Preparation of SiO2/epoxy nanocomposite via reverse microemulsion in situ polymerization

Reverse water/oil (w/o) microemulsions composed of epoxy resin (EP) (the oil phase) and nonionic surfactant and ammonia aqueous solutions (the water phase) were used in the synthesis of SiO2/EP nanocomposites. The stability of reverse microemulsion was evaluated by measuring water solubilization of the microemulsion. Effects of surfactant type and content, ammonia concentration and temperature on the water solubilization were systematically investigated. Higher water solubilization capacity was obtained by nonionic surfactant TX‐100 compared with other two surfactants, Span‐80 and Tween‐80. Ammonia concentration of 5 wt% and preparation temperature at 35°C were favorable for forming a stable microemulsion and enabling the subsequent hydrolysis and condensation reaction of inorganic precursor tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). SiO2/ epoxy nanocomposites were prepared via in situ polymerization of TEOS within the nanoscale reverse microemulsion “water pool”. FTIR, SEM, and universal testing machine were used to characterize the structural and mechanical properties of the composite. The results revealed that the optimal mechanical properties were obtained at 3 wt% TEOS content. Compared with neat epoxy resin, the tensile and flexural strength of the composite were 40% and 12% higher, respectively. The formation of the silica structure in the hybrid was investigated with FTIR. The SEM and optical observations showed a ductile fracture morphology and good miscibility between inorganic and organic phases. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1388–1394, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of Branched Alcohols on Phase Behavior and Physicochemical Properties of Winsor IV Microemulsions

The microemulsion phase behavior and physicochemical properties of surfactant–water–alcohol–oil systems are the pioneer laboratory study as a function of alcohol, water content and temperature to develop an experimental investigation for a better understanding of the microstructure of a single phase microemulsion and its stability under reservoir condition during hydraulic fracturing to recover the residual trapped oil. Viscosified surfactants are used as an efficient proppant conducting medium in hydraulic fracturing applications. The physicochemical properties of microemulsions are very helpful for characterization of microemulsions to justify their abilities and screening of surfactants. In the study, two branched alcohols, 2-methyl butan-2-ol, 3-methyl butan-1-ol selected as the cosurfactant in the proposed microemulsion system and their effect in tailoring the viscosity of microemulsions were studied. Microemulsion regions elucidated from Winsor’s pseudophase model of an oleate surfactant show a signatory distribution pattern of components between different domains with non-polar and asymmetric geometry of cosurfactant directs macromolecular alignments; their alignment contributes to a viscous microemulsions (gel) regime. The effect of surfactant and alkali, and the experimental temperature on the rheological properties of the lamellar mesophase were investigated. Phase transit regions and exact microemulsion and viscous microemulsion magnitudes were elucidated with the help of conductivity and viscosity studies of the ternary system as a function of the aqueous fraction and were in good agreement with Winsor’s pseudophase model. Dynamic and steady shear rheological studies showed that the gel is viscoelastic in nature, sustain viscosity and elastic modulus values appropriate for proppant suspension under high shear conditions. The proppant suspension and thermal behavior of ideal gel composition was found to be suitable for Coal Bed Methane and soft rock, clay reservoir stimulation.     

Phase inversion temperatures of triton X-100/1-butanol/hydrocarbon/water systems

The formation of a water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsion in Triton X-100/1-butanol/alkane/water systems was investigated at 25.0±0.1°C. Phase inversion temperatures in hydrocarbon-water microemulsions stabilized with Triton X-100 were determined for different hydrocarbons. It was found that the more soluble the alkane (oil), functioning as a nonionic emulsifier, the lower was the phase inversion temperature, above which oil-in-water type microemulsions invert to w/o type. The effect of the presence of cosurfactant was studied. No phase inversion was observed in the absence of cosurfactant. The effect on phase inversion temperature of decreasing or increasing the temperature was evaluated. By definition, phase inversion was not affected by different temperatures.     

