Impact of the structure of phospholipid dispersions on the stability of fluorocarbon/phospholipid emulsions for biomedical uses

The preparation of injectable fluorocarbon emulsions includes the dispersion of the phospholipids in the aqueous phase, then the admixing of the fluorocarbon to produce a crude premix; emulsification is then achieved using a high pressure mechanical procedure, followed by final heat-sterilization. In this work we report that, depending on the procedure used and energy applied, the dispersions of phospholipids consist of poorly organized unclosed “pre-liposomes”, multilamellar vesicles (MLV), or small unilamellar vesicles (SUV). This has a significant impact on the stability of the final fluorocarbon emulsions (90% (w/v) concentration), those prepared from “pre-liposomes” being more stable than those prepared from MLV or SUV. The first emulsion is shown to contain less fluorocarbon-free phospholipid vesicles than the other two. These free vesicles have previously been reported to have a detrimental effect on the stability of concentrated fluorocarbon emulsions.     

Rheology and stability of oil-in-water nanoemulsions stabilised by anionic surfactant and gelatin 1) addition of nonionic, cationic and ethoxylated-cationic co-surfactants

Oil-in-water emulsions stabilised by anionic surfactant and gelatin provide the bulk of photographic coating fluids. Their rheology is of crucial importance to the fluids' performance in coating and their concentration in drying. Gelatin complexes with non-adsorbed micelles and adsorbs to the oil-surfactant-water interface, which effects an increase in the viscosity of the continuous phase and the volume of the nano-sized oil droplets, respectively. The consequences of these interactions are high viscosity and strong shear thinning. Here, the effects on the emulsion rheology of a series of bulk, commercially available surfactants were studied. These co-surfactants were chosen so as to weaken the interactions between gelatin and the anionic surfactant and hence reduce viscosity and thinning thus enabling the emulsions to be concentrated. The co-surfactants had polar head groups of three types: simple nonionic based on polyethylenenoxide, simple cationic based on a quaternary alkyltrimethyl ammonium, and combined nonionic-cationic based on a quaternised bis-ethoxylated primary amine. This last type proved the most effective at reducing the low-shear viscosity of the emulsion and reducing the shear thinning, although, at high concentrations the polyethoxylated cationic surfactants induced flocculation and coalescence of the oil droplets.     

Rheological characterization of polysaccharide-surfactant matrices for cosmetic O/W emulsions

Rheometrical techniques can be profitably used for polysaccharide matrices in order to evaluate their suitability for the preparation of stable cosmetic O/W emulsions. In particular, the rheological properties of aqueous scleroglucan systems were investigated under continuous and oscillatory shear conditions in a polymer concentration range (0.2-1.2% w/w) embracing the sol/gel transition. The effects due to the addition of two different surfactants (up to 10% w/w) were examined at constant polymer concentration (0.4% w/w). The selected additives are a nonionic polymeric siliconic surfactant (dimethicone copolyol) and a cationic surfactant (tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide), respectively. Polysaccharide-surfactant interactions leading to complex formation were detected also through rheology. The combined action of both nonionic and cationic surfactants in the polymer solution was examined at two different surfactant concentration levels (5 and 10% w/w), demonstrating the beneficial effects produced on the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix by the coexistence of both surfactants. Such beneficial effects are confirmed by the stability and rheology shown by the emulsions prepared. In this way, the results point out the good agreement between the rheology of the continuous phase and the final characteristics of the emulsion obtained.     

钙离子通道阻滞剂自乳化给药系统的形成机理

以一系列难溶性的二氢吡啶类钙离子通道阻滞剂作为模型药物,以自乳化面积和药物在自乳化给药系统(SEDDS)中的溶解度作为自乳化评价指标,建立各组分的分子描述参数与自乳化性质之间的定量函数关系,通过模型讨论分子结构对自乳化形成机理的影响.结果表明,自乳化的发生是各组分含量、分子间作用力、亲脂性和分子大小等多方面因素综合作用的结果.当混合表面活性剂分子较大且药物脂溶性较好时,SEDDS对难溶性药物的增溶能力较强;表面活性剂与助表面活性剂的质量比较大,混合表面活性剂的分子较大时,SEDDS的稀释稳定性较好.     

