Use as lubricant.
Use as plasticizer.
Physicochemical Study of Mixed Surfactant Microemulsions Containing Isopropyl Myristate
Bardhan, Soumik, et al. Journal of colloid and interface science 402 (2013): 180-189.
Developing stable water-in-oil microemulsions with tunable properties is complicated by temperature sensitivity, unpredictable droplet behavior, and difficulty controlling percolation - especially in mixed ionic/nonionic surfactant systems.
Isopropyl Myristate (IPM) served as the oil phase in quaternary microemulsions (SDS/Brij-35/1-pentanol/water) in this work. IPM's lipophilic nature and biocompatibility allowed precise control of interfacial thermodynamics and phase behavior. Key optimizations included surfactant ratios (SDS:Brij-35) and water content to achieve temperature insensitivity and targeted droplet characteristics.
Methodology: Systems were characterized through conductivity measurements, DLS, and thermodynamic analysis. IPM facilitated the spontaneous transfer of cosurfactant (Pn) to the interface (ΔG°o→i < 0), with notable interfacial energy minimization observed at equimolar surfactant ratios (XBrij-35 = 0.5).
Key Results:
· Temperature Resilience: Specific formulations exhibited near-zero ΔCp, creating temperature-insensitive microemulsions (293-323 K).
· Tunable Electro-Properties: Conductivity percolation peaked at XBrij-35 ≤ 0.5 but decreased at higher ratios, enabling electrical behavior control.
· Controlled Droplet Sizing: DLS confirmed IPM enabled predictable water pool expansion with increasing Brij-35 content and water loading - critical for nanoparticle templating.
Isopropyl Myristate Enables Tunable Antimicrobial Microemulsions
Bardhan, Soumik, et al. Journal of colloid and interface science 430 (2014): 129-139.
Challenge: The design and fabrication of antimicrobial microemulsions is complicated by the need for thermodynamic stability, control of microstructure and bioactivity, especially for microemulsions formed from a mixture of a cationic and a non-ionic surfactant. Conventional oils struggle to achieve this synergy while maintaining biological compatibility.
Solution: Isopropyl myristate (IPM) served as the polar lipophilic oil in microemulsions combining cationic CTAB and non-ionic Brij surfactants with 1-pentanol cosurfactant. IPM's unique properties enabled precise interfacial control and microenvironment engineering, allowing customization of thermodynamic behavior and antimicrobial efficacy through surfactant ratio adjustments.
Methodology: Comprehensive characterization included phase behavior studies, conductivity, dynamic light scattering (DLS), FTIR, and ¹H NMR to analyze microstructure and water states. Antimicrobial efficacy was validated against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli at 303 K across formulations.
Results: IPM-based microemulsions demonstrated spontaneous formation (ΔG < 0) with unique endothermic behavior at equimolar surfactant ratios. Spectroscopic evidence was found for the presence of three different types of water within the droplets of these microemulsions. Critically, antimicrobial activity varied predictably with composition, showing direct correlation between thermodynamic stability and bacterial inhibition efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains.
Isopropyl Myristate Optimizes Transdermal Testosterone Delivery from Carbopol Gel
Zidan, Ahmed S., et al. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences 106.7 (2017): 1805-1813.
Challenge: Testosterone Carbopol gels face limited skin penetration, requiring high drug doses and frequent application while battling performance variability during manufacturing and storage.
Solution: Isopropyl myristate (IPM) was evaluated as a permeation enhancer in six testosterone gel formulations (1.62% drug load) with increasing IPM concentrations (0-3% w/w). This systematic approach quantified IPM's enhancement effect, identified optimal concentration, and assessed ethanol synergy.
Experimental Design: Formulations were prepared by dissolving testosterone/IPM in ethanol, incorporating aqueous Carbopol 980, and neutralizing to pH 5.1. In vitro permeation through human cadaver skin was measured under occlusive/non-occlusive conditions alongside viscosity, ethanol evaporation, and mass balance analysis.
Key Results:
· Dose-Dependent Enhancement: 2% IPM increased testosterone flux 11-fold versus IPM-free gel (p<0.05), with higher viscosity at >2% IPM not compromising permeation.
· Critical Synergy: Ethanol and IPM cooperatively enhanced penetration, but non-occlusive conditions caused ethanol evaporation and drug precipitation - invalidating results.
· Formulation Sensitivity: Strict manufacturing control of IPM concentration is essential as minor variations significantly impact efficacy.