Development of Nano-emulsions using Australian Tea Tree Oil : a new system to deliver essential oils

M. Camargo 1, F. Andrade 1, B. Oliveira 1, J. Moraes 1, M. Maruno 1, P. Rocha Filho 1 1 University of So Paulo Purpose. To develop nano-emulsions containing Tea Tree Oil (TTO), study its stability and characterization Methods. It was determined the HLB of TTO with the pair of surfactants polisorbate 80 (Tween 80 ) and monooleate sorbitan (Span 80) . To develop nano-emulsions it was used polyoxyethylated castor oil (Ultroil R300) and monooleate sorbitano, TTO in the concentrations of 2.5%, 5.0% ,7.0% and 10,0% and distilled water. Water was heated up to 70C and poured over oily phase (TTO plus surfactant) also heated up at the same temperature. The stirring was preceded with a mechanical apparatus at 600 rpm up to cooling. Stability tests were carried out under centrifugation, thermal stress and macroscopic analyses of the samples in 24 hours, 7 and 15 days after preparation. Characterization was done thought size distribution analyze (Delsa Coulter 440SX) and microscopy (Olympus BX 50). Results. The HLB of TTO was 12.0. The emulsions with 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.0% of TTO were stable under stability tests and presented macroscopic characteristics of nano-emulsion such as translucence, low viscosity and bluish reflection while emulsion with 10.0% showed creaming after centrifugation and thermal stress and did not present those characteristics. The mean size after 24 hours preparation for emulsion with 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.0% were 40.3 9.05, 27.6 3.09, 62.3 20.23, 354 38.44 respectively and this size maintained with no significant increase in 7 and 15 days. Conclusion. Its possible to develop nano-emulsions containing TTO depending of its percentage in the formulation without Ostwald Ripening phenomenon