Background:

Cremophor EL is a polyethoxylated surfactant.

Cremophor EL is a widely used excipient. In the first 10 h, Cremophor EL at 5 mg/mL increases the impedance, then decreases it, and after 20 h of treatment, epithelial cell death is detected. Cremophor EL decreases cell viability and increases cell toxicity more than RH40. Both epithelial viability and monolayer integrity are seriously impaired at 10 to 50 mg/mL concentrations of Cremophor EL at 24-h treatment. Cremophor EL also enhances cell detachment[1].

[1]. Kiss L, et al. Kinetic analysis of the toxicity of pharmaceutical excipients Cremophor EL and RH40 on endothelial and epithelial cells. J Pharm Sci. 2013 Apr;102(4):1173-81.