Compendium of the most significant studies with reference to properties, intake, effects.

Kim KO, Kim IS. Cytocompatibility and Osteogenesis of Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells on POSS-PEG Coated Collagen. J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2018 Jun 1;18(6):4439-4444. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2018.15404.

Svensson A, Neves C, Cabane B. Hydration of an amphiphilic excipient, Gelucire 44/14. Int J Pharm. 2004 Aug 20;281(1-2):107-18. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2004.06.005.

Johnson ME, Mitragotri S, Patel A, Blankschtein D, Langer R. Synergistic effects of chemical enhancers and therapeutic ultrasound on transdermal drug delivery. J Pharm Sci. 1996 Jul;85(7):670-9. doi: 10.1021/js960079z.

Vaidya A, Chaudhury MK. Synthesis and surface properties of environmentally responsive segmented polyurethanes. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2002 May 1;249(1):235-45. doi: 10.1006/jcis.2002.8262.

Huynh CT, Nguyen MK, Jeong IK, Kim SW, Lee DS. Synthesis, Characteristics and Potential Application of Poly(β-Amino Ester Urethane)-Based Multiblock Co-Polymers as an Injectable, Biodegradable and pH/Temperature-Sensitive Hydrogel System. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed. 2012;23(8):1091-106. doi: 10.1163/092050611X575423.

Wang X, Ruckenstein E. Preparation of porous polyurethane particles and their use in enzyme immobilization. Biotechnol Prog. 1993 Nov-Dec;9(6):661-5. doi: 10.1021/bp00024a015.

Yang Y, Wang Z, Peng Y, Ding J, Zhou W. A Smart pH-Sensitive Delivery System for Enhanced Anticancer Efficacy via Paclitaxel Endosomal Escape. Front Pharmacol. 2019 Jan 24;10:10. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00010.

Adamu AA, Muhamad Sarih N, Gan SN. Thermal and anticorrosion properties of polyurethane coatings derived from recycled polyethylene terephthalate and palm olein-based polyols. R Soc Open Sci. 2021 Apr 14;8(4):201087. doi: 10.1098/rsos.201087.

PEG-32 Dilaurate Is a chemical compound:

The name describes the structure of the molecule

• PEG-32 stands for Polyethylene Glycol 32. Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are a family of synthetic compounds that are frequently used in the cosmetic industry. The number "32" refers to the average molecular weight of polyethylene glycol in this specific molecule.
• Dilaurate indicates that PEG-32 Dilaurate is derived from lauric acid, a fatty acid found in nature in some vegetable oils, such as coconut oil. The use of fatty acids in cosmetic ingredients can provide emollient and moisturizing properties.

Nonionic surfactants have a skin-penetrating effect due to their ability to modify the permeability of several biological membranes

 PEG-32 Dilaurate o Glycol Dilaurate

CAS   9005-02-1

What it is for and where

Cosmetics

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Synonyms:

• Ethylene glycol dilaurate
• Ethylene dilaurate
• Ethylene dilaurate
• Dodecanoic acid, 1,2-ethanediyl ester
• 2-dodecanoyloxyethyl dodecanoate

A very similar compoubd is:

 PEG-32 Monolaurate o Ethylene Glycol Monolaurate

CAS    9004-81-3

Synonyms:

• Poly(ethylene glycol) monolaurate
• 2-Hydroxyethyl laurate

PEG-32 studies

References___________________________________________________________

(1) Casiraghi A, Di Grigoli M, Cilurzo F, Gennari CG, Rossoni G, Minghetti P. The influence of the polar head and the hydrophobic chain on the skin penetration enhancement effect of poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2012 Mar;13(1):247-53. doi: 10.1208/s12249-011-9745-4. 

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And a premise on PEG.

Since the PEG (1) family is numerous and is found in many cosmetic, cleaning and medicinal products and others, we need a cognitive premise on the subject that is rather complex from the point of view of safety because these products not only come into contact with the skin but, as in the case of medicine, they are also ingested.

PEG or polyethylene glycols polymerise the condensed ethylene oxide and water and are called polyethylene glycols, but in reality, they are complex chemical components, polymers bound together. For example,  plastic is polyethylene and has a hard consistency, while  polyethylene aggregated to the glycol forms a liquid.

The number that appears after the initials PEG represents the molecular weight and the higher this number is, the less it penetrates  the skin. 

Here below are some studies in Medicine that refer to the use of PEG Polyethylene glycol in various fields.

Intestine

Polyethylene glycol with or without electrolytes is effective for the treatment of functional constipation, both in adults and in paediatric patients, with great safety and tolerability. These preparations are the most effective osmotic laxatives (more than lactulose) and are the first-line treatment for functional constipation in the short- and long-term. They are as effective as enemas in faecalomas, avoid the need for hospitalisation and are well tolerated by patients (especially when given without electrolytes) (2).

