Performance of Oleic Acid and Soybean Oil in the Preparation of Oil-in-Water Microemulsions for Encapsulating a Highly Hydrophobic Molecule

This work analyzes the dispersion of a highly hydrophobic molecule, (9Z)-N-(1,3-dihydroxyoctadecan-2-yl)octadec-9-enamide (ceramide-like molecule), with cosmetic and pharmaceutical interest, by exploiting oil-in-water microemulsions. Two different oils, oleic acid soybean oil, were tested as an oil phase while mixtures laureth-5-carboxylic (Akypo) 2-propanol used for stabilization dispersions. allowed us to obtain stable aqueous-based formulations relatively reduced content oily (around 3% w/w), that may enhance bioavailability this molecule its solubilization in nanometric droplets (with size range 30–80 nm), allow incorporation ceramide-like up w/w, remain more than year. The droplet containing active ingredient stability provide basis evaluating efficiency microemulsions preparing distribution availability molecules, helping reach targets formulations.