Oleogels: A Matrix for Carrying Pharmaceutical Actives

Oleogels are composed of a three-dimensional gel matrix formed when an oil and a gelator are blended at the correct temperature and rate. The structured gel matrix captures and carries active ingredients well, allowing them to be used for a variety of medications that need to be delivered to specific sites on the skin. Oleogels have been shown to work very well for topical and transdermal applications. The formulations spread well and stay put on the skin.

Depending on the specific gel texture you are looking to create, the properties are predictable. The structure of the gel can be varied by using different wax gelators, such as Beeswax, Carnauba wax, and Candelilla wax, which Koster Keunen offers in pharmaceutical and food grade qualities. The texture and rheology can also be varied by using different wax gelators. Our gel charts can help speed your formulation process.

The strengths that oleogels demonstrate on the outside of the body just may be the beginning. The gel matrices that form oleogels may be altered by changing gelators, thus changing matrix strength and structure. This has the dual benefit of allowing more options for the quantity of medicines the oleogels can carry¹ and creating interesting textures.

The texture is particularly important in current research on administering medications in areas where water and refrigeration are limited or unavailable. At MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, researchers formulated oleogels to carry four of the most important drugs for pediatric health worldwide and found the oleogels to be stable and effective at releasing the medications².

Additionally, they tested the palatability of oleogels made up as a sweetened pudding-like squeezable or a thickened beverage that did not require water. Such studies offer great potential for administering medications to small children and populations that have issues swallowing, those who lack access to clean water, or simply cannot take tablets.

Pharmaceutical applications for oleogels show great promise. Oleogels can be complex to formulate, but they tend to be stable, resulting in effective carriers for important medicines. Koster Keunen provides the highest-quality waxes to the food and pharmaceutical industries and is ready to partner with your formulators to create innovative and effective solutions. Contact us to learn more about the power of oleogels.