| Polysorbate 80[1] | |
|---|---|
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Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate |
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Other names
Alkest TW 80 |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 9005-65-6 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1697847 |
| RTECS number | WG2932500 |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C64H124O26 |
| Molar mass | 1310 g/mol |
| Appearance | Amber colored viscous liquid |
| Density | 1.06-1.09 g/mL, oily liquid |
| Boiling point |
> 100°C |
| Solubility in water | Very soluble |
| Solubility in other solvents | soluble in ethanol, cottonseed oil, corn oil, ethyl acetate, methanol, toluene |
| Viscosity | 300-500 centistokes (@25°C) |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Irritant |
| NFPA 704 |
0
1
0
|
| Flash point | 113 °C |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
Polysorbate 80 (brand names include Alkest, Canarcel and Tween, which is a registered trademark of ICI Americas, Inc.)[2] is a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier derived from polyethoxylated sorbitan and oleic acid, and is often used in foods. Polysorbate 80 is a viscous, water-soluble yellow liquid. The hydrophilic groups in this compound are polyethers also known as polyoxyethylene groups which are polymers of ethylene oxide. In the nomenclature of polysorbates, the numeric designation following polysorbate refers to the lipophilic group, in this case the oleic acid (see polysorbate for more detail). Polysorbate 80 is often used in food and other products as an emulsifier.
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Polysorbate 80 is also used in some eye drops (e.g., ROHTO cool redness reliever/lubricant eye drops).
The critical micelle concentration of polysorbate 80 in pure water is reported as 0.012 mM[3].
Polysorbate 80 is used as an emulsifier in foods, particularly in ice cream. Here, polysorbate is added to up to 0.5% (v/v) concentration and makes the ice cream smoother and easier to handle, as well as increasing its resistance to melting.[4] Adding this substance prevents milk proteins from completely coating the fat droplets. This allows them to join together in chains and nets, which hold air in the mixture, and provide a firmer texture that holds its shape as the ice cream melts.
Polysorbate 80 is an excipient that is used to stabilize aqueous formulations of medications for parenteral administration, and used as an emulsifier in the manufacture of the popular anti-arrhythmic amiodarone. [5] It is also used as an excipient in some European and Canadian influenza vaccines.[6] It is also used in the culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Middlebrook 7H9 broth.
Some mycobacteria contain a type of lipase (enzyme that breaks up lipid molecules). When added to a mixture of Tween 80 and phenol red, they cause the solution to change colour, so this is used as a test to identify the phenotype of a strain or isolate.
In Europe and America people eat about 100 mg of polysorbate 80 in foods per day.[7] Influenza vaccines contain 0.000025 g of polysorbate 80 per dose.[6]
In general, polysorbate 80 is safe and well-tolerated, although a small number of people may be sensitive to this substance,[8] and it may be harmful to people with Crohn's disease.[9]
Rats fed with diets containing up to 5% polysorbate 80 by volume for 12 weeks showed no toxic effects, however, the levels of polysorbate 80 used in the study were determined based on an assumed maximum human consumption of 750 mg per day, and the study did find statistically significant differences in efficiency of caloric utilization. [10] Polysorbate 80 is not carcinogenic.[11] A 1956 study saw no effect on reproduction in rats at up to 5% of their diet being polysorbate 80, although reproduction decreased at 20% of the diet (duration of study?).[12] A 1993 study raised concerns that polysorbate 80 might decrease fertility in rats.[13] A 1997 study on two rats looked at the effect of consuming three doses by body weight of 0.5%/day on the sex organs of female rats and saw no abnormal changes in uterine weight, note that this does not take into account myriad possible epigenetic, or even physically observable differences in structure and function. (duration of study?); this is equivalent to a 70 kg person consuming about 350 g per day for three days. [14] A 2008 study concluded that there was no observable adverse effects at doses per body weight of up to 1.85 ml/kg·day, which is equivalent to a 70 kg person consuming about 140 g of this substance per day for 21 days. However, administration of 16.783 ml/kg·day to pregnant rats lowered body weight in male and female offspring.[7] This is equivalent to a person consuming about 1.3 kg of polysorbate 80 per day for 21 days.
Polysorbate-80 was mentioned in an ad during the 1980s health fad about chemicals in foods. The ad was for a competing product advertising its more natural ingredients and the "Mom" in the ad held the competing product and prounounced the ingredient "Polysorbate 80" in a derisive manner and presumably chose to purchase the product being advertised because of its more natural sounding ingredients. This was the message of health-focused product advertising during the decade of the 1980s.