Nanofiltration membranes prepared by direct microemulsion copolymerization using poly(ethylene oxide) macromonomer as a polymerizable surfactant

A novel polymer membrane with nanosized pore structures has been prepared from the direct copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) with a polymerizable nonionic surfactant in water‐in‐oil (w/o) or bicontinuous microemulsions. This polymerizable surfactant is ω‐methoxy poly(ethylene oxide)₄₀ undecyl‐α‐methacrylate macromonomer [CH₃O (CH₂CH₂O)₄₀ (CH₂)₁₁ OCO(CH₃)CCH₂, abbreviated: C₁‐PEO‐C₁₁‐MA‐40]. Besides PEO macromonomer, AN, and crosslinker ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, the microemulsion system contained varying amount of water that formed w/o microemulsions having water droplet structures and bicontinuous microemulsions consisting of interconnected water channel. The polymerized membranes prepared in this study have pore radii ranging from 0.38 to 2.4 nm as evaluated by PEG filtration. The pore size appears to vary linearly with water content in precursor microemulsions. But a sharp change in the gradient of the linear relationship is observed around 25 wt % water content. Membranes made from bicontinuous (>25 wt % water) microemulsion polymerization have a larger and interconnected (open‐cell) nanostructures. In contrast, much smaller closed‐cell (disinterconnected) nanostructures were obtained from w/o (<25 wt % water) microemulsion polymerization and the membrane exhibited a permselectivity toward water in pervaporation separation of high ethanol (>50 wt %) aqueous solutions. The separation factor (α) for 95% ethanol aqueous solution by the membrane derived from the microemulsion containing 10 wt % water is about 20. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 2785–2794, 2000     

Microemulsion formation and detergency with oily soils: I. Phase behavior and interfacial tension

The ultimate objective of the project was to investigate the relationship between microemulsion phase behavior and detergency for oily soils. In this study, surfactant phase behavior was evaluated for hexadecane and motor oil as model oily soils. Producing microemulsions with these oils is particularly challenging because of their large hydrophobic character. To produce the desired phase behavior we included three surfactants with a wide range of hydrophilic/lipophilic character: alkyl diphenyl oxide disulfonate (highly hydrophilic), dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (intermediate character), and sorbitan monooleate (highly hydrophobic). This mixed surfactant was able to bridge the hydrophilic/lipophilic gap between the water and the oil phases, producing microemulsions with substantial solubilization and ultralow interfacial tension. The effects of surfactant composition, temperature, and salinity on system performance were investigated. The transition of microemulsion phases could be observed for both systems with hexadecane and motor oil. In addition, the use of surfactant mixtures containing both anionic and nonionic surfactants leads to systems that are robust with respect to temperature compared to single-surfactant systems. Under conditions corresponding to “supersolubilization”, the solubilization parameters and oil/microemulsion interfacial tensions are not substantially worse than at optimal condition for a middle-phase system, so a middle-phase microemulsion is not necessary to attain quite low interfacial tensions. A potential drawback of the formulations developed here is the fairly high salinity (e.g., 5 wt% NaCl) needed to attain optimal middle-phase systems. The correlation between interfacial tension and solubilization follows the trend predicted by the Chun-Huh equation.     

Mechanism involved in the dyeing of wool with an oil‐in‐water microemulsion system

This article investigates the influence of oil‐in‐water (o/w) microemulsions, used as media for both dye solubilization and dye baths, on the dye uptake on fiber surfaces. An acetic acid solution/Synperonic L7/benzyl alcohol microemulsion system was used to solubilize a water‐insoluble antimicrobial natural dye (C.I. Natural Orange 2) and to dye wool fabric at an acidic pH. The results clearly show that the dye exhaustion on the fabric took place mainly when the temperature of the dye bath promoted a change in the molecular organization of the microemulsions with the liberation of the dye solubilized in the oil droplets of the microemulsions. Although uniformly and evenly dyed fabrics were obtained, they showed very low wash fastness. To confirm the mechanism involved and to achieve dyed fabrics with good wash‐fastness properties, two different dyeing methods were also studied. The first method was dyeing at a constant low temperature, at which the o/w microemulsion remained a monophase system; the second one was dyeing at a high temperature, at which it was transformed into a multiphase system. Both the dye exhaustion and wash fastness improved considerably for the fabrics dyed at a high temperature. Moreover, uniform and even dyeing was achieved. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

不同因素对CTAB/TX-100微乳液相图的影响

用ε-β"鱼状"相图法研究了阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)与非离子表面活性剂辛基苯酚聚氧乙烯(10)醚(TX-100)以不同摩尔比复配形成的CTAB/TX-100/醇/油/NaCl水溶液微乳液体系的相行为和增溶性能.结果表明,随着醇浓度的增加,体系由水包油型(O/W)(winsor Ⅰ or (2-)...     

