Preparation and Evaluation of β-Carotene Containing Microemulsion

Abstract Microemulsions (O/W, W/O and B.C.) formed in Tween80/ethanol/ethyl butyrate/water system were identified by phase diagram determination and conductivity measurement at 25 °C. Comparative studies were made, by means of dynamic light scattering, viscosity and UV measurements, on (1) the difference of viscosity and particle size between β-carotene solubilized and empty microemulsions; (2) the effects of sunlight and temperature on the stability of β-carotene both in microemulsion and in ethyl butyrate solution. It is shown that in β-carotene loaded systems, the mean particle diameter is 82.13 nm and the size distributions were quite broad (PDI = 0.35). Smaller particles (31.75 nm) and narrower particle size distribution of droplets (PDI = 0.14) were obtained in empty microemulsion. The sizes of droplets of both β-carotene loaded and empty ones get shrunk sharply in the first 3 days, then keep remarkable stability even for a month. β-carotene solubilized in microemulsion is much more stable than that solubilized in ethyl butyrate solution.