Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (tween 20) is a non-ionic surfactant that is widely used as an emulsifier and stabilizer in pharmaceutical formulations, food and cosmetic industries.
TWEEN 20 is a frequently used member of the polysorbate family. These have been used as emulsifying agents for the preparation of stable oil-in- water emulsions. 4 TWEEN 20 has been used in pre- extraction of membranes to remove peripheral proteins (used at 2% for extraction of membrane- bound proteins).
Doses administered were 1 g/kg orally and 0.5 g/kg
sorbitan mono-9-octadecanoate poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) derivatives; complex mixtures of polyoxyethylene ethers used as emulsifiers or dispersing agents in pharmaceuticals. Emulsifier, stabiliser, flavouring agent, dispersant Polysorbate 20 is a polysorbate surfactant whose stability and relative non-toxicity allows it to be used as a detergent and emulsifier in a number of domestic, scientific, and pharmacological applications. It is a polyoxyethylene derivative of sorbitan monolaurate, and is distinguished from the other members in the polysorbate range by the length of the polyoxyethylene chain and the fatty acid ester moiety.