EHO-85, Novel Amorphous Antioxidant Hydrogel, Containing Leaf Extract-Rheological Properties, and Superiority over a Standard Hydrogel in Accelerating Early Wound Healing: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Many advanced wound healing dressings exist, but there is little high-quality evidence to support them. To determine the performance of a novel amorphous hydrogel (EHO-85) in relation to its application, we compared its rheological properties with those of other standard hydrogels (SH), and we assessed the induction of acceleration of the early stages of wound healing as a secondary objective of a prospective, multicenter, randomized, observer-blinded, controlled trial. The patients were recruited if they had pressure, venous, or diabetic foot ulcers and were treated with EHO-85 ( = 103) or VariHesive (SH) ( = 92), and their response was assessed by intention-to-treat as wound area reduction (WAR (%)) and healing rate (HR mm/day) in the second and fourth weeks of treatment.

All-Aqueous Liquid Crystal Nanocellulose Emulsions with Permeable Interfacial Assembly.

We report on the formation of water-in-water liquid crystal emulsions with permeable colloidal assemblies. Rodlike cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) spontaneously self-assemble into a helical arrangement with the coexistence of nonionic, hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran, whereas the two polymer solutions are thermodynamically incompatible. Stable water-in-water emulsions are easily prepared by mixing the respective CNC/polymer solutions, showing micrometric CNC/PEG dispersed droplets and a continuous CNC/dextran phase.

Short and ultrashort antimicrobial peptides anchored onto soft commercial contact lenses inhibit bacterial adhesion.

Commercial soft contact lenses were chemically modified to incorporate antibacterial properties. Contact lenses and especially soft contact lenses present a risk of eye microbial infection that eventually may lead to vision loss. This is a significant health issue given the large population of contact lenses wearers worldwide.

Simple Method for Rheological Determination of Surfactant Layer Thickness, Adsorbed on Soft Rubber Particles.

Natural rubber latex is a colloidal suspension of particles, which is very important for many industrial applications. These latex particles are not only polydispersed but also very soft and deformable, which makes the prediction of rheological properties much difficult. Herein, the rheology of natural rubber latex has been studied at high particle concentrations, analyzing the effects of surfactant addition on colloidal stability.

Formulating stable hexosome dispersions with a technical grade diglycerol-based surfactant.

We report on the phase behavior of a technical grade and commercially available diglycerol monoisostearate, C41V, and its use for the preparation of nanostructured liquid crystal dispersions (hexosomes). C41V in water forms a reverse hexagonal liquid crystal at room temperature and in a wide range of concentrations (0.5-95 wt%); this hexagonal liquid crystal is stable up to 70 °C.

Gelatin/Maltodextrin Water-in-Water (W/W) Emulsions for the Preparation of Cross-Linked Enzyme-Loaded Microgels.

Cross-linked gelatin microgels were formed in gelatin-in-maltodextrin water-in-water (W/W) emulsions and evaluated as carriers of the enzyme β-galactosidase (β-Gal). The phase behavior of aqueous gelatin/maltodextrin mixtures was studied in detail, focusing on the multiphase region of the phase diagram that is constituted by three equilibrium phases: two immiscible aqueous phases plus one solid phase. The solid phase was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy, and water-in-water emulsions were formed within the multiphase region.

Antagonistic effects between magnetite nanoparticles and a hydrophobic surfactant in highly concentrated Pickering emulsions.

Herein we present a systematic study of the antagonistic interaction between magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and nonionic hydrophobic surfactant in Pickering highly concentrated emulsions. Interfacial tension measurements, phase behavior, and emulsion stability studies, combined with electron microscopy observations in polymerized systems and magnetometry, are used to support the discussion. First, stable W/O highly concentrated emulsions were obtained using partially hydrophobized magnetite nanoparticles.

Chitosan macroporous foams obtained in highly concentrated emulsions as templates.

