Polysorbate 20 and Polysorbate 80 have shown activity in contrast to the biotype Escherichia coli o104: H4, the most deadly of ever reported Escherichia coli (1).

It is a non-ionic surfactant commonly used in the formulation of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, but can gradually degrade in aqueous solution over time through different routes and lose the surfactant functions that lead to protein aggregation (2).

It is also often included in the formulation for therapeutic proteins to reduce protein aggregation and surface absorption (3).

References____________________

(1) Polysorbates prevent biofilm formation and pathogenesis of Escherichia coli O104:H4.

Sloup RE, Cieza RJ, Needle DB, Abramovitch RB, Torres AG, Waters CM.
Biofouling. 2016 Oct

(2) Characterization and stability study of polysorbate 20 in therapeutic monoclonal antibody formulation by multidimensional ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-charged aerosol detection-mass spectrometry.
Li Y, Hewitt D, Lentz YK, Ji JA, Zhang TY, Zhang K.
Anal Chem. 2014 May

(3) The effects of membrane filters used in biopharmaceutical processes on the concentration and composition of polysorbate 20.
Lei M, Sugahara J, Hewitt D, Beane D, Jayakar R, Cornell C, Skidmore K, Kao YH, Ji J.
Biotechnol Prog. 2013 Nov-Dec

Polysorbate 20 is a chemical compound used as a food additive (E432) and in the cosmetic sector with an emulsifying, fruit or vegetable coating, stabiliser, solubiliser, flavour dispersant, wetting agent function.

Both Polysorbate 20 and Polysorbate 80 are classified as generally safe by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (1).

Polysorbate 20 studies

Molecular Formula: C₂₆H₅₀O₁₀

Molecular Weight: 522.676 g/mol

CAS: 9005-64-5  9005-66-7

EC Number: 500-018-3  618-421-9

FEMA Number: 2915

MDL number MFCD00165986

• Tween® 20
• E432
• Polysorbate 40
• Polysorbate 60
• POE(20) sorbitan monolaurate
• Ethoxylated Sorbitan monolaurate
• 2-[2-[3,4-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl]-2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl dodecanoate
• Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate
• Alkest TW 20