopy images, which explains the significant contribution of starch particles aimed at controlling the droplet coalescence.

Soy protein fibrils–β-carotene interaction mechanisms: Toward high nutrient plant-based mayonnaise

This study systematically explored the interaction mechanisms of soy protein fibrils–β-carotene complex. Herein, we used plant-based ingredients (β-carotene and protein fibrils) to fabricate high nutrient plant-based mayonnaise by a facile method, also investigated sensory properties and β-carotene bioaccessibility. Thioflavin T fluorescence, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy results revealed that the conformational transition of protein fibrils had occurred as the addition of β-carotene. Intrinsic fluorescence quenching, FTIR spectroscopy, and surface hydrophobicity suggested that the main interaction between protein fibrils and β-carotene was hydrophobic interaction, and the formation of the complex was attributed to entropy-driven. Compared with native proteins, protein fibrils had a higher binding ability to β-carotene. Additionally, the antioxidant activity was improved after the formation of β-carotene–protein fibrils complexes (F-0.3β, 61.50%). Upon such molecular encapsulation, the stability of β-carotene was greatly improved compared with that of β-carotene only. F-0.3β-based mayonnaise (F-0.3β-M) showed a solid-like property and lower droplet size than other plant-based mayonnaise, indicating good plasticity and smoothness. In vitro digestion revealed that F-0.3β-M exhibited higher transformation (63.95%) and bioaccessibility (87.63%). This work shed light on the understanding of β-carotene–protein fibrils binding, and develop egg-free mayonnaise to attract plant-based diet lovers.

Toxic and synergetic effect of plant essential oils along with nano-emulsion for control of three mosquito species

Nano-emulsion containing Eucalyptus grandis (W. Hill ex Maiden) and Corymbia citrodora (Hook.) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson (common synonym Eucalyptus citriodora Hook.) leaf essential oils individual, combination was evaluated its larvicidal activity against Anopheles stephensi, Aedesaegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito larvae at 24 h post treatment. Nano-emulsion had low polydispersivity index and mean droplet size was below 66 nm. After 24 h E. grandis essential oil exhibited significant larvicidal activity with LC50 and LC90 values in A. aegypti (23.667; 438.797 ppm in A. aegypti A. stephensi (10.984; 277.535 ppm) and C. quinquefasciatus (4.676; 106.415 ppm). Similarly in C. citrodora showed low LC50 and LC90 values in A. aegypti (18.430; 1048.599 ppm), A. stephensi (6.573; 176.737 ppm) and C. quinquefasciatus (7.917; 287.720 ppm) respectively. The combination of E. grandis and C. citrodora essential oils showed higher mortality rates than individual essential oils, with low LC50 and LC90 values in A. aegypti (3.625; 58.962 ppm), A. stephensi (3.245; 34.473 ppm) and C. quinquefasciatus (3.002; 30.153 ppm). Nano-emulsion exhibited toxic effects similar to combination group with LC50 and LC90 values in A. aegypti (5.344; 113.362 ppm), A. stephensi (3.183; 83.112 ppm) and C. quinquefasciatus (2.832; 166.665 ppm). Chemical constituents of both essential oil were analyzed using GC-MS and FT-IR, result showed E. grandis contain different compounds namely; alpha-pinene, (31.74%); o-cymene, (17.84%); Eucalyptol (16.24%); Bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (3.2%) and C. citrodora showed Citronellol (49.31%); dl-Isopulegol (25.39%) as a major compound while their synergistic action may be due to type’s composition of EOs might produce the synergist effect along with nanoemulsions. Our findings suggest that combination of essential oil E. grandis and C. citrodora can be used for mosquito control as green approach.

Guiding Clinical Prescription of Topical Extemporaneous Formulations of Sodium Cromoglycate Based on Pharmaceutical Performance.

Cromoglycate (SCG) is widely used for allergy processes, and inflammatory states acting as a mast cell membrane stabilizer that inhibits the histamine and mediator release. Currently, SCG topical extemporaneous compounding formulations are prepared in hospitals and community pharmacies, as no industrial fabricated medicines are available in Spain. The stability of these formulations is unknown. Additionally, there are no clear guidelines on which concentration and vehicle are more suitable to enhance permeation across the skin. In this work, the stability of commonly prescribed topical SCG formulations in clinical practice was evaluated. Different vehicles commonly employed by pharmacists daily for formulating topical SCG were investigated (Eucerinum, Acofar Creamgel, and Beeler's base) at different concentrations, ranging from 0.2 to 2%. The stability of topical extemporaneous compounded SCG formulations can be extended for up to three months at room temperature (25 °C). Creamgel 2% formulations significantly improved the topical permeation of SCG across the skin, being 4.5-fold higher than formulations prepared with Beeler's base. The reason attributed to this performance can be related to the lower droplet size formed upon dilution in aqueous media combined with a lower viscosity, which facilitates its application and extensibility on the skin. The higher the SCG concentration in Creamgel formulations, the higher the permeability across both synthetic membranes and pig skin (p-value < 0.05). These preliminary results can be used as a guide to prompt a rational prescription of topical SCG formulations.

