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Research Article

Nanoemulsions containing octyl methoxycinnamate and solid particles of TiO2: preparation, characterization and in vitro evaluation of the solar protection factor

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Pages 1378-1388 | Received 16 May 2012, Accepted 01 Aug 2012, Published online: 24 Sep 2012
 

Abstract

The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate the physical–chemical properties of oil-in-water nanoemulsions for application as nanocosmetics for sun protection. Oil-in-water dispersions were processed by ultrasound (US) to obtain small emulsion droplets. These emulsions were obtained in the presence of commercial nonionic surfactants based on polyoxides and avocado oil as the oil phase. The US generated small but unstable droplets. This problem was solved by using a different surfactant, with a longer ethylene oxide chain, able to promote stabilization by steric mechanisms. The light scattering technique was used to characterize the nanoemulsions by their dispersed droplets’ size, size distribution and variation of distribution with time (stability). Chemical and physical sunscreens – octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) and titanium dioxide (TiO2), respectively – were added to the stable system. The anti-UVB activity of the nanoemulsions and their components were evaluated by the method of Mansur et al. (1986) and spectral transmittance. The solar protection factor (SPF) was proportional to the OMC and TiO2 concentrations. The in vitro OMC release was evaluated, and the presence of TiO2 in the nanoemulsion did not affect the release profile, which showed the diffusion-dependent kinetics of the active ingredient in the formulation.

Acknowledgments

We thank Oxiteno do Brasil for donating the polyoxide samples, and the Coordinating Office for Improvement of University Researchers (CAPES), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CNPq) and the Office to Finance Studies and Projects (FINEP) for financial support.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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