Emulsion properties of pseudo-ceramide PC104/water/polyoxyethylene cholesteryl ether and polyoxyethylene cetyl ether mixtures

The formation of emulsions and micelles in water/ceramide PC104/CholEO20/C16EO20 and water/ceramide PC104/CholEO20 mixtures was investigated through the phase behavior studies. The phase diagrams showed the existence of micelle and emulsion regions in both systems. The mixed surfactant system (CholEO20/C16EO20) showed the wider micellar and emulsion regions than the single surfactant system (CholEO20). From FT-IR measurements, it was found that the polyoxyethylene (POE) groups of surfactants formed the hydrogen bonds with amido carbonyl group in ceramide PC104. This result indicated that the hydrophilic part (EO) of surfactants could stabilize the lamellar structure and emulsion of ceramide PC104. The mixed surfactant system (CholEO20/C16EO20) resulted in the smaller emulsion droplet size due to the effect of curvature at the interface, thus further increasing emulsion stability. With the penetration of C16EO20 into the interfacial layer of surfactants in emulsion, the curvature of the interface might be altered for the formation of smaller emulsion droplets. The mixed surfactant system could incorporate up to 4 wt.% of ceramide PC104 into emulsion more than single surfactant system.