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.

Solubilization of active ingredients of different polarity in Pluronic® micellar solutions - Correlations between solubilizate polarity and solubilization site.

The solubilization of two pharmaceutically active ingredients (AI) with significantly different water solubility, namely carbamazepine and fenofibrate (solubility of 150ppm and 10ppm, respectively), has been investigated using a series of Pluronics® (Poloxamers) containing different ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (EO/PO) units in the molecule. The results show largely enhanced solubilization of fenofibrate by Pluronic® micelles that increases with the PPO chain length provided the temperature is above the critical micelle temperature (cmt). In contrast the more water-soluble carbamazepine only shows a moderate increase in solubilization upon addition of Pluronics®.

Assessment of formulation robustness for nano-crystalline suspensions using failure mode analysis or derisking approach.

The small particle size of nano-crystalline suspensions can be responsible for their physical instability during drug product preparation (downstream processing), storage and administration. For that purpose, the commercial formulation needs to be sufficiently robust to various triggering conditions, such as ionic strength, shear rate, wetting/dispersing agent desorption by dilution, temperature and pH variation. In our previous work we described a systematic approach to select the suitable wetting/dispersant agent for the stabilization of nano-crystalline suspension.

Viscoelastic properties of sterically stabilised emulsions and their stability.

The interaction forces between emulsion droplets containing adsorbed polymeric surfactants and the theory of steric stabilisation are briefly described. The results for the viscoelastic properties of O/W emulsions that are stabilised with partially hydrolysed poly(vinyl acetate) that is commonly referred to as poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with 4% vinyl acetate are given. The effect of the oil volume fraction, addition of electrolytes and increasing temperature is described.

Engineering of nano-crystalline drug suspensions: employing a physico-chemistry based stabilizer selection methodology or approach.

This paper describes a systematic approach to select optimum stabilizer for the preparation of nano-crystalline suspensions of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The stabilizer can be either a dispersant or a combination of dispersant and wetting agent. The proposed screening method is a quick and efficient way to investigate a large number of stabilizers based on the principles of physical-chemistry and employs a stepwise approach.

Rheological investigations on the creaming of depletion-flocculated emulsions.

Preventing creaming or sedimentation by the addition of thickeners is an important industrial challenge. We study the effect of the addition of a "free" nonadsorbing polymer (xanthan gum) on the stability against creaming of sterically stabilized O/W emulsions. Therefore, we analyze our samples using microscopy and rheological measurements.

Interparticle interactions in concentrated suspensions and their bulk (rheological) properties.

The interparticle interactions in concentrated suspensions are described. Four main types of interactions can be distinguished: (i) "Hard-sphere" interactions whereby repulsive and attractive forces are screened. (ii) "Soft" or electrostatic interactions determined by double layer repulsion.

Interaction forces between adsorbed polymer layers.

The interaction forces between adsorbed polymer layers were investigated. Two types of graft copolymers that were adsorbed on hydrophobic surfaces have been investigated: (i) a graft copolymer consisting of polymethylmethacrylate/polymethacrylic acid back bone (the B chain) on which several poly(ethylene oxide) chains are grafted (to be referred to as PMMA/PEO(n)); and (ii) a graft copolymer consisting of inulin (linear polyfructose with degree of polymerization >23) (the A chain) on which several C(12) chains are grafted (INUTEC SP1). In the first case adsorbed layers of the graft copolymer were obtained on mica sheets and the interaction forces were measured using the surface force apparatus.

Use of hydrophobically modified inulin for the preparation of polymethyl methacrylate/polybutyl acrylate latex particles using a semicontinuous reactor.

The seeded semicontinuous emulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BuA) stabilized with a graft polymeric surfactant based on inulin, INUTEC SP1, as well as its mixture with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is described. The mixture of SLS and Brij58 (alcohol ethoxylated) and the mixture of SLS and Pluronic P85 (block copolymer PEO-PPO-PEO) are also used as surfactant systems. The addition of methacrylic acid (MAA) or acrylic acid (AA) as comonomers is also studied.

Polymeric surfactants in disperse systems.

This overview starts with a section on general classification of polymeric surfactants. Both homopolymers, block and graft copolymers are described. The solution properties of polymeric surfactants is described by using the Flory-Huggins theory.

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.

Interaction forces in thin liquid films stabilized by hydrophobically modified inulin polymeric surfactant. 1. Foam films.

Using the interferometric method of Scheludko-Exerowa for investigation of foam films, we have obtained results using a hydrophobically modified inulin polymeric surfactant (INUTEC SP1). Measurements were carried out at constant INUTEC SP1 concentration of 2 x 10(-)(5) mol.dm(-)(3) and at various NaCl concentrations (in the range 1 x 10(-)(4) to 2 mol.

Principles of emulsion stabilization with special reference to polymeric surfactants.

This overview summarizes the basic principles of emulsion stabilization with particular reference to polymeric surfactants. The main breakdown processes in emulsions are briefly described. A section is devoted to the structure of polymeric surfactants and their conformation at the interface.

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).

Light-sensitive fusion between polymer-coated liposomes following physical anchoring of polymerisable polymers onto lipid bilayers by self-assembly.

Delivery of therapeutics (drugs, radionuclides or genes) in vivo can be optimized when carried by a targeting delivery vehicle such as a surfactant vesicle, polymeric micelle or other polymer-coated colloidal particulate. In the present communication, we propose a general method based on self-assembly principles, to construct lipid-polymer bilayer vesicles whose featured characteristics may be altered according to the polymer molecule used, thus be easily designed along the needs of a particular delivery application. Polymer molecules containing non-polymerizable (polypropylene) and polymerisable (methacrylate) hydrophobic groups were used to construct lipid-polymer vesicles by following two different methods of preparation.

Formation and stability of nano-emulsions.

This review describes the principles of formation and stability of nano-emulsions. It starts with an introduction highlighting the main advantages of nano-emulsions over macroemulsions for personal care and cosmetic formulations. It also describes the main problems with lack of progress on nano-emulsions.

Application of rheology for assessment and prediction of the long-term physical stability of emulsions.

This review deals with the use of rheology for assessment and prediction of the long-term physical stability of emulsions. It starts with an introduction, highlighting the importance of having accelerated test to predict emulsion stability. This is followed by a section on the stability/instability of emulsion systems, giving a brief summary of the driving force of each instability process and its prevention.

Interaction forces between particles containing grafted or adsorbed polymer layers.

The interaction forces between particles containing grafted or adsorbed polymer layers have been investigated using rheological and surface force measurements. Polystyrene latex dispersions with grafted poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains (M=2000) were used for the rheological measurements. Results were also obtained for latex dispersions stabilised with adsorbed graft copolymers of poly(methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid) with methoxy capped PEO chains (M=750).