Parameters influencing Ostwald ripening of Nanoemulsions produced by Premix Membrane Emulsification

Premix membrane emulsification is a promising method to produce colloidal lipid carrier systems, e.g. triglyceride nanoemulsions, with small particle sizes and narrow particle size distributions for intravenous administration. The stability of these systems can be affected by Ostwald ripening. The process of Ostwald ripening in emulsions of medium chain triglycerides stabilized with sucrose laurate was monitored by particle size measurements with photon correlation spectroscopy. Two different preparation methods were used and the concentration of free emulsifier measured to learn more about the influencing parameters.
The concentration of free sucrose laurate turned out to be the main influencing parameter and should be about zero to minimize Ostwald ripening in the emulsions.