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Updated: Nov 29, 2025

Facile Preparation of Internally Self-assembled Lipid Particles Stabilized by Carbon Nanotubes
Published on: February 19, 2016
Stabilization of vitamin C in emulsions of liquid crystalline structures
Amanda C Caritá1, Jacqueline Resende de Azevedo2, Marcus Vinícius Buri3
1Department of Translational Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Laboratory of Automatic Control, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering (LAGEPP), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France.
Abstract:
Emulsified systems are widely used for topical delivery with the aim of optimizing cutaneous absorption and offering a pleasant sensory. They also may provide a protection of the active molecule against oxidation and/or degradation. The oil phase of o/w emulsions may consist of liquid crystalline structures, especially lamellar structures which are similar to those found in the stratum corneum lipids. In the present work, o/w emulsions containing liquid crystals of mixed cetyl alcohol and Polysorbate 60 were developed for topical delivery of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant with several applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields. In addition to the well-documented lipid supplementation of the stratum corneum, the liquid crystal emulsions provide a significant chemical stabilization of vitamin C against its degradation. Emulsions were characterized by X-ray diffraction, polarized optical microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The stability of vitamin C in the formulations was evaluated upon storage in different conditions of temperature. The emulsions contain a complex colloidal structure, consisting of lamellar liquid crystalline (Lα) and crystalline lamellar gel (Lβ) phases, that provide a very efficient protection of vitamin C against its degradation.
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