UNASSIGNED: Treatment of contaminated wounds represents a significant challenge in healthcare and there is a need to develop approaches maximising skin retention to maintain therapeutic concentrations of anti-infectives at the wound site. The objective of the present study was to develop and evaluate mupirocin calcium nanolipid emulgels to enhance wound healing performance and patient acceptability.
UNASSIGNED: Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) of mupirocin calcium were prepared by the phase inversion temperature method using Precirol ATO 5 (Gattefosse, India) and oleic acid as lipids and Kolliphor RH 40 (BASF, India) as surfactant and further incorporated into a gel base for topical delivery.
UNASSIGNED: The particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of mupirocin NLCs were found to be 128.8±1.25nm, 0.283±0.003 and -24.2±0.56mV, respectively. In vitro release studies from developed emulgel showed sustained drug release over 24 hours. Ex vivo drug permeation studies through excised rat abdominal skin showed better skin permeation (1712.38±15. 57μg/cm2) from developed emulgel compared to marketed ointment (827.92±21.42μg/cm2) after 8 hours, which was in agreement with in vitro antibacterial activity. Studies on Wistar rats indicated the nonirritant potential of developed emulgels. Further, mupirocin emulgels showed improved efficacy in percent wound contraction of acute contaminated open wounds in Wistar rats using a full-thickness excision wound healing model.
UNASSIGNED: The emulgels of mupirocin calcium NLCs appear to be effective in the treatment of contaminated wounds due to increased skin deposition and sustained release, thereby enhancing the wound healing potential of existing molecules.

UNASSIGNED: Benjakul (BJK) is a combination of five botanical herbal constituents widely used in Thai traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory remedy. This study aimed to develop a novel topical microemulsion containing BJK for clinical use.
UNASSIGNED: The microemulsions were produced by a phase inversion temperature (PIT) methodology. Physicochemical properties and stability were evaluated to determine an optimal formula. The stable BJK-loaded microemulsion formulas were then subjected to in vitro studies for their anti-inflammatory activity, skin cell toxicity, drug permeation, and stability.
UNASSIGNED: Two novel formulations containing isopropyl myristate (ME1-BJK and ME2-BJK) passed the compendial stability test. BJK constituents were completely dissolved in the oil phase and incorporated into the microemulsion base Transcutol® and Labrasol® avoiding the use of alcohol, both microemulsion formulations demonstrated high anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values of 3.41 ± 0.36 and 3.95 ± 1.73 μg/mL, respectively. However, dissolution of ME1-BJK showed a superior release profile through both lipophilic and hydrophilic membranes with the highest accumulated amount at 4 h of 25.13% and 38.06%, respectively. All tested formulations of BJK extract demonstrated no apparent skin cell toxicity at concentrations up to 50 μg/mL. After six-month storage under accelerated conditions, there were no significant changes in anti-inflammatory activity.
UNASSIGNED: A novel and stable BJK-loaded microemulsion formulation was successfully developed with excellent release and stability properties. Further clinical research to evaluate pain reduction, edema, and skin irritation using this formulation in animal models is ongoing.

There is considerable interest in the production of emulsions and nanoemulsions using low-energy methods due to the fact they are simple to implement and no expensive equipment is required. In this review, the principles of isothermal (spontaneous emulsification and emulsion phase inversion) and thermal (phase inversion temperature) low-energy methods for nanoemulsion production are presented. The major factors influencing nanoemulsion formation using low-energy methods and food-grade components are reviewed: preparation conditions, oil type, surfactant type, surfactant-to-oil ratio, and cosolvent or cosurfactant addition. The advantages and disadvantages of different low-energy and high-energy methods for fabricating nanoemulsions are highlighted, and potential applications for these techniques are discussed.

