Sorbitan Monooleate Research Articles

Investigation of the synergistic effect of nonionic surfactants on emulsion resolution using response surface methodology.

The production of crude oil is always accompanied by water production, which may create severe separation problems. It is important to understand the stabilization mechanism and parameters contributing to the formation of emulsion, specifically the synergy mixing of surfactants. These factors have not been studied primarily in previous studies. The main objective of the current work was to assess the influence of synergy mixing of nonionic surfactants, sorbitan monooleate (hexitol) and polysorbate 80 (glycol), which are mainly affecting the stability of oil-in-water emulsions. Several factors, such as the mixing rate, mixing time, and aging time of the studied emulsions were also investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM), and central composite design (CCD) were employed to design the experiments. Emulsion stability was measured through a static bottle test over a range of time (1-7 days) at a temperature of 60 °C. A model was established with a coefficient of determination value at 0.8814 and the highest emulsion stability achieved was 42.83%. The least water separation was observed at 0.5 v/v% hexitol, 1.5 v/v% glycol, 15 000 rpm mixing rate in 5 minutes, and seven-day ageing time to achieve ∼41.56% emulsion stability. The minimum emulsion stability of ∼25.0% was observed using 0.5 v/v% of sorbitan monooleate and polysorbate 80 at 5000 rpm of mixing rate in 15 min and under seven days of observation. The results also revealed that the mixing time and ageing time do not affect the stability of the prepared emulsions. Hexitol, mixing rate, synergy mixing of nonionic surfactants and polysorbate 80, and mixing speed significantly influence emulsion stability. The R 2 value of 88.14% verified that the model is well-fitted and the optimal values for the input variables were successfully obtained using RSM.

Stability of primary emulsion assisted with nanoparticle in emulsion liquid membrane process for zinc extraction

In the present work, primary water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion consisting blended surfactant and nanoparticle is used for the improvement of ELM stability for zinc extraction. The components used in ELM were di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)thiophosphinic acid (Cyanex 302) as a base and synergistic carrier,palm oil as a diluent, sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) as a surfactant, iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3) as a nanoparticle stabilizer and acidic thiourea as a stripping agent. There are several operating parameters including hydrophilic-lipophilic (HLB) value, mixed surfactant concentration, homogenizer speed as well as nanoparticle concentration were investigated in primary W/O emulsion preparation. The results show that emulsion stability increases up to 88% while droplet diameter decreases by 70% at HLB 8, 5% (w/v) of blended mixture surfactant, 8000 rpm of homogenizer speed and 0.02% (w/v) of nanoparticle concentration at fixed 3 min of emulsification time within 60 min of phase separation. It is expected that the extraction of zinc during the formation of W/O/W emulsion increases as it may offer large surface area for solute pertraction and reduced destabilization phenomenon. Hence, the usage of blended mixture surfactant accompanied by nanoparticle (Fe2O3) in the emulsion making has high potential to enhance the emulsion stability in emulsion liquid membrane process of zinc extraction.

OBTAINING MONO-SUBSTITUTED SORBITAN ESTERS

Polyol esters have recently been widely used in various fields: medicine, cosmetics, food industry, sanitation, science and technology. This is ensured by the specific physical and chemical properties of this group of substances. Polyols are polyhydric alcohols obtained by hydrogenation of monosaccharides. These compounds are found in natural sugars and are used in food and as dietary sweeteners. Esters of polyols with carboxylic acids are functionally divided into several groups. Thus, esters of saturated carboxylic acids С12-С18 - with a degree of substitution from 4:1 to 6:1 are mainly thick and hard artificial oils and, accordingly, are used in medicine, pharmacy and cosmetology. In engineering, polyol esters are mainly used in the machine tool, automotive and aviation industries as high temperature lubricating oils. Polyol esters containing C4-C12 carboxylic acids or unsaturated carboxylic acids are generally liquid or soft oils for use in ointments, cosmetic preparations, and the like. A variety of polyol esters with a degree of substitution from 1:1 to 3:1 are particularly widely used as emulsifiers, stabilizers, defoamers, dispersants and detergents. Our previous studies have focused on obtaining oil-like esters with the maximum degree of substitution. Using the examples of mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and erythritol, numerous samples of esters were obtained and the optimal conditions for esterification reactions, isolation, and analysis of the obtained products were worked out. In this work, we set a goal to study the patterns of obtaining monosubstituted esters of sorbitol and sorbitan, which are of interest as nonionic emulsifiers and detergents. In particular, the technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Community allow the use of emulsifiers: E491 – sorbitan monostearate, E492 – sorbitan tristearate, E493 – sorbitan monolaurate, E494 sorbitan monooleate, E495 sorbitan monopalmite. Sorbitan monopalmitate or span 40 emulsifier is a flaky yellowish brown wax. It consists of a mixture of mono- and dianhydrides of sorbitan. Its liquid crystal structure is similar to the natural structure of the skin, easily absorbs water and effectively moisturizes the skin, transfers nutrients and medicinal substances deep into the skin.