Triton X-100/正构醇/石油醚/水反相微乳液性质的研究

通过测定微乳液的电导率值,确定配制W/O型Triton X-100/正构醇/石油醚/水微乳液的最大增溶水量;根据微乳液含水量与电导率关系曲线及体系的拟三元相图,讨论了正构醇种类、正构醇含量、乳化剂与油相质量比对W/O型微乳液的结构、电导率、增溶水量的影响。结果表明:乳化剂与油相质量比大于1时,正戊醇、正己醇和正庚醇为助剂配制的Triton X-100/正构醇/石油醚/水体系微乳液有较大的增溶水量,而乳化剂与油相质量比大于1.5时,以正丁醇为助剂配制的Triton X-100/正构醇/石油醚/水体系微乳液才有较大的增溶水量;正构醇的链长及加入量影响微液滴界面膜的强度,从而影响微乳液的增溶水量、电导率及微乳液形成区域的大小;对于Triton X-100/正构醇/石油醚/水体系,正戊醇是形成W/O型微乳液的较好助剂,当正戊醇与Triton X-100的质量比为0.5时,W/O型微乳液的形成区域最大。     

Water Solubilization Using Nonionic Surfactants from Renewable Sources in Microemulsion Systems

In this study the effect of temperature, NaCl and oils (hydrocarbons: C(8)-C(16)) on the formation and solubilization capacity of the systems of oil/monoacylglycerols (MAG):ethoxylated fatty alcohols (CEO(20))/propylene glycol (PG)/water was investigated. The effects of the surfactant mixture on the phase behavior and the concentration of water or oil in the systems were studied at three temperatures (50, 55, 60?°C) and with varied NaCl solutions (0.5; 2; 11%). Electrical conductivity measurement, FTIR spectroscopy and the DSC method were applied to determine the structure and type of the microemulsions formed. The dimension of the microemulsion droplets was characterized by dynamic light scattering. It has been stated that the concentration of CEO(20) has a strong influence on the shape and extent of the microemulsion areas. Addition of a nonionic surfactant to the mixture with MAG promotes an increase in the area of microemulsion formation in the phase diagrams, and these areas of isotropic region did not change considerably depending on the temperature, NaCl solution and oil type. It was found that, depending on the concentration of the surfactant mixture, it was possible to obtain U-type microemulsions with dispersed particles size distribution ranging from 25 to 50?nm and consisting of about 30-32% of the water phase in the systems. The conditions under which the microemulsion region was found (electrolyte and temperature-insensitive, comparatively low oil and surfactant concentration) could be highly useful in detergency.     

含非离子表面活性剂吐温-80的微乳液结构研究

采用非离子表面活性剂吐温-80,以石油醚为油相,正丁醇为助表面活性剂来制备微乳液。用稀释法测定并计算了Tween-80/石油醚/正丁醇/水体系O/W型微乳的结构参数。测量微乳液体系在15~30℃温度范围内的pH及电导,考察温度对微乳液体系的影响。向微乳液体系中加入PVP,测量体系的电导和接触角,考察水溶性高分子对微乳液体系的影响。结果表明微乳液体系的电导随温度的上升而变大,相同温度时,加入PVP会使体系的电导变大,接触角变小。     

Effect of short-chain alcohols as co-surfactants on pseudo-ternary phase diagrams containing lecithin

Lecithin is a natural amphiphilic molecule, the microemulsions of which are often employed as a transdermal delivery medium of drugs and cosmetics. However, it constructs a microemulsion and lamellar phase in a phase diagram without co-surfactant only at a narrow range of composition. In this study, the effect of several short-chain alcohols on pseudo-ternary phase diagrams composed of lecithin, water and dodecane containing 1.0 wt% lidocaine (local anesthetic) was investigated in relation to the application of lecithin-based microemulsion for transdermal drug delivery. The phase diagram for an aqueous solution containing 80.0 wt% ethanol showed a lamellar structure (LC) and bicontinuous isotropic regions. When the mixing ratio of lecithin to alcohols (1-propanol, 1-butanol and n-pentanol) was 2: 1, water-in-oil (L2) and oil-in-water (L1) microemulsions and LC were obtained in a certain range of compositions. The maximum solubilization of water into L2 phase was 38 wt% when the total surfactant was 43 wt% with butanol as cosurfactant.     