Highly Concentrated Emulsions: Physicochemical Principles of Formulation

This review deals with the preparation, stability, rheology and different applications of highly concentrated emulsions. These emulsions, which are known as high internal phase ratio emulsions (HIPRE), gel-emulsions, biliquid foams, etc., containing over 90% internal phase by volume, have a swollen micellar (L₁ or L₂) solution of nonionic or ionic surfactants as a continuous phase. These emulsions have the structure of biliquid foams and behave as gels since they present viscoelastic and plastic properties. The functional macroscopic properties of gel-emulsions are dependent on the structural parameters of the microemulsion continuous phase as well as of the interfacial properties (interfacial tension, bending modules, spontaneous curvature) of surfactant monolayers. The depletion interaction between emulsion droplets due to the non-compensated osmotic pressure of micelles is revealed as a main factor, along with surface forces, which determine the aggregative stability and the rheological properties of these emulsions. The effect of electrolyte and surfactant concentration, temperature, as well as other physicochemical parameters on the fiocculation threshold, stability, and yielding properties of highly concentrated emulsions is explained by the effect of these parameters on the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the aggregation number of surfactants, and, consequently, on the depletion interaction. The thermodynamic theory of adhesion of fluid droplets in micellar solution and the suggested model of elasticity of gel-emulsions permit to explain the effect of mentioned physicochemical parameters on the elasticity modulus, the plastic strength and the linear deformation of these emulsions. A novel mechanism for the spontaneous formation of gel-emulsions by the phase inversion temperature (PIT) route is suggested, allows the selection of ternary systems able to yield these emulsions, and explains how the droplet size can be controlled during the PIT process. An original model for liquid film rupture is also suggested, and allows the prediction of the effect of structural parameters of micellar solutions and the interfacial properties of surfactant monolayers on the stability of gel-emulsions.     

Interface composition of multiple emulsions: rheology as a probe

We have investigated the dynamic rheological properties of concentrated multiple emulsions to characterize their amphiphile composition at interfaces. Multiple emulsions (W1/O/W2) consist of water droplets (W1) dispersed into oil globules (O), which are redispersed in an external aqueous phase (W2). A small-molecule surfactant and an amphiphilic polymer were used to stabilize the inverse emulsion (W1 in oil globules) and the inverse emulsion (oil globules in W2), respectively. Rheological and interfacial tension measurements show that the polymeric surfactant adsorbed at the globule interface does not migrate to the droplet interfaces through the oil phase. This explains, at least partly, the stability improvement of multiple emulsions as polymeric surfactants are used instead of small-molecule surfactants.     

正负离子表面活性剂与两性表面活性剂的相互作用

本文研究正负离子表面活性剂与两性表面活性剂混合水溶液的表面性质, 以及两性表面活性剂对正负离子裘面活性剂溶解度的影响。结果表明: (1) 两性表面活性剂的加溶作用,有助于正负离子表面活性剂的溶解; (2) 加入两性表面活性剂的量适当, 混合溶液基本保持原正负离子表面活性剂的表面活性; (3) 正负离子表面活性剂与两性表面活性剂在表面层和胶团中分子间的相互作用比正负离子表面活性剂与非离子表面活性剂分子间的相互作用稍强HC-FC正负; 离子表面活性剂与两性表面活性剂混合体系在表面层中有可能形成双分子或多分子层结构。     

Effect of silica particles on stability of highly concentrated water-in-oil emulsions with non-ionic surfactant

