Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Fatty Acid Esters

Synonyms: 

Description: Polysorbates have a characteristic odor and a warm, somewhat bitter taste. Their colors and physical forms at 25C  although it should be noted that the absolute color intensity of the products may vary from batch to batch and from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Chemical Name: 

Dispersing agent; emulsifying agent; nonionic surfactant; solubilizing agent; suspending agent; wetting agent.

• Polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters (polysorbates) are a series of partial fatty acid esters of sorbitol and its anhydrides copolymerized with approximately 20, 5, or 4 moles of ethylene oxide for each mole of sorbitol and its anhydrides.

• The resulting product is therefore a mixture of molecules of varying sizes rather than a single uniform compound.

• Polysorbates containing 20 units of oxyethylene are hydrophilic nonionic surfactants that are used widely as emulsifying agents in the preparation of stable oil-in-water pharmaceutical emulsions.

• They may also be used as solubilizing agents for a variety of substances including essential oils and oil-soluble vitamins, and as wetting agents in the formulation of oral and parenteral suspensions.

• They have been found to be useful in improving the oral bioavailability of drug molecules that are substrates for Pglycoprotein.

• Polysorbates are also widely used in cosmetics and food products.

Discoloration and/or precipitation occur with various substances, especially phenols, tannins, tars, and tarlike materials.

The antimicrobial activity of paraben preservatives is reduced in the presence of polysorbates. See Methylparaben.

Polysorbates are widely used in cosmetics, food products, and oral, parenteral and topical pharmaceutical formulations, and are generally regarded as nontoxic and nonirritant materials. There have, however, been occasional reports of hypersensitivity to polysorbates following their topical and intramuscular use. Polysorbates have also been associated with serious adverse effects, including some deaths, in low-birthweight infants intravenously administered a vitamin E preparation containing a mixture of polysorbates 20 and 80. When heated to decomposition, the polysorbates emit acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Eye protection and gloves are recommended.

Polyethylene glycol; sorbitan esters (sorbitan fatty acid esters).