Compatibility and efficiency of preservatives in emulsive cosmetics containing high surfactant content

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of nonionic surfactants on the effectiveness of preservatives used in emulsions containing high surfactant content. Mixtures of different concentrations were prepared between polyethoxylated (40) hydrogenated castor oil (PHCO) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (PSO), with methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and isobutylparaben (PMEPBI) blend, phenoxyethanol and benzoic acid (BP) blend, and phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol (PC) blend. Subsequently, the compatibility of the formulation ingredients and the effectiveness of the preservatives were evaluated by the challenge test. It was found that PHCO and PSO inactivated the antimicrobial action of methylparaben and PMEPBI. Paraben-free preservatives BP and PC had less influence on surfactants than systems containing parabens. When incorporated into microemulsions and nanoemulsions containing 40% and 20% surfactants, methylparaben and BP 0.2% and 0.5% were only effective against Aspergillus niger. The PMEPBI 0.2% was effective as a preservative in nanoemulsified formulations against A. niger, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The results demonstrate that the efficacy of the preservative system in formulations containing nonionic surfactant excipients depends on the type of excipient, the components of the formulation, the preservative systems composition, the excipient to preservative ratio, and the availability in the formulation.

A Study on the Effects of Surfactant Concentration and Particle Size on Ethylcellulose Microspheres Containing Indinavir Sulphate

Microspheres containing indinavir sulfate were prepared by the emulsion solvent evaporation technique using surfactant sorbitan monooleate 80. The evaluation reports for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy were taken to see whether the surfactant altered the physicochemical features of the produced microspheres. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the surface topography of the microspheres. When sorbitan monooleate 80 was employed at dissimilar concentrations, the sorbitan monooleate 80 microspheres had higher concentrations that resulted in smaller particle size as compared to the lower concentrations of sorbitan monooleate 80 microspheres, therefore, the faster release rate was observed by utilizing a higher concentration of sorbitan monooleate 80. The microspheres entrapped 71 % to 96 % of the drug and released it for up to 7 h. X-ray diffraction revealed a decrease in the crystallinity of the drug. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the spherical and after dissolution detected porous structure of microspheres. The excellent fit release kinetics is accomplished with the zero-order, Higuchi plot followed by first-order, Hixson-Crowell and Korsmeyer-Peppas equations. As a result, the drug indinavir sulfate release rate was influenced by surfactant concentrations, drug-polymer ratio, particle size and the diffusion release mechanism.

On the Effect of pH, Temperature, and Surfactant Structure on Bovine Serum Albumin-Cationic/Anionic/Nonionic Surfactants Interactions in Cacodylate Buffer-Fluorescence Quenching Studies Supported by UV Spectrophotometry and CD Spectroscopy.