Emulsion templating is an effective route for the preparation of macroporous polymer foams, with well-defined pore structures. This kind of material is usually obtained by polymerization or crosslinking in the external phase of highly concentrated emulsions. The present article describes the synthesis of macroporous foams based on a cationic polymer, chitosan, crosslinked with genipin, a natural crosslinker.

Conductive microemulsions for template CoNi electrodeposition.

Microemulsions have been revealed as feasible templates to grow magnetic nanostructures using an electrodeposition method. Reducing agents are not required and the applied potential has been used as driving force of the nanostructure growth. A systematic study of conductive microemulsion systems to allow the CoNi electrodeposition process has been performed.

Robust molecular micro-capsules for encapsulating and releasing hydrophilic contents.

The hydrophobic-amphiphilic self-assembly approach has been employed to prepare molecular micro-capsules simply by cooling down an emulsion, in a hot polar solvent medium, of a melted compound having two very well-distinguished units, both with highly non-polar and hydrophobic characteristics. The resulting micro-capsules are very stable and robust both in suspension and under dry conditions. Further, such micro-capsules can effectively encapsulate hydrophilic compounds which can later on be easily released upon the application of UV-light.

Facile synthesis of meso/macroporous dual materials with ordered mesopores using highly concentrated emulsions based on a cubic liquid crystal.

A new simple one-step method has been developed to obtain SiO(2) monolithic materials with a bimodal meso- and macroporous pore-size distribution. Sol-gel reactions were carried out in the continuous phase of highly concentrated emulsions with a cubic liquid crystal in this external phase, using a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactant and containing a novel glycol-modified silane, tetra(2-hydroxyethyl) orthosilicate (abbreviated as THEOS). The hydrolysis and condensation reactions of this precursor have been carried out in basic pH, between pH 8.

Preparation of mesoporous/macroporous materials in highly concentrated emulsions based on cubic phases by a single-step method.

A novel and simple single-step method for the preparation of meso/macroporous silica materials is described, which consists in templating in highly concentrated emulsions with a cubic liquid crystal in the continuous phase. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was solubilized in the aqueous continuous phase of highly concentrated emulsions stabilized by C(12)(EO)(8) and a PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymer nonionic surfactant, with a cubic liquid crystalline phase of the Fd3m type. The resulting silica materials were characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering, nitrogen sorption and transmission electron microscopy.

Oil-in-alcohol highly concentrated emulsions as templates for the preparation of macroporous materials.

New oil-in-alcohol highly concentrated emulsions were formulated and were used as a templates to obtain macroporous poly(furfuryl alcohol) monoliths by a one-step method. The oil-in-alcohol highly concentrated emulsions were prepared by stepwise addition of the oil phase to the surfactant-alcohol solution and were characterized by optical microscopy and by laser diffraction. The typical structure of highly concentrated emulsions, with close-packed polyhedral droplets, has been observed.

Drug delivery properties of macroporous polystyrene solid foams.

Purpose: Polymeric porous foams have been evaluated as possible new pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Methods: These materials were obtained by polymerization in the continuous phase of highly concentrated emulsions prepared by the phase inversion temperature method. Their porosity, specific surface and surface topography were characterized, and the incorporation and release of active principles was studied using ketoprofen as model lipophilic molecule.

Physicochemical characterization of natural-like branched-chain glycosides toward formation of hexosomes and vesicles.

Synthetic branched-chain glycolipids have become of great interest in biomimicking research, since they provide a suitable alternative for natural glycolipids, which are difficult to extract from natural resources. Therefore, branched-chain glycolipids obtained by direct syntheses are of utmost interest. In this work, two new branched-chain glycolipids are presented, namely, 2-hexyldecyl β(α)-D-glucoside (2-HDG) and 2-hexyldecyl β(α)-D-maltoside (2-HDM) based on glucose and maltose, respectively.

Macroporous polymers obtained in highly concentrated emulsions stabilized solely with magnetic nanoparticles.

