Nonionic Surfactant Research Articles

Life cycle assessment of biodiesel production using a nonionic surfactant and CaO from eggshell as a catalyst

ABSTRACT Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool used to evaluate the environmental impacts and resources used to manufacture a product. The present study proposes an innovative and unprecedented based on LCA of biodiesel production from the methyl transesterification of soybean oil catalyzed by eggshell-derived CaO and using the nonionic surfactant nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP6EO). Biodiesel was produced under mild conditions with a 1:4 methanol-to-oil ratio, 2 wt% CaO, 1 wt% NP6EO, and reaction times of 2 hours with surfactant and 3 hours without, with a yield of 95.18% and 97.75%, respectively. The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) was performed using the SimaPro software and the Ecoinvent 3.6 database by implementing the CML-IA baseline method. Results indicated that the catalyst preparation process had the lowest environmental impact, while soybean oil used contributed the most across all impact categories. The surfactant-based process was 77% more eco-efficient than the non-surfactant process. Results also showed that surfactant concentration has more influence on impacts than additional electricity consumption due to a longer reaction time. Compared to traditional KOH-catalyzed biodiesel production, the use of CaO from eggshells and NP6EO demonstrated a lower environmental impact, suggesting this method is a promising alternative to conventional processes.

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 1.0h) 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.

Cloud point extraction of heavy metal ions for wastewater remediation: an equilibrium and kinetic study

Abstract Surfactants offer a promising alternative for the efficient and environmentally friendly removal of organic pollutants and toxic heavy metal ions from various media. Their high efficiency and environmental compatibility make them a valuable option for remediation efforts. This study focuses on the cloud point extraction (CPE) of ions from aqueous solutions using biodegradable nonionic surfactants combined with ionic surfactants instead of chelating agents. Phase diagrams of binary surfactant/water systems were first constructed. The effects of salt, inorganic contaminants, and ionic surfactants on the cloud point (Tc) were then investigated. At temperatures above the cloud point, two distinct phenomena were observed and monitored over time: phase separation and phase clarification. The kinetic process was studied using the Turbiscan Lab Expert. Extraction results were evaluated based on four responses: extraction yield (E%), residual concentrations of solute (Xs,w) and surfactant (Xt,w) in the dilute phase, and volume fraction of coacervate at equilibrium (Φ C). Empirical modelling gives a satisfactory agreement between experimental and calculated values. The capacity of CPE to simultaneously remove an organic pollutant and a toxic heavy metal was demonstrated.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Activity of MoS2 Nanostructures Prepared Using Nonionic Surfactant

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has garnered significant interest as an auspicious catalytic material for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, MoS2 nanostructures are synthesized using the hydrothermal method with ammonium molybdate tetrahydrate ((NH4)6Mo7O24∙4H2O) as the Mo source; thioacetamide (CH3CSNH2) as the reducing agent and S source; and nonylphenols 9, nonylphenols 40, and polysorbate 80 as the surfactants. The impact of the different nonionic surfactants on the materials is comprehensively investigated. Moreover, the MoS2 fine structure was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission scanning microscopy (TEM). The HER characteristics of the MoS2 composites are assessed through electrochemical experiments, including linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry measurements. Among the prepared specimens, MoS2/NP 9 exhibits the best electrocatalytic performance in a neutral medium. Furthermore, 240 mV is required to reach the current density of 10 mAcm−2.