Due to the fact that surfactant molecules are known to alter the structure (and consequently the function) of a protein, protein–surfactant interactions are very important in the biological, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Although there are numerous studies on the interactions of albumins with surfactants, the investigations are often performed at fixed environmental conditions and limited to separate surface-active agents and consequently do not present an appropriate comparison between their different types and structures. In the present paper, the interactions between selected cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants, namely hexadecylpyridinium chloride (CPC), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), polyethylene glycol sorbitan monolaurate, monopalmitate, and monooleate (TWEEN 20, TWEEN 40, and TWEEN 80, respectively) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied qualitatively and quantitatively in an aqueous solution (10 mM cacodylate buffer; pH 5.0 and 7.0) by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy supported by UV spectrophotometry and CD spectroscopy. Since in the case of all studied systems, the fluorescence intensity of BSA decreased regularly and significantly under the action of the surfactants added, the fluorescence quenching mechanism was analyzed thoroughly with the use of the Stern–Volmer equation (and its modification) and attributed to the formation of BSA–surfactant complexes. The binding efficiency and mode of interactions were evaluated among others by the determination, comparison, and discussion of the values of binding (association) constants of the newly formed complexes and the corresponding thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH, ΔS). Furthermore, the influence of the structure of the chosen surfactants (charge of hydrophilic head and length of hydrophobic chain) as well as different environmental conditions (pH, temperature) on the binding mode and the strength of the interaction has been investigated and elucidated.

Repositioning application of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate on ocular drug resistance and cancer multi-drug resistance by inhibiting the ATPase activity of human multidrug resistance protein 1 and P-glycoprotein

Drug efflux transporters were highly related to the clinical drug resistance issues, such as cancer multi-drug resistance (MDR) and ocular drug resistance. In the present study, with the focus on human multi-drug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), the inhibitory kinetics of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) on both drug binding sites and ATPase were in-depth evaluated. We used the stable-cloned ABCB1/Flp-In™-293 and ABCC1/Flp-In™-293 cell lines, and inside-out membrane vesicles for underlying mechanisms investigation while used the drug induced cancer MDR cell line KB/VIN and human retinal pigmented epithelium cell line ARPE-19 for efficacy evaluation. Results showed that Tween 80 exhibited non-competitive inhibition on the doxorubicin efflux of P-gp and MRP1, with the inhibitory affinity 0.00195% (14.89 μM) and 0.00245% (18.7 μM), respectively. Tween 80 inhibited the basal ATPase activity of P-gp and MRP1 in a dose-dependent manner (0.0002–0.02%) and demonstrated significant reversing effects on the doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and vincristine resistance at the concentration of 0.001% (7.63 μM). This was the first thorough study revealing the interactions between Tween 80 and P-gp or MRP1 at a molecular level and these findings suggested that Tween 80 was a potential candidate for future combinatorial regimens applied in the “drug resistance” issue.

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles: Phase Transfer to Water

Herein, a simple one‐pot procedure is reported to obtain aqueous zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle dispersions from ZnO nanoparticles dispersed in cyclohexane. In the process, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (polysorbate 80, Tween 80) functions as a phase transfer agent and colloidal stabilizer. The particles grow in a defined manner during the transfer, presumably via coalescence. The final particle radii are tuneable in the range from 2.3 ± 0.1 nm to 5.7 ± 0.1 nm depending on the incubation time of the dispersion at 90 °C. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering is employed to determine the particle radius distributions before and after phase transfer. The larger ZnO particle radii are associated with a redshift of the optical bandgap and luminescence emission, as expected for semiconductor nanoparticles. The particles presented here exhibit a relative size distribution width of 20%, rendering them attractive for applications in, e.g., biology or catalysis. The latter application is demonstrated at the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye.

Hydrophobization of minerals by sorbitan mono oleate (Span® 80): Selectivity of a novel agglomeration process

The selectivity of a novel mineral beneficiation technology utilizing a water in oil emulsion as the binder for mineral agglomeration has been investigated. This novel technology can agglomerate fine and ultrafine hydrophobic mineral particles in less than 7 s thus providing an option for the beneficiation of low-grade ores or rare earth metal oxides, metal sulphides or platinum group metals (PGMs). However, the selectivity of the process is compromised by the interaction of emulsifier-sorbitan mono oleate (SMO), commonly known as Span® 80, with the gangue. SMO is the emulsifier used to make the emulsion binder. In this work, we show that the SMO interacts with the transition metal ions adsorbed on the gangue particles possibly via the sorbitan sugar group thus hydrophobizing and leading to the agglomeration of the gangue. This gangue-SMO interaction reduces the selectivity of the agglomeration process. Treating the ore slurry with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), prior to agglomeration, prevents the agglomeration of gangue as the EDTA removes the adsorbed metal ions and brings them into the solution. The EDTA treatment is shown to improve the selectivity of the agglomeration process significantly. We also show that SMO can act as a generic collector as it can hydrophobize particles of a variety of transition and rare earth metal oxides.

