Laureth-9's surfactant action disrupts lipid membranes, giving it both spermicidal activity (used historically in contraceptive formulations) and utility as a percutaneous/mucosal penetration enhancer. It is the precursor structure for polidocanol, a related sclerosing agent used in varicose vein treatment.
Polyoxyl 9 Lauryl Ether (Laureth-9) is a non-ionic surfactant formed by ethoxylation of lauryl (dodecyl) alcohol with approximately 9 mol of ethylene oxide, historically developed as a spermicidal and membrane-active surfactant, and used pharmaceutically as a solubilizer and penetration enhancer.
| Chemical Name | Polyoxyl 9 Lauryl Ether (Laureth-9; Polidocanol precursor) |
| CAS Number | 9002-92-0 |
| IUPAC Name | 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27-Nonaoxanonatriacontan-1-ol |
| Molecular Formula | C30H62O10 |
| Molecular Weight | 582.80 g/mol g/mol |
Historic spermicidal active/co-surfactant in vaginal contraceptive gels and foams.
Used to enhance transdermal and transmucosal absorption of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Functions as a wetting and solubilizing agent in topical and ophthalmic formulations.
Used as an analytical reference standard for related surfactant impurity profiling.
Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.
Expert Opin. Investig. Drugs
Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev.
Our R&D centers specialize in the design and process development of complex heterocyclic and chiral molecules — mg to kg scale.