Study on the synergism mechanism of composite surfactants for oily sludge treatment using microemulsion method

The nonionic surfactant was considered to be the most effective surfactant for the treatment of oily sludge. In this paper, Tween20 and Span80 (T/S) composite surfactant was chosen as emulsifier for the preparation of microemulsion, and their synergistic effect was explored. Clint equation and molecular dynamics simulation was used to interpret the formation of mixed micelles and the results showed that T/S composite surfactant with the mass ratio of 11:1 exhibited the good synergetic effect. Then, the microemulsion prepared using composite surfactants was applied for the treatment of oily sludge. Under the optimal conditions of solid-liquid ratio of 1:1(g: mL), stirring temperature of 40 °C, stirring time of 30 min and stirring speed of 400 rpm, the residual oil rate was reduced to 0.25%, which was much lower than other reported results using chemical methods. Interface tensiometer and quartz crystal microbalance measurement showed that the interfacial tension decreased significantly after the addition of composite surfactant. This work provides a feasible strategy for oily sludge treatment using microemulsion, which promoted the development of oily sludge treatment processes based on microemulsion in practical industry.

Evaluating the Extraction and Quantification of Marine Surfactants from Seawater through Solid Phase Extraction and Subsequent Colorimetric Analyses.

Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules that adsorb to interfaces and affect the interfacial tension. Surfactants in seawater can impact gas-exchange, surface properties, and the composition and fate of sea spray aerosol. The accurate quantification of surfactants and their classes is crucial to constraining the effect of surfactants in seawater and their role in air-sea exchanges. Here, we evaluate and optimize a solid phase extraction (SPE) method paired with colorimetry and UV-vis spectroscopy to quantify the concentrations of anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants in seawater. We compare tandem SPE with two-step SPE and different elution volumes and evaluate the impact of different interferents. Improved extraction efficiencies were obtained with an 8 mL acetonitrile elution and with separate ENVI-18 and ENVI-Carb extractions, instead of tandem. With complex surfactant mixtures, the presence of anionic surfactants interfered with the quantification of cationic surfactants and caused underestimations of up to 83%. Using a two-step extraction and analyzing each seawater SPE extract separately during colorimetric quantification help avoid the effects of interferents and ensure more representative quantification of surfactants. With this method, average seawater surfactant concentrations ranged from 0.04 to 0.06 μM. At the highest concentrations, the class composition comprised 23% anionic, 21% cationic, and 56% nonionic surfactants.

Sorption Properties of Bentonite-Based Organoclays with Amphoteric and Nonionic Surfactants in Relation to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a major scientific challenge due to their profound impact on public and environmental health. Therefore, studying ways to detoxify PAHs is important. In this research, the adsorption ability of bentonite modified with five surfactants, including amphoteric (cocoamphodiacetate disodium and sodium cocoiminodipropionate) and nonionic (lauramine oxide, cocamide diethanolamine, and alkylpolyglucoside) substances for the adsorption of high-molecular benzo(a)pyrene and low-molecular naphthalene from the PAH group was studied. The bentonite and bentonite-based organoclays were characterized using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that the maximum adsorption of benzo(a)pyrene by organoclays increased compared with the initial mineral. The adsorption of benzo(a)pyrene is higher than that of naphthalene. The adsorption process of benzo(a)pyrene by bentonite and organoclays is predominantly monolayer, as it is better described by the Langmuir model (R2 0.77–0.98), while naphthalene is predominantly multilayer, described by the Freundlich model (R2 0.86–0.96). According to the effectiveness of sorption capacities of organoclays—including the degree of sorption, Langmuir and Freundlich constants, the value of maximum adsorption, Gibbs free energy, and the index of favorability of the adsorption process—the most effective modification was found. For the adsorption of benzo(a)pyrene the best was cocoamphodiacetate disodium, and for naphthalene it was sodium cocoiminodipropionate.