Magnetic macroporous polymers have been successfully prepared using Pickering high internal phase ratio emulsions (HIPEs) as templates. To stabilize the HIPEs, two types of oleic acid-modified iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were used as emulsifiers. The results revealed that partially hydrophobic NPs could stabilize W/O HIPEs with an internal phase above 90%.

Viscoelastic properties of polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) dispersions sterically stabilized by hydrophobically modified inulin (polyfructose) polymeric surfactant.

Recently, steric repulsive forces induced by a new graft copolymer surfactant, which is based in inulin (polyfructose), have been described. Previous investigations by atomic force microscopy between solid surfaces covered with adsorbed surfactant indicated strong repulsive forces even at high electrolyte concentration, due to the steric repulsion produced by the surfactant hydration. In the present paper, the colloidal stabilization provided by this surfactant is studied by rheology.

Interaction forces between particles stabilized by a hydrophobically modified inulin surfactant.

The adsorption isotherm of a hydrophobically modified inulin (INUTEC SP1) on polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles was determined. The results show a high affinity isotherm for both particles as expected for a polymeric surfactant adsorption. The interactions forces between two layers of the hydrophobically modified inulin surfactant adsorbed onto a glass sphere and plate was determined using a modified atomic force microscope (AFM) apparatus.

Phase behavior and preparation of mesoporous silica in aqueous mixtures of fluorinated surfactant and hydrophobic fluorinated polymer.

The phase behavior and formation of self-assemblies in the ternary water/fluorinated surfactant (C(8)F(17)EO(10))/hydrophobic fluorinated polymer (C(3)F(6)O)(n)COOH system and the application of those assemblies in the preparation of mesostructured silica have been investigated by means of phase study, small angle X-ray scattering, and rheology. Hexagonal (H(1)), bicontinuous cubic (V(1)) with Ia3d symmetry, and polymer rich lamellar (L(alpha)(')) are observed in the ternary diagram. C(8)F(17)EO(10) molecules are dissolved in polymer rich aggregates, whereas (C(3)F(6)O)(n)COOH molecules are practically insoluble in the surfactant lamellar phase due to packing restrictions.

Emulsion polymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate using a hydrophobically modified inulin and comparison with other surfactants.

The use of a new class of graft polymer surfactants, based on inulin, in emulsion polymerization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) particles is described. PS and PMMA were synthesized by emulsion polymerization, and stable particles with a high monomer content (50 wt %) were obtained with a very small amount of polymeric surfactant ([surfactant]/[monomer] = 0.0033).

The influence of surfactant mixing ratio on nano-emulsion formation by the pit method.

The formation of O/W nano-emulsions by the PIT emulsification method in water/mixed nonionic surfactant/oil systems has been studied. The hydrophilic-lipophilic properties of the surfactant were varied by mixing polyoxyethylene 4-lauryl ether (C12E4) and polyoxyethylene 6-lauryl ether (C12E6). Emulsification was performed in samples with constant oil concentration (20 wt%) by fast cooling from the corresponding HLB temperature to 25 degrees C.

Phase behavior and nano-emulsion formation by the phase inversion temperature method.

Formation of oil-in-water nano-emulsions has been studied in the water/C12E4/isohexadecane system by the phase inversion temperature emulsification method. Emulsification started at the corresponding hydrophilic-lipophilic balance temperature, and then the samples were quickly cooled to 25 degrees C. The influence of phase behavior on nano-emulsion droplet size and stability has been studied.

Nitrogen Sorption Studies of Silica Particles Obtained in Emulsion and Microemulsion Media.

The internal surface structures of silica aerogel particles synthesized using different catalysts in emulsion and microemulsion media have been investigated by means of N(2) adsorption and desorption isotherms. Surface fractal dimensions have been computed using different methods: Frankel-Halsey-Hill plots of the adsorption isotherms, the thermodynamic fractal isotherm equation, and a modification of the thermodynamic fractal isotherm equation. Silica aerogels synthesized in emulsion media with an acidic catalyst have a high specific surface area without micropores and show two separate ranges of scales where the surface fractal dimensions are different and constant.