Stability, thermal conductivity and rheological properties of graphene and MWCNT in nanolubricant using additive surfactants

This study presents the stability, thermal conductivity and rheological properties of Graphene (GR) and Multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) in SUNISO SL68 Oil with different surfactants. Cetrimonium bromide (CTAB), Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate (SDBS), and Sorbitan monooleate (SPAN-80) are used as a surfactant. Zeta potential measurement was used to identify the agglomeration tendency of the samples. Visual observation, aided by an LED backlight, was used to investigate the sedimentation tendency of the samples. Thermal conductivity was measured to determine conductivity improvements of a nanolubricant with additive surfactants. Lastly, a cone and plate were used to measure the viscosity of the samples at different shear rates and temperatures. Zeta potential results were matched with visual observation results and CTAB is shown to be a better surfactant for both GR and MWCNT. Thermal conductivity analysis shows no significant improvement within the different surfactants, however, between 2% and 7% improvement is recorded when comparing nanolubricant to pure oil. A non-Newtonian fluid behaviour, specifically, Shear-thinning flow behaviour is observed in MWCNT nanolubricant samples, unlike the pure oil that shows a Newtonian fluid behaviour.

Comparison of lipid liquid crystal formulation and Vivitrol® for sustained release of Naltrexone: In vitro evaluation and pharmacokinetics in rats

Camurus’ FluidCrystal® injection depot is a lipid liquid crystal (LLC) phase formation-based method, comprising of glycerol dioleate (GDO) and soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC), together with minute quantities of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solvent (NMP). The present study aimed to develop a method for LLC using sorbitan monooleate (LLC-SMO) instead of GDO to prepare a one-month sustained-release formulation of naltrexone (NTX) that is applied for the treatment of autism and treating alcohol dependence. The optical characteristics of the LLC were assessed by polarizing light microscopy (PLM) to reveal the presence of lamellar, hexagonal, and cubic mesophases. Furthermore, in vitro release of NTX and NMP, degradation, pharmacokinetics, and histopathology of LLC-GDO and LLC-SMO in rats were evaluated and compared to those of Vivitrol®. The PLM images revealed that the structure of LLC-SMO is hexagonal, similar to LLC-GDO. The in vitro release of NTX and its pharmacokinetic results in rats indicted that the LLC-SMO system is more uniform than LLC-GDO and Vivitrol® during 35 days. Histopathological results of LLC-GDO and LLC-SMO confirmed the biocompatibility of our LLC delivery systems. Taken together these data demonstrate that the LLC-SMO-based method, was efficient enough to sustain the release of NTX in vitro and in vivo, confirming the biocompatible nature of this delivery system.

Curcuma comosa loaded transfersomal gel for transdermal application: formulation, in vitro and in vivo evaluation

Rational Diarylheptanoids, extracted from the Curcuma comosa (CC) rhizome, have been reported to exhibit estrogenic activity. However, oral administration of the extract showed a short half-life. Objectives This study aimed to formulate and to investigate the potential of transfersomal gels for the transport of phytoestrogenic diarylheptanoids across the skin into the blood circulation. Materials and methods The transfersomes were developed and optimized for their compositions including sources of phospholipid (egg yolk and soybean), types of edge activators (polysorbate 80, sorbitan oleate 80, and sodium cholate), and concentrations of CC extract (10–60 mg). The optimal formulation was further incorporated into Carbopol® Ultrez 21 gel and evaluated for in vitro release, permeation, and in vivo absorption. Results The optimal transfersomes containing 10% of polysorbate 80 were selected due to high drug entrapment efficiency and a small diameter. The release kinetic of transfersomal gels followed a zero model. The maximum permeation flux through porcine ear skin was 1.38 ± 0.25 µg/cm2/h for (4E, 6E)-1, 7-diphenylhepta-4, 6-dien-3-ol, and 0.40 ± 0.11 µg/cm2/h for (6E)-1, 7-diphenylhept-6-en-3-ol. Results of the in vivo pharmacokinetics study in rats showed that transfersomal gel provided a maximum concentration of 219.71 ± 4.05 ng/ml and prolonged plasma concentration of diarylheptanoids for over 12 h. There was no significant variation found in the physical characteristics including viscosity, pH, and size after six months of storage at room temperature (30 ± 1 °C) and high temperature (40 ± 1 °C). Conclusions The obtained data suggested that the developed transfersomal gel of CC extract should be beneficial for improving the delivery of phytoestrogenic diarylheptanoids.