Role of Surfactants on Electrocatalytic Activity of Co/Al Layered Double Hydroxides For Hydrogen and Oxygen Generation

AbstractLayered double hydroxides (LDHs) have recently attracted much attention in the scientific community as a prominent catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) because they are economical, extremely stable, and highly active. Literature on LDH alone and their hybrids for catalyzing water oxidation are readily available, but LDH catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is meager. Here, we synthesized Co/Al‐based LDH systems that efficiently perform as bifunctional electrocatalysts for both HER and OER. Exfoliation of this layered material via anion intercalation into a few layers further enhanced its activity. In this work, we reported the synthesis of Co/Al LDHs via coprecipitation followed by hydrothermal method and different surfactant‐functionalized LDHs (with anionic surfactant: SDS, cationic surfactant: CTAB, and nonionic surfactant: PEG 4000). SDS‐modified LDH (s LDH) showed notable stability and competent results in hydrogen evolution in addition to oxygen evolution. The exfoliation of s LDH caused enhancement in the high specific surface area about 6.8 times compared to pristine LDH, as evident from BET data. The onset potential for HER as obtained from the polarization curve for s LDH is −0.41 V versus RHE, with Tafel slope of 67.4 mV/dec. Similarly, OER onset potential and corresponding Tafel slope are 1.53 V versus RHE at 10 mA/cm2 and 90.2 mV/dec, respectively.

Synergistic effect of curcumin and Piperine loaded Niosomal nanoparticles on acute pulmonary toxicity induced by Paraquat in mice.

Paraquat (PQ), a widely used non-selective herbicide, induces severe lung toxicity by promoting cell death and tissue necrosis through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals. This study aimed to develop and evaluate novel niosomal nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulating curcumin and piperine to mitigate PQ-induced acute pulmonary toxicity in Balb/c mice. The NPs were prepared using non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol via the thin film hydration method. Characterization revealed high encapsulation efficiency (>85%), proper particle sizes (264-286nm), narrow polydispersity index (PDI) (0.19±0.04 to 0.23±0.02), and good stability over 90days. Thermal analysis confirmed successful encapsulation of curcumin and piperine within the niosomal NPs. In vivo studies showed that PQ exposure significantly elevated ROS, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and protein carbonylation (PC) levels, while reducing glutathione (GSH) levels and impairing mitochondrial function (P<0.001). However, co-treatment with curcumin- and piperine-loaded niosomal NPs effectively reversed these effects (P<0.001), improving mitochondrial function. The combined formulation of curcumin and piperine in niosomal NPs offers a promising therapeutic strategy for treating PQ-induced pulmonary toxicity, likely due to enhanced bioavailability and potent antioxidant activity.

Nonylphenol and Cetyl Alcohol Polyethoxylates Disrupt Thyroid Hormone Receptor Signaling to Disrupt Metabolic Health.

Surfactants are molecules with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic structural groups that adsorb at the air-water or oil-water interface and serve to decrease the surface tension. Surfactants combine to form micelles that surround and break down or remove oils, making them ideal for detergents and cleaners. Two of the most important classes of nonionic surfactants are alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) and alcohol ethoxylates (AEOs). APEOs and AEOs are high production-volume chemicals that are used for many industrial and residential purposes, including laundry detergents, hard-surface cleaners, paints, and pesticide adjuvants. Commensurate with better appreciation of the toxicity of APEOs and the base alkylphenols, use of AEOs has increased, and both sets of compounds are now ubiquitous environmental contaminants. We recently demonstrated that diverse APEOs and AEOs induce triglyceride accumulation and/or pre-adipocyte proliferation in vitro. Both sets of contaminants have also been demonstrated as obesogenic and metabolism disrupting in a developmental exposure zebrafish model. While these metabolic health effects are consistent across models and species, the mechanisms underlying these effects are less clear. This study sought to evaluate causal mechanisms through reporter gene assay assessments, relative binding affinity assays, co-exposure experiments, and use of both human cell and zebrafish models. We report that antagonism of thyroid hormone receptor signaling appears to mediate at least a portion of the polyethoxylate-induced metabolic health effects. These results suggest further evaluation is needed, given the ubiquitous environmental presence of these thyroid disrupting contaminants and reproducible effects in human cell models and vertebrate animals.

Soluplus-Stabilized Nimodipine-Entrapped Spanlastic Formulations Prepared with Edge Activator (Tween20): Comparative Physicochemical Evaluation.

