Hydrotrope Action of Vitamin C (VC) and Its Application in a Sunscreen

Abstract

The solubility regions of the sunscreen 2-ethyIhexyl p-methoxycinnamate (E557) in the CTAB/ n-CsHnOH/ H₂ O system with and without the hydrotrope agent vitamin C (VC) are determined. E357 was only sohibilized in the bicontinuous microemulsion (BI), the W/ O microemulsion area and the lamellar liquid crystal region (LLC). The addition of VC in the system greatly enlarged the solubility amount of E₅₅₇in the bicontinuous region, but reduced h in the lamellar liquid crystal area. Small angle X-ray diffraction measurement was used to determine the location of E₅₅₇ in the lamellar liquid crystal showing the suncreen molecule penetrating between the hydrocarbon chains in the liquid crystal structure.The UV absorption spectra of E557 in various media was measured, surprisingly showing a dependence on the colloidal structure.

KeyWords:

• Sunscreens
• Vitamin C
• Hydrotrope action
• Microemulsions
• UV absorption