In recent years, with the deepening of research on neuroprotection and cognitive function, the potential of pure phosphatidylserine as a dietary supplement in improving memory and slowing cognitive decline has attracted widespread attention. At the same time, its biocompatibility and safety are expanding in the fields of medicine, nutrition, health care and cosmetics. Therefore, the solubility of phosphatidylserine is a problem worthy of attention.
Physical And Chemical Properties
The molecular structure of bulk phosphatidylserine contains a hydrophilic head (serine and phosphate group) and a hydrophobic fatty acid chain, which has amphiphilic characteristics.
Molecular formula: C13H24NO10P (depending on the type of fatty acid)
Molecular weight: about 750-800 Da (slightly different according to the length and saturation of different fatty acid chains)
Appearance: mostly yellow to brown powder or liquid oil
Melting point: varies due to different fatty acid composition, generally 30-60℃
The amphiphilicity enables pure phosphatidylserine to self-assemble into a lipid bilayer structure, which is an important component of the cell membrane.
Solubility Characteristics
Basic concept of solubility
Solubility refers to the maximum amount of a substance that can be dissolved in a specific solvent. It is usually expressed as a mass percentage or molar concentration. Factors that affect solubility mainly include solvent polarity, temperature, pressure, and the chemical properties of the solute.
Solubility of phosphatidylserine in water
Phosphatidylserine is a lipid in its natural form and has a long hydrophobic fatty acid chain. Therefore, its water solubility is poor. Pure PS powder is almost insoluble in pure water. But it can be dispersed in water in the form of micelles, liposomes or nanoparticles.
When phosphatidylserine is added to water, the hydrophilic group on the head enables it to partially bind to water molecules. However, the hydrophobicity of the long fatty acid chain causes the overall insolubility or extremely low solubility. Generally, the solubility of conventional phosphatidylserine powder in water is less than 0.01%, and it is easy to form a suspension or precipitate.
Solubility of phosphatidylserine in organic solvents
Pure phosphatidylserine is relatively soluble in polar organic solvents such as ethanol, isopropanol, acetone and chloroform. Such solvents can dissolve both its hydrophilic head and hydrophobic fatty acid chain parts.
For example:
It has good solubility in ethanol and is often used in extraction and preparation processes;
Chloroform-methanol mixed solvent system is a classic phospholipid extraction solvent with high dissolution efficiency.
However, these organic solvents are usually not suitable for final dietary or pharmaceutical preparations and need to be further prepared into safe dosage forms.
Solubility Water-soluble Phosphatidylserine
With technological advances, water-soluble phosphatidylserine has appeared on the market. It has been modified by special hydration treatment or microencapsulation technology, which can greatly improve the dispersibility and stability of PS in water.
This type of water-soluble PS can not only dissolve or disperse directly in the aqueous medium, but also form stable lipid nanoparticles. Therefore, it is used in beverage preparation, the preparation of healthcare liquids, etc.
Guanjie Biotech is a pure phosphatidylserine supplier. We provide a variety of conventional and water-soluble phosphatidylserine products to meet the R&D and production needs of different customers.
Factors affecting the solubility of phosphatidylserine
Fatty acid composition and saturation
The fatty acid chain length and saturation of phosphatidylserine directly affect its hydrophobicity, thereby affecting solubility.
Short chain length and unsaturated fatty acids (such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid) reduce hydrophobicity and improve dispersibility in water.
Long chain and highly saturated fatty acids (such as stearic acid) enhance hydrophobicity and reduce water solubility.
PS from different sources (such as soybean, sunflower or brain phospholipids) has different fatty acid compositions, resulting in different solubility properties.
pH value
The serine residues in the head of pure phosphatidylserine have variable charges. Changes in pH value affect its charge state and intermolecular interactions.
In neutral and weakly alkaline environments, PS molecules are negatively charged. This can increase its hydrophilicity and facilitate dispersion in water;
Under strong acidic conditions, the charge is neutralized and the hydrophilicity is reduced. This leads to a decrease in solubility.
Therefore, adjusting the pH of the solution is an effective means to improve the water solubility of PS.
Temperature
Increased temperature usually enhances molecular motion and reduces solvent viscosity. This helps PS molecules to disperse or dissolve better.
However, excessively high temperatures may cause the fatty acid chains to denature or degrade, affecting product stability.
Effects of other additives
Emulsifiers, cosolvents and surfactants are often used to improve the water solubility of pure phosphatidylserine. For example, the addition of lecithin, cholesterol or polysaccharide adjuvants can enhance the dispersibility and stability of PS.
Guanjie Biotech's water-soluble phosphatidylserine products use advanced emulsification technology to ensure that the product has good solubility and bioavailability.
Comparison Of The Solubility Of Different Forms Of Phosphatidylserine
|
Form type |
Physical form |
Solubility characteristics |
Typical applications |
|
Regular phosphatidylserine powder |
Powder, long hydrophobic fatty acid chain |
Almost insoluble in water, easy to precipitate |
Dietary supplement capsules, tablets |
|
Phosphatidylserine liposomes |
Nano lipid vesicles |
Stably dispersed in water in the form of liposomes |
Functional beverages, liquid preparations |
|
Microencapsulated water-soluble phosphatidylserine |
Coated microparticles or powder |
Highly water-soluble or dispersible, good stability |
Beverages, oral liquids, infant nutrition products |
Guanjie Biotech focuses on providing PS products in various specifications and forms, including conventional powders and water-soluble types, to help customers develop diversified health products.
Phosphatidylserine Solubility in Its Applications
Oral Nutritional Supplements
In the field of oral nutritional supplements, traditional pure phosphatidylserine products are typically offered in capsule or tablet form, often using conventional powder. However, this form has poor water solubility and limited absorption in the human body, which reduces its bioavailability and overall health benefits. In contrast, water-soluble PS is more readily absorbed in the digestive tract. As a result, it has become an increasingly preferred ingredient in the development of premium nutritional supplements.
Functional Beverages and Liquid Preparations
For functional beverages and liquid formulations, good water solubility is essential for successful product development. Conventional PS powder is difficult to dissolve in water, often leading to precipitation and an unpleasant taste. These drawbacks restrict its use in beverage applications. Water-soluble phosphatidylserine, on the other hand, can be evenly dissolved in water or other liquid carriers. This significantly enhances formulation flexibility and product stability, supporting the growing popularity of PS in the health drink market.
Cosmetics and Skincare Products
In the cosmetics and skincare industry, pure phosphatidylserine is valued for its strong affinity to cell membranes and moisturizing properties. However, due to its high fat solubility, traditional PS presents challenges in emulsification and skin absorption. Water-soluble PS offers a solution by integrating more easily into water-based skincare formulations. It improves the texture of creams and serums, enhances absorption, and provides a better user experience.
Phosphatidylserine has important physiological effects and health benefits, and has received more and more attention. Its unique amphiphilic structure makes it challenging in terms of solubility. In particular, its poor water solubility limits its wide application in many fields.
Through the continuous progress of molecular modification, emulsification technology, and microencapsulation technology, water-soluble phosphatidylserine products have been realized and promoted. This has greatly improved the application potential and bioavailability of the product. Guanjie Biotech not only provides pure phosphatidylserine products in multiple specifications and forms, but also continues to innovate technology. If you need water-soluble phosphatidylserine, please contact us: info@gybiotech.com.