Nimodipine (ND) is a vasodilator drug that is used for acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. It has a predominant hydrophobic property, causing low solubility and low bioavailability. Spanlastics are elastic nanovesicular systems based on non-ionic surfactants and edge activators as major components. The goal of this work is to formulate ND as spanlastic nanovesicles to improve the drug's bioavailability. Spanlastic formulations containing ND were prepared by using the ethanol injection method. The composition of the ND formulation includes Span60 as a nonionic surfactant and Tween 20 as edge activators in different ratios. Stabilizers like Soluplus are used in some formulations and then compared with other formulations without that stabilizer. The evaluation study involved Vesicle Size (VS), PolyDispersity Index (PDI), and Entrapment Efficiency (%EE). Then, the optimized formula was subjected to an in vitro release study and zeta potential, additionally comparing the optimized formula with the formula without soluplus in the same concentration in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), solubility study, Deformability Index (DI), and stability study. The results indicated a significant shift in some evaluation criteria and a non-significant change in other characterizations, including the difference in polymer ratio, sonication time, and the existence of a stabilizer. The best formula, F27, was found to have VS, PDI, %EE, and zeta potential of 125.7±0.29 nm, 0.4744±0.002, and 85.43±0.17% and -20.01 ± 0.89 mV, respectively. The photomicrographs of the prepared spanlastic revealed a more uniform and spherical spanlastic, indicating a greater capacity for continuous release. With the addition of Soluplus, the formula became more stable in one month and had a higher deformability index. A significant shift was observed in both VS and PDI. As the stabilizer concentration increases, VS and PDI will decrease. The non-significant shift was noted in the %EE with the presence of a stabilizer. Soluplus has the ability to spontaneously self-assemble into spherical particles. Additionally, PEG 6000, as a component of Soluplus's structure, has a tendency to form strong or tightly bound bilayers and prevent aggregation and formulation of large vesicles. This study explains the accessibility of the formulation of ND as spanlastic nanovesicles by using the ethanol injection method. This spanlastic formulation contains non-ionic surfactants and edge activators (Span 40 and Tween 20) in varying ratios. To get a stable formula, Soluplus is added to prevent the development of crystals and agglomeration.

Lycopene-Loaded Emulsions: Chitosan Versus Non-Ionic Surfactants as Stabilizers.

Lycopene is a natural carotenoid with well-known benefits due to its antioxidant properties, including an anti-inflammatory effect in colorectal cancer and anti-angiogenic effects along with a reduction in the risk of prostate cancer and coronary heart disease. Due to their poor water solubility, photosensitivity and heat sensitivity, their incorporation in cosmetic and food matrices should be through encapsulation systems. In the present work, lycopene-loaded emulsions were prepared using two different types of stabilizers: non-ionic surfactants, testing several ratios of Tween 80 and Span 80, and chitosan, using chitosans of different viscosities and molecular weights. Soybean oil was found to be a suitable candidate for O/W emulsion preparation. Lycopene encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 70-75% and loading capacities of 0.14 mg/g were registered in stable emulsions stabilized either by non-ionic surfactants or acidified chitosans. Therefore, chitosan is a good alternative as a sustainable stabilizer to partially replace traditional synthetic ingredients with a new biodegradable, renewable and biocompatible material which could contribute to reduce the environmental impact as well as the ingestion of synthetic toxic materials by humans, decreasing their risk of suffering from chronic and complex pathologies, among which several types of cancer stand out.