High-intensity ultrasound assisted-emulsification using ionic liquids as novel naturally-derived emulsifiers for food industry applications

Over the last decade, conscious food consumption has been revolutionizing the food industry. The search for additives that meet concepts of naturalness, healthiness and sustainability represents one of the major challenges in food industry. The development of emulsifiers in the ionic liquid (IL) form using compounds that can be obtained from natural sources to replace conventional ones is a promising approach. In this work, we have reported the application of bio-based ILs derived from fatty acids (FAs) and choline (Ch) as novel emulsifiers to produce potential food-grade oil-in-water emulsions by pre-mixing (PM) or PM followed by high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS)-assisted process (PM + U). The effects of the type of IL, considering molecular structures of FAs (C18OOH or C18:1OOH) and vegetable oil concentration (30:70 or 70:30, oil:water ratio) to form and stabilize emulsions were evaluated. The study was focused on the following aspects: synthesis and characterization of ILs, and kinetic stability, droplet size and size distribution, optical microscopy, viscosity profile and rheological behavior of the emulsions. ILs presented high emulsifier ability, since some emulsions were stable after storage time of at least 30 days, being such stability related to the type of IL, oil concentration and emulsifying process. The observed behavior was associated to lower droplet size and/or emulsion viscosity. [Ch][C18OO] presented higher emulsifier ability than [Ch][C18:1OO], and this behavior was more evident at higher oil concentration. Emulsions obtained by PM presented phase separation after their preparation, whereas most of those prepared by PM + U were visually stable, being those containing higher oil concentration the formulations that presented higher viscoelasticity, with a gel like behavior. Therefore, bio-based ILs have promising application potential as emulsifiers, and their use to obtain high stable emulsions can be enhanced by using the HIUS technique.

Casein-Hydrolysate-Loaded W/O Emulsion Preparation as the Primary Emulsion of Double Emulsions: Effects of Varied Phase Fractions, Emulsifier Types, and Concentrations

Stable primary emulsion formation in which different parameters such as viscosity and droplet size come into prominence for their characterization is a key factor in W/O/W emulsions. In this study, different emulsifiers (Crill™ 1, Crill™ 4, AMP, and PGPR) were studied to produce a casein-hydrolysate-loaded stable primary emulsion with lower viscosity and droplet size. Viscosity, electrical conductivity, particle size distribution, and emulsion stability were determined for three different dispersed phase ratios and three emulsifier concentrations. In 31 of the 36 examined emulsion systems, no electrical conductivity could be measured, indicating that appropriate emulsions were formed. While AMP-based emulsions showed non-Newtonian flow behaviors with high consistency coefficients, all PGPR-based emulsions and most of the Crill™-1- and -4-based ones were Newtonian fluids with relatively low viscosities (65.7–274.7 cP). The PGPR-based emulsions were stable for at least 5 days and had D(90) values lower than 2 µm, whereas Crill™-1- and -4-based emulsions had phase separation after 24 h and had minimum D(90) values of 6.8 µm. PGPR-based emulsions were found suitable and within PGPR-based emulsions, and the best formulation was determined by TOPSIS. Using 5% PGPR with a 25% dispersed phase ratio resulted in the highest relative closeness value. The results of this study showed that PGPR is a very effective emulsifier for stable casein-hydrolysate-loaded emulsion formations with low droplet size and viscosity.

Potential Assessment of Topical Felbinac-Loaded Cubosomal Gel in Soft Tissue Injury in Albino Rats.

Muscle strain is one of the most common injuries with high intermittence rate. Due to diverseness of strain injuries, different experimental animal models are employed to investigate such injuries with reproducible results. Cubosomes, an emerging nano drug delivery tool, are considered ideal carriers for the topical delivery of lipophilic drugs to treat local inflammations with reduced frequency of application for prolonged periods. This work describes the development of Felbinac-loaded cubosomal gel and investigated the treatment of inflammation and tissue injury in vivo. Sciatic Function Index (SFI) is a simple clinical method to observe hind limb recovery in rats after induced injuries. First, cubosomes were fabricated by high-pressure homogenization process and evaluated for in vitro parameters. The optimized cubosome formulation was chosen to develop cubosomal gel and evaluated for in vitro parameters and also investigated time to recovery of SFI after strain induction in tibialis anterior muscles in rats. The cubosome formulation (F4) exhibited low droplet size (51.04 ± 1.37 nm)and polydispersity index (0.085 ± 1.13), and negative zeta potential (-32.8 ± 0.67 mV). In rats, topical application of cubosomal gel formulation (CGF) exhibited significant improvement in skin permeation (402 ± 6.08 μg) and drug flux (15.71 ± 0.82 μg/cm2 h) compared to plain gel. Also, CGF demonstrated significant difference in SFI from first to seventh day. The histology of rat skin showed significant effect for groups treated with Felbinac-loaded CGF compared to a negative control group.