Solubilization of lycopene in jojoba oil microemulsion

The unique properties of jojoba oil make it an essential raw material in the manufacture of cosmetics. New, totally dilutable U-type microemulsions of water, jojoba oil, alcohols, and the nonionic surfactant polyoxyethylene-10EO-oleyl alcohol (Brij 96V) have been formulated recently. Here, these microemulsions are shown to be capable of solubilizing lycopene, a nutraceutical insoluble in water and/or oil, much more effectively than the solvent (or a solvent and surfactant blend) can dissolve them. In water-in-oil (W/O) and oil-in-water (O/W) microemulsions with 10 and 90 wt% water, respectively, the normalized maximal solubilization efficiency α is ca. 20-fold larger than its solubility. The solubilization capacity of the system is mainly surfactant-concentration dependent. The lycopene resides at the interfaces of the W/O and O/W microemulsions and engenders significant structural changes in the organization of the microemulsion droplets. In the absence of lycopene, the droplets are spherical; when lycopene is added, compaction of the droplets and formation of threadlike droplets are observed. On further addition of lycopene, the bridging effect wanes and the droplets revert to a spherical shape. The enhanced solubilization demonstrated for lycopene opens up new options for formulators interested in making liquid and transparent products for cosmetic or pharmaceutical uses.     

Effect of Alkyl Sulfate on the Phase Behavior of Microemulsions Stabilized with Monoacylglycerols

In this study the effect of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate SDS) and oils (hydrocarbons: C12–C16) on the formation and phase behavior of the systems of oil/monoacylglycerols (MAG):SDS/propylene glycol/water has been investigated. The effects of the surfactant mixture on the phase behavior and the concentration of water or oil in the systems were studied at three temperatures (50, 55, 60 °C). Electrical conductivity measurement, FT-IR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry methods were applied to determine the structure and type of the microemulsions formed. The dimension of microemulsion droplets was characterized by dynamic light scattering. It has been stated that the concentration of SDS has a strong influence on the shape and extent of the microemulsion areas. Addition of an ionic surfactant to the mixture with MAG promotes an increase in the area of microemulsion formation in the phase diagrams, and these areas of the isotropic region change with the temperature. It was shown that the presence in the systems of a surfactant more hydrophilic than MAG caused an increase in water content in the microemulsions. It was found that, depending on temperature and concentration of the surfactant mixture, it was possible to obtain a W/O type microemulsion with a dispersed particles size distribution ranging from 20 to 50 nm and containing about 17–38% water in the system. Among different alkanes (from C12 to C16), hexadecane embedded microemulsions showed a maximum water solubilization capacity.     

Anionic and Cationic Surfactant Synergism: Minimizing Precipitation,Microemulsion Formation,and Enhanced Solubilization and Surface Modification

Anionic–cationic surfactant mixtures are known to exhibit synergistic effects (e.g., low critical micelle concentration, ultralow interfacial tension, middle phase microemulsion formulation, and increased solubilization and adsolubilization). However, the anionic–cationic surfactant mixtures are also prone to form other unique phases such as precipitates, gels, and coacervates in place of middle-phase microemulsions. Research summarized in this article demonstrates that asymmetric anionic–cationic surfactant mixtures have been shown to promote middle-phase microemulsions instead of these other phases, albeit with a slight decrease in synergism when using these asymmetric mixtures. The use of anionic–cationic surfactant mixtures also is shown to enhance or decrease surfactant adsorption depending on anionic–cationic surfactant ratios. Middle-phase microemulsion formation is demonstrated using anionic-rich or cationic-rich alcohol-free microemulsions by anionic–cationic ratio scans while also reducing or eliminating electrolyte requirement. Solubilization and adsolubilization are shown to increase for mixed anionic–cationic surfactant systems, especially for hydrophobic solutes. Thus, by exploiting these synergisms while avoiding phase separation, properly designed anionic–cationic surfactant mixtures can be advantageous for a wide range of applications.     