In the preparation  for colonoscopy,  polyethylene glycol tablets confirmed efficacy, acceptability, tolerance and safety similar to those of sodium phosphate (3).

For peripheral nerve repair (4).

Eyes

Dry eye syndrome is a disorder that affects 5-34% of the world's adult population with reduced quality of life. Artificial or lubricating tears are the most used therapy for treating this condition due to their low side effects profile, which attempt to modify the properties of the tear film. Polyethylene glycol has demonstrated clinical efficacy in the treatment of this condition (5).

Brain

Polyethylene glycol facilitates the neuroprotective effects of magnesium in head injuries (6).

Tumors

For transarterial chemoembolization, Polyethylene glycol is effective and safe for the treatment of liver cancer, as indicated by good tolerability, quality of life and high tumour response (7). 

Cosmetics

Many types of PEG are hydrophilic and are used as creams, topical dermatological preparations and in cosmetic products such as surfactants, emulsifiers, detergents, humectants and skin conditioners.

Safety varies from type to type given the structural complexity (8).

References___________________________________________________________________

(1) Fruijtier-Pölloth C. Safety assessment on polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives as used in cosmetic products. Toxicology. 2005 Oct 15;214(1-2):1-38. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2005.06.001.

(2) Mínguez M, López Higueras A, Júdez J. Use of polyethylene glycol in functional constipation and fecal impaction. Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2016 Dec;108(12):790-806. doi: 10.17235/reed.2016.4571/2016.

Santos-Jasso KA, Arredondo-García JL, Maza-Vallejos J, Lezama-Del Valle P. Effectiveness of senna vs polyethylene glycol as laxative therapy in children with constipation related to anorectal malformation. J Pediatr Surg. 2017 Jan;52(1):84-88. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2016.10.021.

(3) Chaussade S, Schmöcker C, Toulemonde P, Muñoz-Navas M, O'Mahony V, Henri F. Phosphate tablets or polyethylene glycol for preparation to colonoscopy? A multicentre non-inferiority randomized controlled trial. Surg Endosc. 2017 May;31(5):2166-2173. doi: 10.1007/s00464-016-5214-1.
Tsunoda T, Sogo T, Iwasawa K, Umetsu S, Oikawa-Kawamoto M, Inui A, Fujisawa T. Feasibility and safety of bowel cleansing using low-volume polyethylene glycol with ascorbic acid before pediatric colonoscopy: A pilot study. Dig Endosc. 2017 Mar;29(2):160-167. doi: 10.1111/den.12756.

(4) Hoffman AN, Bamba R, Pollins AC, Thayer WP. Analysis of polyethylene glycol (PEG) fusion in cultured neuroblastoma cells via flow cytometry: Techniques & optimization. J Clin Neurosci. 2017 Feb;36:125-128. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2016.10.032.

(5) Pérez-Balbuena AL, Ochoa-Tabares JC, Belalcazar-Rey S, Urzúa-Salinas C, Saucedo-Rodríguez LR, Velasco-Ramos R, Suárez-Sánchez RG, Rodríguez-Carrizalez AD, Oregón-Miranda AA. Efficacy of a fixed combination of 0.09 % xanthan gum/0.1 % chondroitin sulfate preservative free vs polyethylene glycol/propylene glycol in subjects with dry eye disease: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. BMC Ophthalmol. 2016 Sep 20;16(1):164. doi: 10.1186/s12886-016-0343-9.

Labetoulle M, Messmer EM, Pisella PJ, Ogundele A, Baudouin C. Safety and efficacy of a hydroxypropyl guar/polyethylene glycol/propylene glycol-based lubricant eye-drop in patients with dry eye. Br J Ophthalmol. 2017 Apr;101(4):487-492. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2016-308608.

(6) Busingye DS, Turner RJ, Vink R. Combined Magnesium/Polyethylene Glycol Facilitates the Neuroprotective Effects of Magnesium in Traumatic Brain Injury at a Reduced Magnesium Dose. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2016 Oct;22(10):854-9. doi: 10.1111/cns.12591.

(7) Aliberti C, Carandina R, Sarti D, Mulazzani L, Catalano V, Felicioli A, Coschiera P, Fiorentini G. Hepatic Arterial Infusion of Polyethylene Glycol Drug-eluting Beads for Primary and Metastatic Liver Cancer Therapy. Anticancer Res. 2016 Jul;36(7):3515-21.

(8) Jang HJ, Shin CY, Kim KB. Safety Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Compounds for Cosmetic Use. Toxicol Res. 2015 Jun;31(2):105-36. doi: 10.5487/TR.2015.31.2.105.