Polysorbates (PS):
Polysorbates (or surfactants in general) are commonly added to therapeutics as stabilizers and are classified as excipients. There are two key polysorbates used in our industry:
Market Dynamics:
Palm oil and coconut oil are key components for polysorbates and are grown primarily in Southeast Asia and West Africa. Palm and coconut oil prices and quality can be quite volatile due to natural disasters, epidemics and political unrest.
Up Stream Materials/Building Blocks:
Coconut Oil, Corn, Corn Starch, Cornstarch, Dextrose, Ethylene Oxide, Glucose, Palm Oil, Sorbital
Down Stream Materials and Applications for Polysorbates:
Various trademarked surfactants/emulsifier
Buffers: TRIS and PBS
Detergents/Soaps
Cosmetics
Food Ingredients (like ice cream)
Lysing cells
Nanoassemblies
Stabilizer for purified protein derivatives (PPD) and pharmaceuticals
Washing agent (immunoassays, Western blots, ELISAs)
Wetting Agents