Emulsions Flashcards
What are the different types of emulsions?
- Simple emulsions
- Multiple emulsions
- Microemulsions
- Micellar emulsions
How does one distinguish between o/w and w/o emulsion?
- Colour, feel on skin, filter paper, wetting, filter paper + CoCl2, fluorescence, conductivity, dye test, dilution
What are the basic components of emulsions?
- Oil phase
- Aqueous phase
- Emulsifying agent (a.k.a. emulgent)
What are the different types of surfactants?
- Anionic surfactants
- Cationic surfactants
- Amphoteric surfactants
- Nonionic surfactants
What are surfactants?
compounds with hydrophilic and lipophilic groups in molecular structure –> amphipathic nature causes molecules to be attached to interfaces
What are some examples of nonionic surfactants?
- Sorbitan esters and polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters
- Glycol and glycerol esters (glyceryl monostearate)
- Fatty acid polyglycol esters (POE fatty acid esters)
- Fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers
- Higher fatty alcohols
What are some examples of cationic surfactants?
Cetrimide, cetyl pyridium chloride, benzalkonium chloride
What are some commonly used hydrophilic colloids used in the formation of surfactants?
natural and synthetic clays, natural and synthetic gums, proteins
What are some ways that emulgents contribute to the stability of emulsions?
- Formation of rigid interfacial film
- Formation of electric double layer
- Increase viscosity of continuous phase
What happens when you use surfactants of a much lower HLB than the required HLB in the formation of a suspension?
phase inversion occurs if it is a o/w emulsion, otherwise stability will be very low
what are emulsions?
system consisting of 2 immisicible liquid phases, one dispersed as fine globules throughout the other
What are the phases in emulsions?
- Disperse/internal phase: liquid phase subdivided into globules
- Continuous/external phase: Liquid in which globules are dispersed in
What are microemulsions?
Emulsion has extremely small globules dispersed in the continuous phase, and appears transparent to the naked eye and cannot be seen under a light microscope
What are some desirable properties of an oil phase in an emulsion?
- Consistency
- “Feel” or tactile characteristic
- Stability
- Drug solubility
The two main types of oils used as oil phase in emulsions?
- Mineral oil
2. Vegetable oil (less stable than mineral oil)
What are the three main classes of emulgents?
- Surfactants
- Hydrophilic colloids
- Finely divided soilds
What are some factors affecting the selection of appropriate emulgents?
- Type of emulsion
- Compatibility with other components
- Toxicity of emulgent
- Cost
What type of emulsions do Anionic surfactants favour?
N.A: It depends on the specific anionic surfactant used.
E.g.
- Soaps of monovalent bases favour o/w
- Soaps of polyvalent bases favour w/o
Anionic surfactants: Amine soaps are not as strong as soaps of monovalent and polyvalent bases in terms of forming an emulsion. However, when is/are the scenario(s) in which amine soaps are more suitable?
For O/W emulsions where high pH cannot be tolerated (e.g. to reduce irritability of the skin)
An anionic surfactant that allows PO usage?
Quillaia saponins
Cationic surfactants favour the formulation of what type of emulsions?
o/w
On top of emulsifying property, what other property does cationic surfactants posses?
Antiseptic properties
If the drug compound to be formulated into an emulsion is negatively charged, is cationic surfactant suitable?
No, cationic surfactants are incompatible with anionic compounds
Advantage of non-ionic surfactants over ionic surfactants
Lower toxicity and irritancy
Hydrophilic colloids favour what kind of emulsions?
O/W emulsion