Albumin Microspheres as “Trans-Ferry-Beads” for Easy Cell Passaging in Cell Culture Technology

Protein hydrogels represent ideal materials for advanced cell culture applications, including 3D-cultivation of even fastidious cells. Key properties of fully functional and, at the same time, economically successful cell culture materials are excellent biocompatibility and advanced fabrication processes allowing their easy production even on a large scale based on affordable compounds. Chemical crosslinking of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N’-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) in a water-in-oil emulsion with isoparaffinic oil as the continuous phase and sorbitan monooleate as surfactant generates micro-meter-scale spherical particles. They allow a significant simplification of an indispensable and laborious step in traditional cell culture workflows. This cell passaging (or splitting) to fresh culture vessels/flasks conventionally requires harsh trypsinization, which can be omitted by using the “trans-ferry-beads” presented here. When added to different pre-cultivated adherent cell lines, the beads are efficiently boarded by cells as passengers and can be easily transferred afterward for the embarkment of novel flasks. After this procedure, cells are perfectly viable and show normal growth behavior. Thus, the trans-ferry-beads not only may become extremely affordable as a final product but also may generally replace trypsinization in conventional cell culture, thereby opening new routes for the establishment of optimized and resource-efficient workflows in biological and medical cell culture laboratories.

Effect of surfactants on the production of polysaccharides from Schizophyllum commune through submerged fermentation

Schizophyllum commune (S. commune) polysaccharides are biomacromolecules with multiple biological activities and wide applications. In this study, polysaccharide production through submerged fermentation of S. commune using different surfactants was investigated. The addition of 1 g/L of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) at the beginning of the fermentation showed the best promotional effects on collective exopolysaccharide (EPS) production (which increased by 37.17%) while shortening the production cycle by 2 days. The monosaccharide composition of the EPS produced when the added Tween 80 was similar to that of the control; however, the molecular weight (Mw) was lower. Notably, the addition of Tween 80 significantly increased the ATP levels and the transcription levels of phosphoglucomutase and β-glucan synthase genes in the polysaccharide synthesis pathway. The addition of Tween 80 reduced the pellet size of the mycelium compared to that of the control, but did not significantly change the microstructure of the mycelial cells. This study proposes an efficient strategy for the production of polysaccharides through submerged fermentation of S. commune, and elucidates the detailed mechanism of using Tween 80 as a fermentation stimulatory reagent.

Removal of Ibuprofen at Low Concentration Using a Newly Formulated Emulsion Liquid Membrane

Ibuprofen (IBP) is a pharmaceutical product that is widely prescribed as an over-the-counter painkiller. It has been classified as a contaminant of emerging concern (CEC) that has received global attention in the search for a better wastewater separation technology. The emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) is one of the potential solutions for IBP removal from wastewater owing to its advantages, such as the ability to remove a highly soluble solute, energy efficient and tuneable formulation. To develop this ELM, a series of parameters such as stirring speed, emulsification time, organic to internal phase volume ratio (O/I), internal phase concentration, carrier concentration and surfactant concentration were studied. The extraction was carried out for 15 min stirring time and the concentration of IBP in the feed phase was determined using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The optimum formulation for the ELM was found at 300 rpm stirring speed, 20 min emulsification time, 3:1 of O/I, 0.1 M ammonia, NH3 (stripping agent), 6 wt% trioctylamine, TOA (carrier) and 2 wt% sorbitan monooleate, Span 80 (non-ionic surfactant). IBP removal of 89% was achieved at the optimum parameters of ELM. The current research demonstrated that a newly formulated ELM has great potential in removing a low concentration IBP from wastewater.

