Polysorbate 80 is a polyethoxylated sorbitan ester (20-mole ethoxylate of sorbitan monooleate), an excellent oil-in-water emulsifier with an HLB value of 15.0 and a solubizer, used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. It is an amber, odorless, viscous liquid. It is soluble in water and alcohol. It is suitable for both oil-in-water and water-in-oil systems, especially when blended with sorbitan monostearate.
Polysorbate 80 works well in systems with unsaturated lipid components such as oleyl alcohol and vegetable triglycerides. It can act as a fragrance, emollient, active ingredient (e.g., Quercetin, with very low water solubility), solubilizer, and emulsifier for skin care emulsions, make-up foundations, and hair rinses.
Polysorbate 80 can be combined with low HLB emulsifiers to form stable emulsions, especially when used with fatty alcohols, such as Cetearyl alcohol. A classic emulsifier combination is Polysorbate 80 and Sorbitan Oleate. With decanoic acid, it can form composite vesicles that serve as carriers for drugs or cosmetic actives, providing stability in formulation and enhanced transdermal delivery.
This multifunctional ingredient can also be used as a stabilizer, wetting, and dispersing agent. It is suitable for skin care, oral, parenteral, and ophthalmic preparations. It has been used in body washes, hair shampoos, lotions, creams, bath oils, and solubilizates, typically at a use level of 1-5%.It is a safe ingredient used in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production, as a multi-purpose food additive (listed in 21CFR 172.846), and as a filler in vitamin-mineral supplements (cited in 21CFR 172.840).
