Hand sanitizer gel

• Hand sanitizers are applied to dry hands followed by rubbing
• Hand sanitizers are used to remove microorganisms from the hands with the intent of preventing infections and reducing the spread of infectious diseases
• Types of Hand Sanitizer Formulations

  • Gel
  • Foam
  • Cleanser
  • Cream
  • Spray
  • Wipes
• In the 1980s, there were no hand sanitizers, and proper hand washing was the gold standard for preventing infection
• Hand sanitizers are primarily for the healthcare industry and also the food industry
• In gel formulations, different gelling agents are used
• The choice of gelling agent in gel formulations depends on the other ingredients included and the aesthetic aspect
• Foam formulations of hand sanitizing gel are not common in the Philippines
• Cream formulations are in trend nowadays due to their additional moisturizing effect
• Classifications of Hand Sanitizers

  • Alcohol-based
  • Alcohol-based, supplemented
  • Water-based
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers contain at least 62% alcohol, with 60-95% alcohol being the most effective
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers deliver immediate benefit but provide no residual activity
• Commonly used alcohols in hand sanitizers are ethanol or isopropyl alcohol
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizers have safety concerns related to ingestion and flammability
• Product Evaluation


  1. Efficacy Parameters

  2. Safety Parameters

  3. Quality Parameters
• Warnings for a product

  • Ingestion
  • Flammable and drying
• People affected by the warnings

  • Consumers
  • People handling, storing, transferring the product
• Drying


  1. Most common classification in the Philippines

  2. MOA of alcohol as disinfectants: Microorganisms have proteins in their cells to live. Alcohol denatures proteins, exposing bacteria proteins, eventually killing them, and to some extent even viruses. 40% alcohol phased-out due to ineffectivity. High percentage of alcoholics ingest alcohol sanitizers
• Types of alcohol-based, supplemented products

  • Contains at least 62% alcohol plus antimicrobial agent: Triclosan, Benzalkonium chloride. Supplementation with water-soluble antimicrobial agent provides more persistent activity, delaying the reestablishment of transient bacteria. Gel formulations commonly have triclosan and benzalkonium chloride
• Water-based products

  • Alcohol-free. Contains water, surfactant, and antimicrobial ingredients such as benzalkonium chloride and triclosan. Must take into consideration the bioavailability of antimicrobial activity. No drying effect due to the absence of alcohol and poses less safety concerns
• WHO-recommended handrub formulations

  • Formulation 1: Ethanol 96% (80% v/v), Hydrogen peroxide 3% (0.125% v/v), Glycerol 98% (1.45% v/v), Sterile distilled or boiled cold water. Formulation 2: Isopropyl alcohol 99.8% (75% v/v), Hydrogen peroxide 3% (0.125% v/v), Glycerol 98% (1.45% v/v), Sterile distilled or boiled cold water. High concentration of alcohol is very drying. Glycerol is used as a moisturizer in the formulations
• Quick review of gels

  • A dispersion system composed of small or large molecules dispersed throughout a liquid vehicle. Can be classified based on: Colloidal Phases, Nature of Solvent Used, Physical Nature
• Colloidal Phases

  • Single- or Two-phase system
  • Both
• Colloidal phases heavily dependent on formulation
• Two-phase systems may often appear as turbid solutions
• Nature of Solvent Used

  • Hydrogel (Water solvent)
  • Organogel (Organic solvent)
  • Xerogel
• Physical Nature

  • Elastic
  • Rigid
• Rheological Properties

  • Plastic
  • Pseudoplastic
  • Thixotropic
• CATEGORY I


  • Ingredients Generally Recognized As Safe and Effective (GRASE) for claimed therapeutic indication
• CATEGORY II


  • Ingredients generally not recognized as safe and effective or have unaccepted indications (NOT GRASE)
• CATEGORY III


  • Insufficient data available to permit final classification
• FORMULATIONS

  • ALCOHOL-BASED
  • WATER-BASED
• ALCOHOL-BASED SANITIZING HAND RUBS

  • ABR
• ALCOHOL-FREE SANITIZING HAND RUBS

  • AFR
• Antiseptic agents

  • Ethanol
  • Isopropanol
  • Chlorhexidine (Brand name: Bactidol)
  • Chloroxylenol
  • Triclosan
  • Iodine/Iodophors
  • Quaternary ammonium compounds
• Iodine/Iodophors were phased out as ingredients for hand sanitizing gels because iodine stains on the hands
• GELLING AGENTS

  • Also known as thickening agents
  • Used to enhance the viscosity of the product and stabilizers
  • Added in concentrations mostly less than 10% (usually 0.3%-2%)
• NATURAL POLYMERS


  • Carrageenan
  • Chitosan
  • Collagen
  • Guar gum
  • Xanthan gum
  • Dextran
• SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

  • Carbomer
  • Poloxamer
  • Polyvinyl alcohol
• SEMI-SYNTHETIC POLYMERS

  • Cellulose derivatives: CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose), HPMC (hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose), EC (ethyl cellulose), HEC (hydroxyethyl cellulose), HPC (hydroxypropyl cellulose), MC (methyl cellulose), Sodium alginate