Water-in-oil, high internal phase emulsion made of super-cooled aqueous solution containing a mixture of inorganic salts and stabilized with non-ionic surfactant (sorbitan monooleate) alone was investigated. It was not possible to produce a highly concentrated emulsion (with aqueous phase fraction = 94 wt %), stabilized with surface-treated silica, solely: we were able to form an emulsion with a maximal aqueous phase mass fraction of 85 wt % (emulsion inverts/breaks above this concentration). The inversion point is dependent on the silica particle concentration, presence of salt in the aqueous phase, and does not depend on the pH of the dispersed phase. All emulsions stabilized by the nanoparticles solely were unstable to shear. So, the rheological properties and stability of the emulsions containing super-cooled dispersed phase, with regards to crystallization, were determined for an emulsion stabilized by non-ionic surfactant only. The results were compared to the properties obtained for emulsions stabilized by surface treated (relatively hydrophobic) silica nanoparticles as a co-surfactant to sorbitan monooleate. The influence of the particle concentration, type of silica surface treatment, particle/surfactant ratio on emulsification and emulsion rheological properties was studied. The presence of the particles as a co-stabilizer increases the stability of all emulsions. Also, it was found that the particle/surfactant ratio is important since the most stable emulsions are those where particles dominate over the surfactant, when the surfactant’s role is to create bridging flocculation of the particles. The combination of the two types of hydrophobic silica particles as co-surfactants is: one that resides at the water/oil interface and provides a steric boundary and another that remains in the oil phase creating a 3D-network throughout the oil phase, which is even more beneficiary in terms of the emulsion stability.     

Enzymatic method for determining oxygen solubility in perfluorocarbon emulsions

An enzymatic method to measure the glucose content in solution was adapted for measurements of oxygen content in oil in water emulsions with a precision of about 1%. The oxygen solubility in concentrated perfluorocarbon in water emulsions at 310.2 K and atmospheric pressure was measured. To study the effect of the perfluorocarbon and of the surfactant in the oxygen solubility, two perfluorocarbons, n-perfluorohexane and perfluorodecalin, in combination with three nonionic surfactants, Lecithin, Span 20 and Pluronic F-68 were used. The concentrations used were 50% (w/v) for the perfluorocarbons and 5% (w/v) for the surfactant. The oxygen solubility is shown to be independent of the surfactant used and dependent only of the perfluorocarbon employed in the emulsions studied.     

Paclitaxel solubility in aqueous dispersions and mixed micellar solutions of lecithin

The aim of this study was to find a biocompatible, lecithin-based carrier for paclitaxel (PTX) suitable for intravenous infusion and ensuring a soluble PTX concentration of 100 mg/100 ml or higher for at least 24 h. Aqueous dispersions of egg or soya lecithin (water-lecithin dispersions, WLD), mixed micellar (MM) solutions of egg lecithin and sodium deoxycholate, and formulations containing lecithin plus the co-surfactants and co-solvents poloxamer, polysorbate, Span, benzalkonium chloride, and macrogol were investigated. Amorphous PTX was prepared by lyophilization. PTX co-lyophilized with surfactants was also studied. Unlike crystalline PTX, the drug in an amorphous form is easily soluble in 1-5% (w/w) WLD or in MM. The highest solubility (up to 570 mg/100 ml) was achieved in 5% WLD. Dissolved PTX precipitated from all tested formulations over 24 h. Despite this, concentrations of dissolved PTX of 100 mg/100 ml or higher were observed after 24 h in 5% egg WLD, 1-5% soya WLD, and in 5% MM (lecithin : deoxycholate ratio 1 : 1 w/w). When four different batches of 5% egg WLD were prepared, containing PTX in clinically relevant concentration of 100 mg/100 ml, no precipitation of PTX was observed within 24 h and this formulation is the most promising candidate for further in vivo studies. Neither additional surfactants nor co-lyophilization increased PTX solubility in the lecithin-based carriers. The use of parenteral emulsions as solvents for the co-lyophilized PTX also failed to increase the solubility of the drug up to the target concentration.     

