Phase diagram and emulsion properties of n-octyl β-d-glucoside/water/octanoic acid containing pseudo-ceramide mixtures

The bilayer forming ability of pseudo-ceramide PC104 in octanoic acid/water/n-octyl β-d-glucoside mixtures was investigated through the phase diagram. Because of its low solubility in water and of its crystallization, pseudoceramide PC104 was dissolved in octanoic acid, which is nontoxic additive for foods and cosmetics. The mixtures formed four different phases (L1, L2, LC and two phases). Depending on the concentration of PC104 in octanoic acid, the realm of each phase was extended or contracted. On the contrary to the realm of L2, realms of lamellar phase and L1 phase were expanded. The bilayer-forming ability of PC104 was explained on the basis of concentration of PC104 at interface and interaction between PC104 and octanoic acid. From FT-IR results, it was found that the interactions of PC104ʹs polar head group with octanoic acid increased as the amount of PC104 in octanoic acid increased. Also emulsion size and size distribution have been studied depending upon the emulsification path. Droplets of emulsion prepared from lamellar phase were smaller and more homogeneous compared to those of emulsions formed from L2 phase.