Preparation and characterization of concentrated γ-Oryzanol nanodispersions by solvent displacement method: Effect of processing conditions on nanoparticles formation

Concentrated γ-Oryzanol nanodispersions were prepared by solvent displacement method, using purified water (no emulsifier) or aqueous solutions of polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (T80), modified lecithin (ML) or sodium caseinate (SC) as emulsifiers. The nanodispersions had comparable particle sizes (126–157 nm), particle size distribution (monomodal), polydispersity index (˂ 0.1), γ-Oryzanol concentration (1.69–1.82 mg mL−1) and encapsulation efficiency (89.39–98.78%) at optimized processing conditions. Moreover, they had negative ζ-potentials, independently of the composition of the aqueous phase added, indicating that both γ-Oryzanol and emulsifier contributed to nanoparticles formation. Comprehensively, emulsifier-free nanodispersions had a ζ-potential of −46.7 mV, originating potentially from the dissociation of hydroxyl groups of caffeic acid and/or ferulic acid on γ-Oryzanol structures. ML and SC provided negative charges as expected, while T80 stabilized nanoparticles were also charged (−26.0 mV) despite the absence of ionizable groups on polysorbate structure. These results feature the self-stabilizing properties of γ-Oryzanol in concentrated colloidal systems, such as nanodispersions, and present a novel approach for its encapsulation in caloric-free formulations.

Improved Bioavailability of Ebastine through Development of Transfersomal Oral Films.

The main objective of this research work was the development and evaluation of transfersomes integrated oral films for the bioavailability enhancement of Ebastine (EBT) to treat allergic rhinitis. The flexible transfersomes, consisting of drug (EBT), lipid (Phosphatidylcholine) and edge activator (EA) Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate or Sorbitan monolaurate, were prepared with the conventional thin film hydration method. The developed transfersomes were further integrated into oral films using the solvent casting method. Transfersomes were evaluated for their size distribution, surface charge, entrapment efficiency (EE%) and relative deformability, whereas the formulated oral films were characterized for weight, thickness, pH, folding endurance, tensile strength, % of elongation, degree of crystallinity, water content, content uniformity, in vitro drug release and ex vivo permeation, as well as in vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics profile. The mean hydrodynamic diameter of transfersomes was detected to be 75.87 ± 0.55 nm with an average PDI and zeta potential of 0.089 ± 0.01 and 33.5 ± 0.39 mV, respectively. The highest deformability of transfersomes of 18.52 mg/s was observed in the VS-3 formulation. The average entrapment efficiency of the transfersomes was about 95.15 ± 1.4%. Transfersomal oral films were found smooth with an average weight, thickness and tensile strength of 174.72 ± 2.3 mg, 0.313 ± 0.03 mm and 36.4 ± 1.1 MPa, respectively. The folding endurance, pH and elongation were found 132 ± 1, 6.8 ± 0.2 and 10.03 ± 0.4%, respectively. The ex vivo permeability of EBT from formulation ETF-5 was found to be approximately 2.86 folds higher than the pure drug and 1.81 folds higher than plain film (i.e., without loaded transfersomes). The relative oral bioavailability of ETF-5 was 2.95- and 1.7-fold higher than that of EBT-suspension and plain film, respectively. In addition, ETF-5 suppressed the wheal and flare completely within 24 h. Based on the physicochemical considerations, as well as in vitro and in vivo characterizations, it is concluded that the highly flexible transfersomal oral films (TOFs) effectively improved the bioavailability and antihistamine activity of EBT.

Study Of The Stability Of Water-In-Oil Emulsion Intended for the Extraction of Heavy Metals Application: Copper Ions

This work aims to optimize the parameters that affect the stability of a W/O emulsion to exploit it in the extraction of heavy metals contained in the liquid effluents. The study of the emulsion stability shows that; an emulsification time of 10 minutes, a surfactant concentration of Span80 equal to 3% (w/w), an extractant concentration of Triethylamine N(CH2CH3)3 equal to 5% (w/w), an internal phase concentration of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) of 0.75M, a volume ratio of membrane phase to internal phase of 1, a volume ratio of external phase to the emulsion of 20 and a stirring speed of 180 rpm; lead to the formation of a very stable emulsion with a very low rupture rate of around 1.92% after one hour of contact time. The results of extraction of copper ions revealed that under the best operational conditions, the extraction yield was closed to 93.33% for 20% extractant content, a contact time of 12 minutes, and an initial concentration of copper ions of 400 ppm. The application of this new membrane matrix based on phosphoric acid used as inner phase, sorbitan monooleate as a surfactant, and Triethylamine as extractant has been proven effective for extracting copper ions in water.

