Measurement of Surface Topography, Packing Density, and Surface Charge Distribution of an Electrostatically Deposited Powder Layer by Image Analysis of Fluorescent Latex Spheres

Electrostatic microprobe for determining charge domains on surfaces

An electrostatic microprobe was developed to measure charge on wipes and various test surfaces. The device is constructed on an optical microscope platform utilizing a computer controlled XY stage. Test surfaces can be optically imaged to identify microscopic features that can be correlated to the measured charge domain maps. The ultimate goal is to quantify charge on wipe cloths to determine the influence of electrostatic forces on wipe sampling efficiency. We found that certain wipe materials do not extensively charge while others accumulate charge by making contact with other surfaces (through the triboelectric effect). Charge domains are found to be nonuniform.

Physical characterization of component particles included in dry powder inhalers. II. Dynamic characteristics

Characteristics of particles included in dry powder inhalers is extended from our previous report (in this journal) to include properties related to their dynamic performance. The performance of dry powder aerosols for pulmonary delivery is known to depend on fluidization and dispersion which reflects particle interactions in static powder beds. Since the solid state, surface/interfacial chemistry and static bulk properties were assessed previously, it remains to describe dynamic performance with a view to interpreting the integrated database. These studies result in complex data matrices from which correlations between specific properties and performance may be deduced. Lactose particles were characterized in terms of their dynamic flow, powder and aerosol electrostatics, and aerodynamic performance with respect to albuterol aerosol dispersion. There were clear correlations between flow properties and aerosol dispersion that would allow selection of lactose particles for formulation. Moreover, these properties can be related to data reported earlier on the morphological and surface properties of the carrier lactose particles. The proposed series of analytical approaches to the evaluation of powders for inclusion in aerosol products has merit and may be the basis for screening and ultimately predicting particle performance with a view to formulation optimization.