两性离子表面活性剂的合成及其表面性质

合成了一类含季铵基和磺酸基结构的非对称Gemini两性离子表面活性剂;利用红外光谱、质谱、离子定性试验验证了合成产物的分子结构,并测定了其表面性质.结果表明,目标产物的分子结构符合设计预期;五种非对称Gemini两性离子表面活性剂的表面张力在30mN/m左右,临界胶束浓度达到10-4~10-5数量级.此外,虽然非对称Gemini两性离子表面活性剂的起泡性能比相应单链型表面活性剂的稍差,但其稳泡性明显优于后者.     

Understanding the role of surfactants on the preparation of ZnS nanocrystals

We have synthesized surface modified ZnS nanoparticles of size 2-3 nm using non-ionic surfactant-stabilized reverse emulsions. The non-ionic surfactants in the Span series, i.e. sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20) and sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values of 8.6 and 4.3, respectively, have been used for the stabilization of emulsions. The role of these surfactants in controlling the size and properties of the ZnS nanoparticles has been discussed. The triethylamine (TEA) has been proved to be the effective surface modifying (capping) agent for the preparation of free-standing ZnS nanoparticles. The Span 20 with the higher HLB value of 8.6 has been found to be highly suitable in synthesizing TEA-capped ZnS nanoparticles of smaller size and higher photophysical characteristics compared to that of the Span 80 of lower HLB value of 4.3. A mechanism for the formation of TEA-capped ZnS nanoparticles from the surfactant-stabilized reverse emulsions has been proposed.     

Investigation of the interactions in emulsions stabilized by a polymeric surfactant and its mixtures with an anionic surfactant

 The interaction of a nonionic polymeric surfactant with an anionic surfactant at the oil–water interface has been studied by its effects on the droplet size, stability and rheology of emulsions. Oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions were prepared using isoparaffinic oil and mixtures of a nonionic polymeric surfactant with an anionic surfactant. The macro-molecular surfactant was a graft copolymer with a backbone of polymethyl methacrylate and grafted polyethylene oxide (a graft copolymer with PEO chains of MW=750). The anionic surfactant was sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The stabiliza-tion of the emulsion droplets was found to be different when using one or the other surfactant. The mechanism of stabilization of emulsion droplets by the macro-molecular surfactant is of the steric type while the stabilization by anionic surfactant is of the electrostatic repulsion type. Emulsions stabilized with mixtures present both types of stabilization. Other effects on the preparation and stabilization of emulsions were found to be dependent on properties associated with the surfactant molecular weight such as the Marangoni effect and Gibbs elasticity. The initial droplet size of the emulsions showed a synergistic effect of the surfactant combination, showing a minimum for the mixtures compared to the pure components. Emulsion stability also shows a synergistic interaction of both surfactants. Rheological measurements allow for the estimation of the interparticle interaction when measured as a function of volume fraction. Most of the effects observed can be attributed to the differences in interfacial tension and droplet radius produced by both surfactants and their mixtures. The elastic moduli are well explained on the basis of droplet deformation. Ionic versus steric stabilization produce little difference in the observed rheology, the only important differences observed concerned the extent of the linear viscoelasticity region. Received: 22 November 1996 Accepted: 24 March 1997     

Synthesis and aqueous solution properties of homologous gemini surfactants with different head groups

A series of homologous gemini surfactants possessing identical hydrophobic chains but different ionic head groups (cationic, anionic, zwitterionic) were synthesized, and their aqueous solution properties were examined. The results showed that the surface activities of gemini surfactants are superior to those of corresponding conventional monomeric surfactants, and molecular arrangements of gemini surfactants at the air-water interface are tighter than those of corresponding conventional surfactants. It was also found that zwitterionic gemini surfactant possesses the highest surface activity among the three surfactants. The behavior at the air-water interface is closely related to the molecular structural features of surfactants, which provide an indication for synthesizing highly-efficient surfactants.      