Aim: To prepare loratadine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) using a modified two-step ultrasound-assisted phase inversion temperature (PIT) process. Results/methodology: Loratadine was dissolved in beeswax and Tween 80 was dissolved in water. The two phases were mixed together to prepare a water-in-oil emulsion preconcentrate (w/o) at a PIT of 85°C, followed by gradual water addition at 25°C to trigger nanoparticles formation (o/w). Kinetic stability was investigated. No change in the size was observed within 6 months. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated stability of the emulsions via molecular structure of water at the interface of the o/w nanoemulsions. SLNs enhanced the in vitro skin permeation of loratadine. Conclusion: Stable SLNs were successfully prepared by ultrasound-assisted PIT.

Recent trends in preservation of processed foods involve the use of natural compounds, rather than chemically synthesized additives, to simultaneously confer antimicrobial properties and prevent fat oxidation. In this regard, black pepper essential oils, due to its diversity in biological activities, have been increasingly popular. The compounds are often used in relatively low amounts and in the form of nanoparticles to permit well blending into foods or uniform dispersion on the surface of fresh meat. The purpose of this study is to determine experimental parameters of a nano-emulsion formation process from black pepper essential oil via the phase inversion temperature (PIT) technique. The study results showed that the system achieved the optimal nano-emulsion under following condition: the ratio by weight of water: Tween-80: oil = 86:9.7:4.3, the stirring speed of nano-emulsions at 500 rpm for 45 min (heating at 75°C for 30 min and then rapidly cooling at 5°C for 15 min).

OBJECTIVE: The attainment of ultralow interfacial tensions between crude oil and injected aqueous surfactant mixtures is a prerequisite for an effective chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). The dynamic Phase Inversion Temperature (PIT) of SOW emulsified systems is very close to the \"optimum temperature\" currently identified with equilibrated SOW systems. Therefore, the PIT could be a tool to track the \"optimum formulation\" and determine EACN of crude oils. Additionally, the PIT-slope method could be used to characterize EOR surfactants.
METHODS: The PIT of 3% C10E4/crude oils/water emulsions are compared to the PIT for n-alkanes in order to estimate crude oils EACN. The \"PIT-slope\" method is applied to different non-ionic and ionic extended EOR surfactants to assess their amphiphilicity. The conductivity profiles of different EOR surfactants/crude oil/NaCl(aq) emulsions at fw = 0.5 are determined at different salinities.
RESULTS: Considering the PIT shifts and shapes, it is possible to infer relevant information on the crude oil such as precise EACN and relationships between optimum salinity and temperature. The \"PIT-Slope method\" allows ranking EOR surfactants according to their amphiphilicity. Mixing both results allows a faster determination of key parameters used in EOR compared to studies with equilibrated system.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a fast and an efficient method to determine the Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) number of cosmetic and pharmaceutics surfactants.
METHODS: This method is based on the deviation of the phase inversion temperature induced by the addition of the test compound, with respect to the phase inversion temperature of a reference system, which includes an ethoxylated surfactant. This method is called PIT-deviation.
RESULTS: Three calibration curves are set up with three reference ethoxylated surfactants. These calibration curves make it possible to evaluate the interfacial behaviour of certain chemicals. More particularly, these curves make it possible to easily determine the surfactant HLB.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, a fast and accurate method has been developed to determine the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) number of amphiphilic chemicals. This new method can be applied to establish an HLB number of all commercial amphiphilic ingredients. Compounds which have a PIT-deviation close to zero are also discussed.
OBJECTIVE: Le but de cette étude était de développer une méthode rapide et efficace pour déterminer le nombre Hydrophiles-Lipophiles Balance (HLB) d\'agents tensioactifs cosmétiques et pharmaceutiques. MÉTHODES: Cette méthode est basée sur le déplacement de la température d\'inversion de phase induite par l\'addition du composé à tester par rapport à la température d\'inversion de phase d\'un système de référence, comprenant un tensioactif éthoxylé. Cette méthode s\'appelle PIT-déviation. RÉSULTATS: Trois courbes d\'étalonnage sont établies avec trois tensioactifs éthoxylés de référence. Ces courbes d\'étalonnage permettent d\'évaluer le comportement interfacial de certains produits chimiques. Plus particulièrement, ces courbes permettent de déterminer facilement le HLB de tensioactif.
CONCLUSIONS: Dans cette étude, une méthode rapide et précise a été développée pour déterminer le Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) de produits chimiques amphiphiles. Cette nouvelle méthode peut être appliquée pour établir un HLB de tous les ingrédients amphiphiles. Les composés dont la PIT-deviation est proche de zéro sont également abordés.

