Removal of glibenclamide from aqueous solution using water/PEG-400/ethanol/eucalyptus oil green nanoemulsions

The aim of the present study was to develop water/polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400)/ethanol/eucalyptus oil (EO) green nanoemulsions for the removal of glibenclamide (GBN) from aqueous solution. Different nanoemulsions were developed by oil phase titration method using water, PEG-400, ethanol and EO as aqueous phase, surfactant, cosurfactant and oil phase, respectively. Developed nanoemulsions were characterized for thermodynamic stability, droplet size, polydispersity, viscosity and refractive index. Adsorption studies were performed at 10, 20 and 30 min of contact time. Results showed that the concentrations of water and EO had greater impact on droplet size and viscosity of nanoemulsions. However, the percentage of GBN removal (% GBN removal) was influenced by EO & water concentrations, droplet size and viscosity. Based on lowest droplet size (54.8 nm), lowest polydispersity (0.174), lowest viscosity (48.2 cp) and highest % GBN removal efficiency (97.8%), nanoemulsion E5 containing 16% (w/w) of water, 30% (w/w) of PEG-400, 30% (w/w) of ethanol and 24 (%) w/w of EO was optimized as the best formulation for the removal of GBN from aqueous solution. The results of current studies suggested the potential application of green nanoemulsions in the removal of drugs/pharmaceuticals such as GBN from aqueous solution.