Micro-emultocrit technique: a valuable tool for determination of critical HLB value of emulsions

• Published in: AAPS PharmSciTech Vol. 7; no. 1; p. E21
• Main Authors: Macedo, Janus P F, Fernandes, Leonardo L, Formiga, Fábio R, Reis, Michael F, Júnior, Toshiyuiky Nagashima, Soares, Luiz A L, Egito, E Socrates T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 10-03-2006
• Subjects: Drug Stability; Emulsions; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Solubility; Technology, Pharmaceutical
• ISSN: 1530-9932

The aim of this work was to develop a methodology for rapid determination of the critical hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value of lipophilic fractions of emulsions. The emulsions were prepared by the spontaneous emulsification process with HLB value from 4.3 to 16.7. The preparations were stored at 2 different temperatures (25 degrees C and 4 degrees C) and their physicochemical behavior was evaluated by the micro-emultocrit technique and the long-term stability study. The experimental data show a reverse relationship between HLB values of the surfactant mixtures and emulsion stability. A close correlation between the results for both stability procedures was observed, suggesting the use of micro-emultocrit to predict stabilities of such systems. In addition, it was found that the critical HLB of the Mygliol 812 was 15.367.