OBJECTIVE: Surfactants with temperature-sensitive polyoxyethylene (POE) chains are widely used to prepare nanoemulsions by the phase inversion temperature (PIT) method. It is therefore anticipated that surfactants with temperature-sensitive polyoxypropylene (POP) chains could also be used to prepare nanoemulsions by the PIT method.
METHODS: POP surfactants were synthesized through electrostatic interactions between hydrophilic POP diamines and hydrophobic long-chain fatty acids. The synthesized POP surfactants were used as emulsifiers to prepare n-tetradecane-in-water nanoemulsions by the PIT method. Electrical conductivity measurements were used to determine the PITs of the water/POP surfactant/n-tetradecane systems. The effects of surfactant concentration, NaCl concentration, number of POP units, and degree of unsaturation of hydrocarbon chains on the PIT and the nanoemulsion droplet size were investigated. The droplet size and morphology of the nanoemulsions were characterized by dynamic light scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, respectively.
RESULTS: Nanoemulsions are formed by the PIT method using POP surfactants when the POP chains are short (∼2.5-6.1 POP units). The formation of nanoemulsions with droplet radii of 20-300 nm and spherical morphology occurs because of the temperature-dependent hydration of the short POP chains.

Essential oils, such as those isolated from cinnamon, are effective natural antimicrobial agents, but their utilization is limited by their low water-solubility. In this study, phase inversion temperature (PIT) was used to prepare cinnamon oil nanoemulsions. To this aim, it was hypothesized that cinnamon oil nanoemulsions could be fabricated by optimizing the oil phase composition and surfactant concentration of the system and their stability could be enhanced using a cooling-dilution method during the PIT. A mixture of cinnamon oil, non-ionic surfactant, and water was heated above the PIT of the system, and then rapidly cooled with continuous stirring, which led to the spontaneous generation of small oil droplets. The impact of oil phase composition and surfactant concentration on the formation and stability of the nanoemulsions was determined. Cinnamon oil nanoemulsions with the smallest mean droplet diameter (101 nm) were formed using 40:60 wt% of cinnamon oil and medium chain triglyceride (MCT) in the total lipid phase. Increasing surfactant concentration significantly decreased the mean droplet diameter of the nanoemulsions but did not alter their particle morphology. In addition, using the cooling-dilution method, the nanoemulsions were stable for at least 31 days when stored at 4 °C or 25 °C.

The Phase Inversion Temperature of a reference C10E4/n-Octane/Water system exhibits a quasi-linear variation versus the mole fraction of a second surfactant S2 added in the mixture. This variation was recently proposed as a classification tool to quantify the Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) of commercial surfactants. The feasibility of the so-called PIT-slope method for a wide range of well-defined non-ionic and ionic surfactants is investigated. The comparison of various surfactants having the same dodecyl chain tail allows to rank the polar head hydrophilicity as: SO3Na⩾SO4Na⩾NMe3Br>E2SO3Na≈CO2Na⩾E1SO3Na⩾PhSO3Na>Isosorbide(exo)SO4Na≫IsosorbideendoSO4Na≫E8⩾NMe2O>E7>E6⩾Glucosyl>E5⩾Diglyceryl⩾E4>E3>E2≈Isosorbide(exo)>Glyceryl>Isosorbide(endo). The influence on the surfactant HLB of other structural parameters, i.e. hydrophobic chain length, unsaturation, replacement of Na(+) by K(+) counterion, and isomerism is also investigated. Finally, the method is successfully used to predict the optimal formulation of a new bio-based surfactant, 1-O-dodecyldiglycerol, when performing an oil scan at 25 °C.