THE EFFECT OF THE SKIN PENETRATION ENHANCER AZONE(R) ON FATTY ACID-SODIUM SOAP-WATER MIXTURES

The effect of Atone on the phase behaviour of a mixture of partly neut ralised fatty acids in water was investigated by X-ray diffraction. Th e lipid blend consisted of saturated palmitic chains and unsaturated o leic chains. It was found that the system consisted of both crystallin e and liquid crystalline phases at body temperature and below. The sol id phases consisted essentially of the saturated lipids, while the uns aturated lipids formed the liquid crystalline phase. Atone had a minor effect on the crystalline phase, but partitioned into the liquid crys talline phase. The addition of Atone caused the original reversed hexa gonal phase to be transformed into a reversed micellar phase. The find ings presented here are in line with our previous observations on the effect of Atone on the soya bean lecithin-water and monoolein-water sy stem, but in conflict with another study on a similar fatty acid syste m where it was assumed that Atone promoted the formation of the lamell ar phase.