Adding Nano Gold to a Formula with Phospholipid and DMI

Your current formula already utilizes two penetration enhancers: Phospholipid and Dimethyl Isosorbide (DMI).

• Phospholipid (specifically the type corresponding to Product ID 1169) works by forming liposomes, which can help carry both water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients deeper into the skin layers (epidermis and dermis). It also offers moisturizing and skin barrier benefits. Note that this specific type of Phospholipid is sensitive to heat above 40°C during dispersion.
• Dimethyl Isosorbide (DMI) is a solvent and carrier that is effective at enhancing the penetration of various ingredients, particularly water-soluble ones. DMI can withstand higher temperatures (up to 80°C).
• Nano Gold (Colloidal Gold) is designed to act as a nanocarrier, binding to active ingredients to potentially improve their delivery into the skin. It can also withstand heat up to 80°C for 30 minutes and is more stable in formulas containing emulsifiers.

Potential Benefits of Adding Nano Gold

Adding Nano Gold to a formula already containing Phospholipid and DMI could potentially offer further enhancement of ingredient penetration, as it provides another mechanism (nanocarrier binding) to aid delivery. Nano Gold is specifically developed for delivery systems in medical and cosmetic applications.

Potential Challenges and Considerations

1. Compatibility during Mixing: The Phospholipid (ID 1169) you mentioned requires dispersion at temperatures no higher than 40°C to avoid clumping. Both DMI and Nano Gold can tolerate higher temperatures (up to 80°C). You will need to carefully design your mixing process to accommodate the temperature sensitivity of the Phospholipid.
2. Formulation Stability: While Nano Gold is more stable with emulsifiers, and Phospholipid can act as a co-emulsifier, combining multiple carriers requires careful formulation to ensure the overall stability of the product.
3. Efficacy vs. Irritation: While the goal is enhanced penetration, adding multiple penetration enhancers could theoretically increase the potential for skin irritation, although DMI and Phospholipid are also noted to help reduce irritation with certain active ingredients. The actual effect depends heavily on the specific concentrations and the other ingredients in your formula.
4. Degree of Enhancement: The extent to which Nano Gold will further increase penetration beyond what Phospholipid and DMI already provide is not guaranteed and will depend on the specific active ingredients you are trying to deliver and how well they interact with all three carriers.

Conclusion

Adding Nano Gold to a formula containing Phospholipid and DMI is theoretically possible and may help further enhance the penetration of active ingredients. However, it introduces complexity, particularly regarding the mixing temperature constraints of the specific Phospholipid product (ID 1169). Careful formulation, stability testing, and efficacy testing are recommended to ensure the desired results are achieved without compromising product stability or causing skin irritation.