Study of the effect of the microstructure of combined aggregates of nonionic surfactant and cetostearyl alcohol on the rheological properties of hydrophilic cream bases and the release of active substances in experiments in vitro

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15587/2519-4852.2026.358977

Keywords:

cream base, apparent viscosity, aggregate, adsorption layer, surfactant, cetostearyl alcohol, spin probe, EPR spectrum, release

Abstract

The aim. To study the effect of the microstructure of mixed aggregates and adsorption layers of non-ionic surfactant and cetostearyl alcohol (CSA) on the rheological characteristics of hydrophilic cream bases and the release of certain active substances in experiments in vitro.

Materials and methods. Cream bases with a dispersion medium of water and propylene glycol (9:1) were studied. The ratio of surfactant to CSA was varied within the base formulations. The rheological properties of the bases were analysed using rotational viscometry, and the microstructure of the aggregates was examined by the spin probe method employing four probes based on fatty acids. The release of active substances from the bases and solutions was tested in vitro; the content of active substances in the dialysate was determined by liquid chromatography.

Results. The apparent viscosity of the bases was observed to reach its maximum at certain ratios of surfactant to CSA, when coagulation structures were formed. The structural arrangement of mixed aggregates of surfactant and CSA was dependent on their ratio. It was demonstrated that a higher specific fraction of CSA in aggregates/adsorption layers contributed to lateral phase separation at the interface with the dispersion medium. This process led to the formation of solid CSA domains and liquid surfactant domains. The mixed aggregates of surfactant and CSA possessed a non-spherical configuration. The hydration of aggregates was ensured by non-ionic surfactant domains. These factors contributed to the formation of coagulation structures at certain concentrations of surfactant and CSA. An increase in the specific fraction of surfactant led to a tendency towards a homogeneous distribution of surfactant and CSA in their aggregates. This was accompanied by a decrease in the apparent viscosity of dispersed systems and a transition from creams to liquids. A decrease in the surfactant fraction resulted in a decline in the hydration of aggregates/adsorption layers, consequently leading to a decrease in the apparent viscosity of the bases. The release of ofloxacin or dexpanthenol was significantly retarded from the bases where coagulation structures were formed.

Conclusions. The rheological characteristics of hydrophilic cream bases are contingent on the microstructure of mixed aggregates or adsorption layers formed by nonionic surfactant and CSA. These properties can be modified by adjusting the mass ratios between these emulsifiers. In the case of cream bases, where a coagulation structure has formed, the release of active ingredients is found to be significantly retarded.

Supporting Agency

  • National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine within the framework of the project «Study of dispersed systems with liquid dispersion medium as the primary matrices for medicinal products» (0125U000740)

Author Biographies

Nikolay Lyapunov, State Scientific Institution «Institute for Single Crystals» of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor, Leading Researcher

Department of Technology and Analysis of Medicinal Products

Institute of Functional Materials Chemistry

Olena Bezugla, State Scientific Institution «Institute for Single Crystals» of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

PhD, Senior Researcher, Head of Department

Department of Technology and Analysis of Medicinal Products

Institute of Functional Materials Chemistry

Oleksii Liapunov, State Scientific Institution «Institute for Single Crystals» of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

PhD, Researcher

Department of Technology and Analysis of Medicinal Products

Institute of Functional Materials Chemistry

Anna Liapunova, State Scientific Institution «Institute for Single Crystals» of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

PhD, Senior Researcher, Deputy Head of Department

Department of Technology and Analysis of Medicinal Products

Institute of Functional Materials Chemistry

Igor Zinchenko, State Scientific Institution «Institute for Single Crystals» of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

PhD, Senior Researcher

Department of Technology and Analysis of Medicinal Products

Institute of Functional Materials Chemistry

Yurij Stolper, State Scientific Institution «Institute for Single Crystals» of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

PhD, Senior Researcher

Department of Technology and Analysis of Medicinal Products

Institute of Functional Materials Chemistry

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Study of the effect of the microstructure of combined aggregates of nonionic surfactant and cetostearyl alcohol on the rheological properties of hydrophilic cream bases and the release of active substances in experiments in vitro

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Published

2026-04-30

How to Cite

Lyapunov, N., Bezugla, O., Liapunov, O., Liapunova, A., Zinchenko, I., & Stolper, Y. (2026). Study of the effect of the microstructure of combined aggregates of nonionic surfactant and cetostearyl alcohol on the rheological properties of hydrophilic cream bases and the release of active substances in experiments in vitro. ScienceRise: Pharmaceutical Science, (2 (60), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.15587/2519-4852.2026.358977

Issue

No. 2 (60) (2026)

Section

Pharmaceutical Science

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Copyright (c) 2026 Nikolay Lyapunov, Оlena Bezugla, Oleksii Liapunov, Anna Liapunova, Igor Zinchenko, Yurij Stolper

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