Tyloxapol (Triton WR1339) is a nonionic liquid polymer of the alkyl aryl polyether alcohol type, used as a surfactant to aid liquefaction, removal of mucopurulent and bronchopulmonary secretions. It also blocks plasma lipolytic activity, and thus the breakdown of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.
Tyloxapol is generally regarded as a safe stabilizer. In some studies, it is reported to causes cytotoxicity in epithelial and red blood cells, induces lysis of human Jurkat T-lymphoblasts and the apoptosis in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage-like cells and NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. These indications of cytotoxicity, however, do not reflect the in vivo use of Tyloxapol, since it is rarely used alone in clinical applications[3].
A single intravenous injection of tyloxapol at dose of 400mg/kg body weight shows three distinctive phases, sharp linear increment, slow linear increment and slow decrement of plasma lipids toward the basal levels[1]. The treatment of tyloxapol enhannces the pulmonary absorption of rh-insulin and increases the absorption of inhaled insulin in diabetic rats. It might significantly increase the hypoglycemic effect of intratracheally administered insulin in diabetic rats but does not change the LDH activity[2].
[1] Rasouli M, et al. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016, 10(6):BF01-5. [2] Zheng J, et al. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2010, 58(12):1612-1616. [3] Kristl J, et al. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2008, 232(2):218-225.