Preparation of a stable double emulsion (W1/O/W2): role of the interfacial films on the stability of the system

This paper presents new protocols enabling preparation of W1/O/W2 double emulsions: one, using soybean oil as the O phase, that yields edible emulsions with industrial applications, and a second that yields emulsions with a previously unattainable concentration 15% (w/w) of surfactants in the external phase (the 15% target was chosen to meet the typical industry standard). Preparation of a stable W1/O emulsion was found to be critical for the stability of the system as a whole. Of the various low HLB primary surfactants tested, only cethyl dimethicone copolyol (Abil EM90), A-B-A block copolymer (Arlacel P135), and polyglycerol ester of ricinoleic acid (Grinstead PGR-90) yielded a stable W/O emulsion. Investigation of the surface properties of those surfactants using the monolayer technique found two significant similarities: (1) stable, compressible, and reversibly expandable monolayers; and (2) high elasticity and surface potential. The high degree of elasticity of the interfacial film between W1 and O makes it highly resilient under stress; its failure to break contributes to the stability of the emulsion. The high surface potential values observed suggest that the surfactant molecules lie flat at the O/W interfaces. In particular, in the case of PGR-90, the hydroxyl (-OH) groups on the fatty acid chains serve as anchors at the O/W interfaces and are responsible for the high surface potential. The long-term stability of the double emulsion requires a balance between the Laplace and osmotic pressures (between W1 droplets in O and between W1 droplets and the external aqueous phase W2). The presence of a thickener in the outer phase is necessary in order to reach a viscosity ratio (preferably approximately 1) between the W1/O and W2 phases, allowing dispersion of the viscous primary emulsion into the W2 aqueous phase. The thickener, which also serves as a dispersant and consequently prevents phase separation due to its thixotropic properties, must be compatible with the surfactants. Finally, the interactions between the low and high HLB emulsifiers at the O/W2 interface should not destabilize the films. It was observed that such destructive interaction for the system could be prevented by the use of two high HLB surfactants in the outer aqueous phase: an amphoteric surfactant, Betaine, and an anionic surfactant, sodium lauryl ether sulfate. The combination of such pairs of surfactants was found to contribute to the films' stability.     

VITAMIN E DISSOLUTION IN SULFOBETAINE ZW1TTERIONIC SURFACTANT SOLUTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF DIS SOLUTION BY ADDING SODIUM CHLORIDE

Vitamin E is widely used in pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic preparations.This paper discusses methods of preparing vitamin E emulsions by using sulfobetaine (SB) zwitterionic surfactants which have high electrolyte tolerance. The amount of vitamin E dissolved in water was analyzed by turbidity and UV absorption measurements. The emulsion droplet size was determined by laser light scattering. Microemulsions with small particle size and high resistance to oxidation in air can be obtained by solubilizing vitamin E in SB solutions at high concentrations (above %) The performance of a series of SB surfactants is compared in 1.5% solutions. A SB surfactant with a 12 carbon chain seems to be the most effective in dissolving vitamin E. The saturation value of vitamin E is increased about one order of magnitude by adding NaCl to the SB surfactant solutions. Emulsions formed in surfactant solutions containing NaCl (0 4-0.6 M) are stable at low surfactant concentrations such as 0.2-0.4 % The emulsion droplet sizes are below or around 200nm.     

Diffusion in an inhomogeneous system: NMR studies of diffusion in highly concentrated emulsions

In this study the self-diffusion of different species in highly concentrated water-in-oil emulsions was investigated by means of the NMR diffusometry approach. The emulsions contained 96% aqueous solutions of salt or other additives; heptane was used as the oil phase. The surfactants, used to stabilize the emulsion, were soybean phosphatidylcholine and C(12)EO(4). The water drops were about 1.5 microm in diameter according to diffusion measurements performed on water. Diffusion of tetramethyl ammonium ions and glucose between the emulsion droplets was found to be negligible on the relevant time-scale (<1 s). On the contrary, acetic acid/acetate ions diffused between the droplets and had exchange times which were a function of pH.     