Ovicidal, larvicidal and oviposition repelling action of a nanoemulsion of citronella essential oil (Cymbopogon winterianus) on Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

• Nanoemulsified Citronella EO 15% is lethal for eggs of C. hominivorax. • Nanoemulsified Citronella EO 15% is lethal for larvae of C. hominivorax. • Nanoemulsified Citronella EO 15% reduces the oviposition of C. hominivorax. • Adult of C. hominivorax are sensitive to nanoemulsified Citronella EO 15%. Cochliomyia hominivorax is the dipteran that causes the worst and most serious types of myiasis in animals and humans in the Americas. They are parasitic affections caused by the massive infestation of larvae of this species on the tissues of living mammals. The routine treatment uses chemosynthetic products that have high toxicity and can cause several injuries to animal and human health, besides environmental contamination. The development of more friendly alternatives to the treatment of this disease is an important knowledge gap nowadays. Citronella ( Cymbopogon winterianus ) is the most widely cultivated medicinal plant in tropical and subtropical regions. Essential oils have a recognised repellent and larvicidal activity against a wide variety of insects. This work aimed to evaluate the repellent, ovicidal and larvicidal efficacy of a topical commercial formulation composed of 15% (w/v) nanoemulsified Citronella essencial oil (Nano Citronela Plus®) in in vitro trials on specimens of C. hominivorax created under laboratory conditions. Nano Citronela Plus® is an oil-in-water nanoemulsion obtained by high-pressure homogenization method. The composition of tested nanoemulsion was Cymbopogon winterianus essential oil, vanillin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, polysorbate 80, sorbitan oleate, tocopheryl acetate, sodium benzoate and water. Nano Citronela Plus® demonstrated 100% lethality on eggs and first and second stage larvae of C. hominivorax . Mortality in the larvae of third stage was 69.33% and inhibited the oviposition of C. hominivorax females. Nano Citronela Plus® proved to be a possible herbal alternative for the control and treatment of myiasis caused by C. hominivorax . In vivo studies may test this hypothesis.

Impact of lipophilic surfactant on the stabilization of water droplets in sunflower oil

The food industries are continuously facing enormous challenges in the formation of stable w/o emulsions. The stability of the w/o emulsions is a key factor when being used as primary emulsions for the formation of double emulsions (DE). Long-term stability of the primary emulsions in a DE is still a non-solved challenge. Therefore, a mixture of various surfactants or the chemical composition of Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate (PGPR) as a surfactant for stabilizing the emulsion is a scientific interest to alleviate this problem. In order to stabilize the water droplets, two lipophilic surfactants, namely PGPR: Sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20) and PGPR: Sorbitan monooleate (Span 80), blends in various ratios, and various total surfactant quantities were used. The properties of the emulsions have been evaluated in terms of structure, droplet size, stability, and viscosity. The influence of three different providers of PGPR with different chemical compositions on the water droplets is also investigated. Results show that the provider of PGPR significantly affects the properties of the emulsions. PGPR from providers A and B results in emulsions with similar droplet sizes (12 and 13 μm, respectively) and stability using the rotor-stator device at 10,000 rpm, whereas PGPR from provider C yields emulsions with the lowest droplet size (1.7 μm). The mass spectrometric analysis shows that the C PGPR contains lower molecular units with fewer impurities. Therefore, the interfacial tension of the C PGPR exhibits significantly lower values compared to the other two, leading to the production of droplets with the lowest size. Furthermore, the emulsion properties are shown to be affected by the type or concentration of the surfactants. Overall, blends of PGPR: Span and the PGPR provider can tailor the physicochemical properties of w/o emulsions. Novelty impact statement The effect of three different providers' PGPR (a lipophilic surfactant) on the emulsion properties and stability. The small molecular weight of PGPR shows a lowering interfacial tension, which provides smaller emulsion droplet size and in consequence higher viscosity and higher stability. Proposed optimum compositions of PGPR-Span 20 or Span 80 blends for obtaining the best stable structure of w/o emulsions.