Effect of CO2-assisted surfactant/polymer flooding on enhanced oil recovery and its mechanism

D oilfield is a typical heavy oil reservoir affected by bottom water and has the characteristics of high porosity, high permeability, and strong heterogeneity. However, water flooding leaves oil behind due to unfavorable mobility ratios and capillary forces. The layer (well section) with poor or no liquid entry ability originally has been improved in the process of surfactant/polymer flood. However, fluid entry distribution interlayers were not improved obviously in the middle and late stages. To further improve the recovery efficiency of surfactant/polymer flooding on bottom water reservoirs, the CO2-assisted surfactant/polymer flooding development method had been proposed. The optimal composition of the surfactant/polymer system was selected by evaluating the oil-water interfacial tension and viscosity. Three-dimensional cores with bottom water were used in CO2-assisted surfactant/polymer flooding experiments to improve oil recovery. On this foundation, the screening of oil displacement agents, optimization of oil production well location, and injection pressure were carried out. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the produced liquid, the CO2 assisted surfactant/polymer flooding to enhanced oil recovery mechanism was analyzed. The results showed that the surfactant named BS had a low oil-water interfacial tension of 3.79 × 10-3 mN/m. In addition, salinity decreases the viscosity of the surfactant/polymer solution. It was found that conducting CO2 huff and puff after chemical flooding can improve oil recovery. Among the four chemical agents, CO2-assisted the anionic nonionic surfactant and the salt-resistant polymer system flooding had the highest recovery. Moreover, the location of the oil production well, that is, the distance between it and the bottom water layer, has an impact on the recovery. During the experiment, 2.5 cm was the farthest distance between the oil production well and the bottom water layer, at which point the recovery was highest at 70.9%, and the bottom water breakthrough rate was 2.4%. These results provide theoretical and technical support for the development of CO2-assisted surfactant/polymer flooding and its application in wells.

Coalescence Frequency in O/W Emulsions: Comparisons of Experiments with Models.

We have studied the coalescence of oil in water emulsions under the influence of gravity. The emulsions were made with alkane oils and surfactants with varying physical chemistry. We chose cationic alkyl trimethylammonium bromides of different chain lengths and nonionic surfactants of ethylene oxide and sugar head groups, including polymeric surfactants. We observed phase separation in two steps. Creaming of the oil drops is followed by their rapid coalescence, increasing the average drop size and resulting in complete surfactant surface coverage of the interfaces. Full phase separation occurs after much longer times Tc when the emulsion drops coalesce dramatically. We have used a model by Dinh et al. to relate Tc to the coalescence frequency and hence to the activation energy for the rupture of the films between two neighboring drops. Our results support the view that the coalescence of stable emulsions (stable at least for a few hours) is a thermally activated process and is controlled by the surface compression elastic modulus. This modulus was determined using surface tension measurements and calculations using the Gibbs adsorption equation. The observed differences between ionic and nonionic systems are attributed to a two-step film rupture process in the case of ionic surfactants, which is not found in nonionic systems.

An eco-friendly strategy for emerging contaminants removal in water: Study of the adsorption properties and kinetics of self-polymerized PHEMA in green solvents

Water contaminants severely affect human health and aquatic ecosystems, and adsorption poses an economic, available, and feasible technology for remediation that needs to be accompanied by eco-friendly and sustainable materials. This study proposes an eco-friendly strategy for removing emerging contaminants using polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate polymers synthesized by self-polymerization with hydrophilic first-generation deep eutectic solvents. The polymers were characterized using structural and physical characterization techniques and their adsorption capacity against four emerging contaminants: a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, an antibiotic, a pesticide, and a non-ionic surfactant. The experimental results showed high adsorption capacity for the urea: choline chloride-derived polymer with 6.21, 7.19, 6.01, and 6.99 mg⋅g-1 for paracetamol, ciprofloxacin, glyphosate, and triton X-100, respectively; these values are comparable to those obtained for similar systems. Kinetic, isothermal, and thermodynamics were also studied using various mathematical models to understand the adsorption mechanism, further complemented by DFT analysis. Chemisorption was found to be the primary mechanism by exothermic and ordered processes, which is thermodynamically favored. The study demonstrated for the first-time the effectiveness of self-polymerized PHEMA without chemical modification as a reusable adsorbent material and its ability to remove different types of emerging contaminants, thereby offering a promising solution for water treatment in environmental science.