不同表面活性剂对单相微乳液特性的影响

表面活性剂是影响微乳液特性的关键因素之一。本文选取聚氧乙烯脱水山梨醇单油酸酯（Tween 80）、烷基糖苷1214（APG 1214）、十二烷基苯磺酸钠（SDBS）、脂肪醇聚氧乙烯醚硫酸钠（AES）、十二烷基硫酸钠（SDS）和95%纯度鼠李糖脂（R-95%）这6种表面活性剂,通过对其乳化性能和临界胶束浓度进行筛选,结合其形成微乳液的拟三元相图、粒径分布和界面张力分析其特性,并提出微乳液增溶油能力和增溶油成本。研究表明：APG 1214、SDBS、Tween 80乳化性能好、临界胶束浓度低具有更易形成微乳液的优势;5种表面活性剂（Tween 80、SDBS、APG 1214、SDS、AES）均可与正丁醇、水和3号白油自发形成单相微乳液,单相区面积大小为AES型>SDS型>APG 1214型>Tween 80型>SDBS型,最大增溶油能力大小为SDS型>AES型>APG 1214型>Tween 80型>SDBS型,最低增溶油成本大小为AES型相似文献   

Phase Behavior of Non-Ionic Surfactant-Medium Chain Triglyceride-Water Microemulsion Systems

Microemulsion systems have garnered tremendous interest in the pharmaceutical sector for a variety of drug delivery applications. Non-ionic surfactants are often the preferred surfactant class given their uncharged nature, enhanced oral safety profile, and generally regarded as safe status as compared to other surfactant classes (Myers, Surfactant science and technology, 2005, p. 29), (Malmsten, Handbook of microemulsion science and technology, 1999, p. 755), (Grove & Mullertz, Chapter 5-liquid self-microemulsifying drug delivery systems, 2007), (Liu et al., Water-insoluble drug formulation, 2008), (Hauss, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2007, 59, pp. 667–676), (Balazs, Solubility, delivery and ADME problems of drugs and drug-candidates, 2011, p. 68). In this work, the phase behavior and microemulsion formation potential of four commonly used non-ionic surfactants, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, Poloxamer 188, Polysorbate 80, and d -α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate were studied via ternary phase diagram (TPD) mapping using a medium chain triglyceride, Miglyol 812. Results indicated notable differences in phase behavior despite similarities in hydrophilic–lipophilic balance value (13–15). All surfactants produced Winsor Type I, oil-in-water microemulsions at water concentrations above 40% wt/wt. Winsor Type II water-in-oil microemulsions were difficult to obtain even at high oil concentrations of ≥70% wt/wt. Winsor III microemulsions, though rare, were generally obtained in the middle regions of the TPD between 10% and 30% wt/wt water while Winsor IV microemulsions dominated at high surfactant concentrations of ≥45% wt/wt. Opaque emulsion areas were particularly notable in wax state surfactants. Polysorbate 80 and PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil demonstrated a high degree of synergism as well as the largest oil-in-water (o/w) and water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsion formation potential rendering them suitable for a number of enteral and parenteral applications.     

Structure of Microemulsion Formulated with Monoacylglycerols in the Presence of Polyols and Ethanol

The influence of polyols as cosurfactants (propylene glycol PG; glycerol G) and short chain alcohol as a cosolvent (ethanol EtOH) on the formation and solubilization capacity of the systems: hexadecane/monoacylglycerols (MAG)/polyol/water:EtOH, at 60 °C, was investigated. Electrical conductivity measurement, and the DSC method were applied to determine the structure and type of microemulsions formed. The dimension of the droplets was characterized by DLS. It has been stated that concentration of EtOH has a strong influence on the shape and extend the microemulsion areas and helps to avoid rigid structures such as gels, precipitates, and liquid crystals. It was found that, depending on the concentration of five‐component systems, it was possible to obtain fully diluted microemulsions with dispersed particles size distribution ranging from 5 to 30 nm. Studied systems are changing the w/o structure into a bicontinuous system. The results of electrical conductivity showed that the electrical percolation threshold is dependent on the hydration of polar head groups in the whole system and the less rigid interfacial film due to the intercalation of ethanol. In addition, the surfactant/alcohol/polyol can strongly bind water in the inner phase so that it freezes below ?10 °C and acts in part as ‘bound’ water. In the systems containing more than 50 mass% of polyols, with respect to the water, the all the water was non‐freezable. Propylene glycol and glycerol are cryoprotectants protecting biological systems from massive ice crystallization, since they lower the freezing point of water.     

