The toxic effect of solubilizing excipients on Tetrahymena thermophila BF5 growth investigated by microcalorimetry

The toxic effect of different solubilizing excipients on the growth and metabolism of Tetrahymena thermophila BF₅ (T.t.BF₅) at various concentrations was investigated by microcalorimetry. The thermogenic curves of T.t.BF₅ growth were determined at 28°C, and were evaluated by dynamic parameters. The results indicated that the values of growth rate constant (k), maximum power (P₁, P₂), peak time (T₁, T₂) and total quantity of heat (Q) varied for different excipients. There was a good linear relationship between k and concentrations (r>0.95, P<0.01). 5% inhibition concentration (IC₅) of poloxamer 188, Tween 80, PEG 600, PEG 400 and Tween 20 was 2.18, 1.07, 1.35, 0.58, and 0.045 mg/mL, respectively. After the principal component analysis (PCA), Q, k and P₁ could characterize the effect of these excipients on T.t.BF5 growth. Comprehensive evaluation indicated that compared with the control group, poloxamer 188 had the weakest toxicity and Tween 20 had the strongest toxicity.