Locally Produced Sustainable and Resilient Surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper IPTC 24518, “Locally Produced Sustainable and Resilient Surfactants for Enhanced Oil Recovery,” by Syed Muhammad Shakil Hussain, SPE, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, SPE, and Afeez Gbadamosi, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2024 International Petroleum Technology Conference. _ Chemical flooding is a major enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method for recovering residual oil within rock pores. Injected chemicals such as surfactant, however, must be soluble in low- and high-salinity brine, compatible with reservoir ions, and stable at elevated temperatures. The main objective of the study described in the complete paper is to explore the potential of locally produced surfactants for EOR in high-temperature and high-salinity reservoir environments. Design and synthesis of the new surfactants were achieved using green or no solvents. Importance of Chemical EOR Because only 15–20% of hydrocarbons can be extracted in the primary recovery stage, the waterflooding or gas-injection techniques usually are applied in the secondary recovery stage to extract 15–20% more oil and maintain the oilfield’s original pressure. After the application of these two techniques, however, a large amount of oil remains, the extraction of which requires the use of EOR, which can include thermal, gas, or chemical techniques. In thermal EOR, hot water or steamflooding are usually used to recover heavy oil. Currently, other thermal EOR methods such as in-situ combustion or steam-assisted gravity drainage receive considerable attention, especially in reservoirs containing heavy to extra-heavy crude oil. Gas methods normally are used in reservoirs featuring light and volatile oil. CO2 flooding is perhaps the most extensively applied gas EOR method for light oil extraction. Other gases such as nitrogen, hydrocarbon gas, acid gas, and air also are used for oil recovery. Chemical EOR involves the injection of chemicals including surfactants, polymers, alkali, and mixtures thereof. The polymer tends to increase the viscosity of the aqueous phase and lower the permeability of reservoir rocks. Surfactants minimize the interfacial tension (IFT), cause emulsification, and alter the wettability of the reservoir rocks. Alkali flooding generates in-situ surfactant by reacting with organic acid and ultimately reducing the IFT. Surfactants are organic compounds having both lipophilic and lipophobic parts. The lipophilic part is called a nonpolar compound and is soluble in the oil phase. The lipophobic part is termed a polar group and is soluble in the aqueous phase. Because of the availability of both lipophilic and lipophobic compounds in the same chemical structure, the surfactant stays on the interface ­of the water and oil phase and reduces the IFT. Based on the charge of the lipophobic head, the surfactants can be classified as nonionic, cationic, anionic, and zwitterionic (Fig. 1). Each class of surfactants possesses unique properties. For example, anionic surfactants are the material of choice in sandstone reservoirs because of their low adsorption into reservoir rocks. Similarly, the cationic surfactants exhibit minimum adsorption in carbonate rocks because of charge repulsion. Zwitterionic surfactants (ZS) show high heat-stability and salt-tolerance properties, and nonionic surfactants are known for their use as cosurfactants or solvents.

Association and diffusion of cationic and nonionic surfactants with hydrocarbon molecules as a model for enhanced oil recovery

The association mechanisms and diffusion of surfactants with oil in an aqueous medium are studied using mesoscale numerical simulations. The types of surfactants modeled, one cationic and one nonionic, are chosen because they are known to be effective in coreflood experiments, among other applications. A novel molecular oil model is introduced, consisting of five types of light hydrocarbons, ranging from pentane to octane, and three heavy hydrocarbon molecules, namely decane, pentadecane, and icosane. It is found that the association mechanisms of the surfactants with oil differ markedly between the cationic and nonionic cases. While in the former, a single complex agglomerate is formed, trapping all oil components, in the latter, several oil droplets surrounded by the surfactants’ tails are produced. To test the mobility of these aggregates, their diffusion coefficients are predicted as the surfactant concentration increases. The diffusion of the agglomerate composed of oil and cationic surfactants is an order of magnitude greater than that of the oil-nonionic surfactant droplets. It is concluded that the cationic surfactant can encapsulate oil molecules and increase their diffusion more efficiently than the nonionic one, at the same concentration. The implications of our findings are discussed in the context of current research and applications.