Microemulsion of seal oil markedly enhances the transfer of a hydrophobic radiopharmaceutical into acetylated low density lipoprotein

Four different microemulsions differing in their core lipid component (triolein, canola oil, squalene, or seal oil) and containing 1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-one 1,3-diiopanoate (DPIP), a potential radioimaging probe, were prepared by means of ultrasonication. The DPIP microemulsions were incubated with acetylated human low density lipoprotein (AcLDL) and the amount of DPIP transferred into AcLDL was examined. The amount of DPIP in the microemulsions expressed as DPIP/oil (w/w) was dependent on the core lipid component of the microemulsion in the order of seal oil (0.19±0.04, mean ±standard deviation) > squalene (0.15±0.02) > canola oil (0.12±0.02) > triolein (0.07±0.004). With the exception of canola oil, all microemulsions were effective in enhancing the transfer of DPIP into Acl DI in comparison with commonly used methods, i.e, direct diffusion and detergent solubilization. DPIP in seal oil resulted in the highest amount of DPIP transferred into AcLDL [309.16±34.82 vs. 203.19±64.51 using squalene and 151.31±28.54 using triolein (DPIP molecules per AcLDL particle)]. For the first time, oil from harp seals, was studied as a major core lipid component of formulating pharmaceutical microemulsions. DPIP in seal oil resulted in the highest transfer of DPIP into AcLDL which is likely due to the highest DPIP concentration found in this microemulsion as well as the high fluidity of seal oil.     

Microemulsion route to fabrication of silver and platinum‐polymer nanocomposites

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)‐platinum and PMMA‐silver nanocomposites have been produced using polymerization of W/O microemulsions. MMA monomer was used as the oil or continues phase of the microemulsion system and polymerized following formation of Pt and Ag nanoparticles in the fluid medium. The UV‐vis absorption spectra have been used to trace the growth process of the nanoparticles in the microemulsion system. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to determine the morphology and particle size of the Pt and Ag particles in the synthesized nanocomposites. Image analyses of TEM micrographs confirm that the Pt and Ag particles in the synthesized nanocomposites have a narrow size distribution. Meanwhile, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy was used to verify polymer‐nanoparticles interaction in nanocomposite bulk. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:2023–2028, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Nonionic Mixed Surfactant Stabilized Water-in-Oil Microemulsions for Active Ingredient In Vitro Sustained Release

Olive oil is an excellent dispersing medium for water‐in‐oil microemulsions as it helps hydrate the skin and enhances the release of the active ingredients. In this study, mixed surfactants containing Span^® 80 with varied Tween^® series at 1:1 ratio were prepared with olive oil and water to produce water‐in‐oil microemulsions. The microemulsions were used to study the in vitro release of the active ingredients with different water solubilities. A microemulsion olive oil/water/mixed surfactant (56:4:40 by weight) was selected from the constructed phase diagram for further physical characterization. The analysis showed that the microemulsion composed of Span^® 80 and Tween^® 80 (ST80) was the most suitable surfactant combination. Equal amounts of ascorbic acid, caffeine and lidocaine were solubilized in ST80 microemulsions to study their release rate. Physical evaluation of ST80 microemulsions incorporating the active ingredients showed no apparent change compared to the ST80 microemulsion alone. The in vitro release study showed that the rate of active ingredients released from the microemulsion into the receptor chamber depends on their hydrophobicity, whereby lidocaine and caffeine were fivefold and twice as fast, respectively, with respect to ascorbic acid. ST80 microemulsions show constant rate of active ingredient release, demonstrating the sustained release properties of the system.