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Updated: Aug 17, 2025

Self-Nanoemulsification of Healthy Oils to Enhance the Solubility of Lipophilic Drugs
Published on: July 27, 2022
Solubilization of α-tocopherol and curcumin by polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants: Effect of alkyl chain
Ha Youn Song1, David Julian McClements2, Seung Jun Choi3
1Bio & Living Engineering Major, Global Leaders College. Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
The effects of the structural characteristics of the alkyl chains of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether-type surfactants (Brij) on the solubilization of α-tocopherol and curcumin by surfactant micelles were investigated: Brij L23 (lauryl; C12:0); S20 (stearyl; C18:0); and Brij O20 (oleyl; C18:1). When α-tocopherol or curcumin were solubilized in Brij micelle solutions below their maximum solubilization concentrations (Cmax), the Brij L23 micelles exhibited the largest increase in dimensions due to the presence of the guest molecules. Above Cmax, excess α-tocopherol existed as microemulsion droplets whereas excess curcumin existed as insoluble crystals. Our results suggest that the guest molecules were preferentially located within the palisade layers of micelles, which can be attributed to the fact that they contained bother polar and non-polar moieties. These results may be important for the formulation of colloidal delivery systems to encapsulate and deliver oil-soluble vitamins and nutraceuticals.
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