正、负离子碳氟-碳氢表面活性剂混合水溶液的表面活性

1　前言碳氟表面活性剂是目前所有表面活性剂中表面活性最高的一类 ,具有很多碳氢表面活性剂无法取代的特殊用途[1] 。但是碳氟表面活性剂由于合成困难 ,价格昂贵 ,实际应用受到限大限制。研究表明 ,通过碳氟表面活性剂与碳氢表面活性剂的复配 ,有可能减少碳氟表面活性剂的用量而保持其表面活性 [1] 。在所有表面活性剂混合体系中 ,正、负离子表面活性剂混合体系具有最强的协同效应 [2 ] 。但由于正、负离子表面活性剂混合溶液一般在很低浓度即形成沉淀 ,对碳氟表面活性剂更是如此。因此目前有关碳氟—碳氢混合表面活性剂的研究主要集中在同…     

INFLUENCE OF FLUOROCARBON EMULSIONS ON PORPHYRIN-SENSITISED OXIDATION OF HISTIDINE

The influence of fluorocarbon emulsions on the efficiency of photosensitized oxidation of histidine in solution has been studied, using haematoporphyrin and dihaematoporphyrin derivatives as sensitisers. It is shown that the fluorocarbon emulsions at low concentrations efficiently disaggregate porphyrins, and thereby enhance photosensitised oxidation. The high solubility of oxygen in fluorocarbon emulsions maintains solution oxygen tension, optimising photooxidative damage. It is suggested that fluorocarbon emulsions might find a role in photodynamic therapy, both as carriers for sensitising dyes, and also to maintain tissue oxygenation in hypoxic regions of solid tumours.     

Prediction of conformational characteristics and micellar solution properties of fluorocarbon surfactants

A molecular-thermodynamic theory is developed to model the micellization of fluorocarbon surfactants in aqueous solutions, by combining a molecular model that evaluates the free energy of micellization of fluorocarbon surfactant micelles with a previously developed thermodynamic framework describing the free energy of the micellar solution. In the molecular model of micellization developed, a single-chain mean-field theory is combined with an appropriate rotational isomeric state model of fluorocarbon chains to describe the packing of the fluorocarbon surfactant tails inside the micelle core. Utilizing this single-chain mean-field theory, the packing free energies of fluorocarbon surfactants are evaluated and compared with those of their hydrocarbon analogues. We find that the greater rigidity of the fluorocarbon chain promotes its packing in micellar aggregates of low curvatures, such as bilayers. In addition, the mean-field approach is utilized to predict the average conformational characteristics (specifically, the bond order parameters) of fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon surfactant tails within the micelle core, and the predictions are found to agree well with the available experimental results. The electrostatic effects in fluorocarbon ionic surfactant micelles are modeled by allowing for counterion binding onto the charged micelle surface, which accounts explicitly for the effect of the counterion type on the micellar solution properties. In addition, a theoretical formulation is developed to evaluate the free energy of micellization and the size distribution of finite disklike micelles, which often form in the case of fluorocarbon surfactants. We find that, compared to their hydrocarbon analogues, fluorocarbon surfactants exhibit a greater tendency to form cylindrical or disklike micelles, as a result of their larger molecular volume as well as due to the greater conformational rigidity of the fluorocarbon tails. The molecular-thermodynamic theory developed is then applied to several ionic fluorocarbon surfactant-electrolyte systems, including perfluoroalkanoates and perfluorosulfonates with added LiCl or NH(4)Cl, and various micellar solution properties, including critical micelle concentrations (cmc's), optimal micelle shapes, and average micelle aggregation numbers, are predicted. The predicted micellar solution properties agree reasonably well with the available experimental results.