Development of the ointment emulsion base formulation intended for cutaneous application in plantar xerosis

Plantar xerosis is a feet skin condition characterized by excessive dryness, hyperkeratosis and fissures in the stratum corneum of epidermis. For the treatment and care of the skin with this pathology, drugs in the form of emulsion-based ointments with a high concentration of the hydrophobic phase will be effective. Aim. Development of the water/oil type emulsion ointment base formulation for cutaneous application in plantar xerosis. Materials and methods. 9 samples of water/oil type emulsion bases, which contained almond oil and waxes – beeswax, sunflower and rice bran wax. To stabilize the emulsion system, emulsifiers of the second type were used (emulsifier T-2, glyceryl monostearate, sorbitan oleate). To increase colloidal stability, sodium tetraborate was introduced into the formulation. The samples were prepared using the direct emulsification method and evaluated with the following indicators: organoleptic properties, homogeneity, colloidal and thermal stability, microscopic studies to determine of the emulsion internal phase dispersion, biopharmaceutical studies with the method of release into agar gel, determination of pH and structural viscosity. Results and discussion. The experiment results of the composition development of water/oil type emulsion bases by determining organoleptic, physical and chemical (colloidal and thermal stability, pH), pharmacotechnological (homogeneity, average size of the dispersed phase, structural viscosity) and biopharmaceutical studies showed that the emulsion bases with combinations of beeswax and glyceryl monostearate (sample No. 2) and sunflower wax and sorbitan oleate (sample No. 4) were characterized with the best properties. Conclusions. The proposed water/oil type emulsion bases meet the requirements of the main quality indicators and are promising carriers of ointments for cutaneous application in plantar xerosis.