Design Formulation of Nanospanlastic Novel Carriers as a Promising Approach to Enhanced Bioavailability in Intranasal Drug Delivery for Sinusitis: Statistical Optimization and In vitro and In vivo Characterization

Background: Most new biologically active chemicals require better water solubility and slower dissolution rates. Cefdinir (CFD) has a very low bioavailability in its crystalline form and is poorly soluble in water. Objective: By preparing cefdinir's spanlastic nanovesicles (SNVs) using the ethanol injection method, the current study has attempted to enhance the drug's solubility and bioavailability using a statistical design approach. Methods: Independent variables, including the nonionic surfactant concentration, edge activator (EA), sonication time, SNVs entrapment efficiency, particle size, zeta potential, PDI, and in vitro release, have been evaluated. The best CFD-SNVs were positioned within in situ gel with muco-adhesive properties made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and deacetylated gellan gum. By contrasting intranasal injection of the produced gel with an IV solution, animal models have been used to investigate CFD's systemic and cerebral dynamics. Results: Statistical analysis has suggested an ideal SNVs formulation with nonionic surfactant (65 mg), EA (15 mg), and sonication (3 min). The sol-gel temperature for forming the mucoad-hesive in situ gel containing SNVs has been found to be 34.03°C, and 18.36 minutes has been the extended mucociliary transit time. Following intranasal injection, compared to SNV dispersion, the gelling system has exhibited higher brain bioavailability (2251.9 ± 75 vs. 5281.6 ± 51%, re-spectively). The gel has also demonstrated effective drug targeting of the brain with higher direct transport percentage indices. Conclusion: Mucoadhesive in situ gel with CFD-loaded SNVs can be administered via the in-tranasal route. To enhance bioavailability in the brain and drug targeting from the nose to the brain, nasal in situ gel loaded with CFD-SNVs could be a new carrier to be employed in sinusitis.

Interfacial charge and specific adsorption of ions in equilibrium films: Foam film stabilized by nonionic surfactant

Interfacial charge and specific adsorption of ions in equilibrium films: Foam film stabilized by nonionic surfactant

Denaturants and Solutol® HS15 in ophthalmic formulations: Insights into their combined effects

In the field of ophthalmology, significant attention is dedicated to developing micellar carriers to enhance ocular drug delivery. Urea is a well-known denaturant and has been used as an excipient in several ocular formulations due to its efficacy as an ocular hypotensive agent. The presence of urea as an excipient may influence the characteristics of the micellar nanocarrier in the formulation and needs to be investigated. Solutol® HS15, a well-known nonionic surfactant and a commonly used nanocarrier in drug formulations, enhances the solubilization and stability of ocular drugs. However, a detailed study of its interaction with various pharmaceutical excipients is still lacking. With this intention, the present study focuses on comprehending the interaction between Solutol® HS15 micelles with urea and its derivatives. Here, we present a detailed analysis on the influence of urea and its derivatives (methylurea, dimethylurea) on Solutol® HS15 using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and cloud point (CP) measurements. The presence of urea and its derivatives strongly affects the CP, leading to a significant increase in its values when urea derivatives are present. Additionally, the SANS and DLS results also indicate a significant decrease in micellar size, suggesting demicellization. The observed effects of urea derivatives on Solutol® HS15 micelles underscore the importance of considering solvent-surfactant interactions in understanding the behavior of surfactant-based systems. This research will provide greater insight into the interactions between urea and its derivatives and Solutol® HS15, which will assist in understanding the morphology and size distribution of surfactant micelles for drug delivery applications.