PPG-5-Ceteth-20  is a chemical compound, an ethoxylated and propoxylated cetyl alcohol that belongs to the class of polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene surfactants. Oxirane, methyl-, polymer with oxirane, hexadecyl ether.

The name defines the structure of the molecule:

• PPG-5. PPG stands for polypropylene glycol, which is a polymer based on propylene oxide. "5" indicates the average number of units of propylene oxide in the polymer chain. Polypropylene glycol is commonly used as a humectant, emollient and solvent in cosmetics and personal care products.
• Ceteth refers to a group of ingredients derived from cetyl alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol derived from natural sources, such as coconut oil or palm oil. Ceteth is often used as a surfactant, emollient or thickener in cosmetics and personal care products.
• 20 refers to the average number of ethylene oxide units in the compound. Ethylene oxide is used to change the properties of certain ingredients, for example by increasing their solubility in water or improving their emulsifying properties.

Description of the raw materials used in its production:

• PPG (Polypropylene Glycol) - PPG is a polymeric compound derived from propylene oxide. It is used in various cosmetic formulations as a stabilizer and emollient.
• Ceteareth-20 is an ethoxylated compound derived from cetyl alcohol and ethylene oxide. It is often used as an emulsifier and surfactant in cosmetics and personal care products.

The synthesis process takes place in several stages:

• Preparation. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol that can be derived from natural sources such as coconut or palm oil, or can be synthesized from oil.
• Polypropoxylation. Cetyl alcohol is reacted with propylene oxide in a treatment known as polypropoxylation. This process attaches polypropylene glycol chains to cetyl alcohol, increasing its solubility in water and improving its surfactant properties. The number "5" in PPG-5-Ceteth-20 refers to the average number of propylene glycol units in the PPG chain.

It appears as clear liquid

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

It is found in cosmetic products as an emollient and surfactant.

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable. Emulsifiers have the property to reduce the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improve emulsion stability and also directly influence the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating their filmometric performance.

Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss.  Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Safety. The term 'eth' refers to the ethoxylation reaction with ethylene oxide after which residues of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, chemical compounds considered carcinogenic, may remain. The degree of safety therefore depends on the degree of purity of the compound obtained. At present, no manufacturer is known to provide this information on the label.

Studies:

 PPG-5-CETETH-20-based systems may be a promising platform for KA skin delivery (1).

Used on Curcumin-Loaded Liquid Crystalline Systems for Controlled Drug Release and Improved Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (2).

Potential vehicle for buccal administration of antibiofilm peptides (3).

• Molecular Formula   C₁₆H₃₄O
• Molecular Weight  242.44 g/mol
• CAS  37311-01-6  9087-53-0
• EC number   

References___________________________________________________________________________

(1) Gonçalez ML, Corrêa MA, Chorilli M. Skin delivery of kojic acid-loaded nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for the treatment of skin aging.  Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:271276. doi: 10.1155/2013/271276. Epub 2013 Dec 4.

(2) Rodero CF, Fioramonti Calixto GM, Cristina Dos Santos K, Sato MR, Aparecido Dos Santos Ramos M, Miró MS, Rodríguez E, Vigezzi C, Bauab TM, Sotomayor CE, Chorilli M. Curcumin-Loaded Liquid Crystalline Systems for Controlled Drug Release and Improved Treatment of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis.  Mol Pharm. 2018 Oct 1;15(10):4491-4504. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b00507. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

(3) Bernegossi J, Calixto GM, Sanches PR, Fontana CR, Cilli EM, Garrido SS, Chorilli M. Peptide KSL-W-Loaded Mucoadhesive Liquid Crystalline Vehicle as an Alternative Treatment for Multispecies Oral Biofilm.  Molecules. 2015 Dec 25;21(1):E37. doi: 10.3390/molecules21010037.