Ophthalmic Nanoemulsions: From Composition to Technological Processes and Quality Control

Nanoemulsions are considered as the most promising solution to improve the delivery of ophthalmic drugs. The design of ophthalmic nanoemulsions requires an extensive understanding of pharmaceutical as well as technological aspects related to the selection of excipients and formulation processes. This Review aims at providing the readers with a comprehensive summary of possible compositions of nanoemulsions, methods for their formulation (both laboratory and industrial), and differences between technological approaches, along with an extensive outline of the research methods enabling the confirmation of in vitro properties, pharmaceutical performance, and biological activity of the obtained product. The composition of the formulation has a major influence on the properties of the final product obtained with low-energy emulsification methods. Increasing interest in high-energy emulsification methods is a consequence of their scalability important from the industrial perspective. Considering the high-energy emulsification methods, both the composition and conditions of the process (e.g., device power level, pressure, temperature, homogenization time, or number of cycles) are important for the properties and stability of nanoemulsions. It is advisible to determine the effect of each parameter on the quality of the product to establish the optimal process parameters' range which, in turn, results in a more reproducible and efficient production.

One-Step Generation of Multisomes from Lipid-Stabilized Double Emulsions

Multisomes are multicompartmental structures formed by a lipid-stabilized network of aqueous droplets, which are contained by an outer oil phase. These biomimetic structures are emerging as a versatile platform for soft matter and synthetic biology applications. While several methods for producing multisomes have been described, including microfluidic techniques, approaches for generating biocompatible, monodisperse multisomes in a reproducible manner remain challenging to implement due to low throughput and complex device fabrication. Here, we report on a robust method for the dynamically controlled generation of multisomes with controllable sizes and high monodispersity from lipid-based double emulsions. The described microfluidic approach entails the use of three different phases forming a water/oil/water (W/O/W) double emulsion stabilized by lipid layers. We employ a gradient of glycerol concentration between the inner core and outer phase to drive the directed osmosis, allowing the swelling of lamellar lipid layers resulting in the formation of small aqueous daughter droplets at the interface of the inner aqueous core. By adding increasing concentrations of glycerol to the outer aqueous phase and subsequently varying the osmotic gradient, we show that key structural parameters, including the size of the internal droplets, can be specifically controlled. Finally, we show that this approach can be used to generate multisomes encapsulating small-molecule cargo, with potential applications in synthetic biology, drug delivery, and as carriers for active materials in the food and cosmetics industries.

Preparedness against pandemic influenza: Production of an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant in Brazil

Increasing pandemic influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity is considered strategic by WHO. Adjuvant use is key in this strategy in order to spare the vaccine doses and by increasing immune protection. We describe here the production and stability studies of a squalene based oil-in-water emulsion, adjuvant IB160, and the immune response of the H7N9 vaccine combined with IB160. To qualify the production of IB160 we produced 10 consistency lots of IB160 and the average results were: pH 6.4±0.05; squalene 48.8±.0.03 mg/ml; osmolality 47.6±6.9 mmol/kg; Z-average 157±2 nm, with polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.085±0.024 and endotoxin levels <0.5 EU/mL. The emulsion particle size was stable for at least six months at 25°C and 24 months at 4–8°C. Two doses of H7N9 vaccine formulated at 7.5 μg/dose or 15 μg/dose with adjuvant IB160 showed a significant increase of hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) titers in sera of immunized BALB/c mice when compared to control sera from animals immunized with the H7N9 antigens without adjuvant. Thus the antigen-sparing capacity of IB160 can potentially increase the production of the H7N9 pandemic vaccine and represents an important achievement for preparedness against pandemic influenza and a successful North (IDRI) to South (Butantan Institute) technology transfer for the production of the adjuvant emulsion IB160.

Fabrication of Oleogels via a Facile Method by Oil Absorption in the Aerogel Templates of Protein-Polysaccharide Conjugates

In this study, a novel and facile method was developed to fabricate oleogels. The alginate/soy protein conjugates with excellent emulsifying activity and emulsion stability were prepared via Maillard reaction and freeze-dried to form the aerogel templates, which were then immersed in corn oil within 6 h to induce the oleogels. Compared with the alginate and soy protein solutions, the viscosity and elastic modulus G' of the conjugate solutions increased, indicating the formation of a new macromolecule and strengthened gel network from Maillard reaction. The conjugate aerogels presented the morphology of serious aggregation and conglutination but the higher elastic modulus and better thermal stability, due to the increasing covalent interactions. These aerogel templates showed a good oil absorption of up to 10.89 g/g aerogel and holding capacity of 40%. The resulting oleogels loaded with thymol showed excellent antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. This work suggests that the fabrication of oleogels is not limited to the choice of existing oleogelators but from a wide variety of protein-polysaccharide conjugates to form the aerogel templates for oil absorption.

Synthesis of Temperature/pH Dual-Stimuli-Response Multicompartmental Microcapsules via Pickering Emulsion for Preprogrammable Payload Release

Stimuli-responsive microcapsules, which can release the encapsulated payload under various environmental stimuli, have attracted great interests of the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and agricultural fields in recent years. However, most reported responsive microcapsules normally have a single storage area and thus load/release only one type of payload under one stimulus. In this work, we fabricated a novel kind of multicompartmental intelligent microcapsule with two storage areas and independently controlled (preprogrammable) releasing behavior under different stimuli via rapid photopolymerization of Pickering emulsions. In our strategy, a temperature-sensitive polymeric (N-isopropyl acrylamide, pNIPAM) particle was prepared and loaded with Nile Red (NR), which was then employed as a Pickering emulsifier to stabilize oil-in-water droplets. The oil was composed of pH-responsive monomers and oil-soluble fluorescent green (OG). Upon exposure to photoirradiation, pH-responsive monomers were polymerized along the interior of the droplets and converted into microcapsules. With NR in the temperature-sensitive pNIPAM@NR particles and OG in the interior of the microcapsules, the as-prepared microcapsules possess dual-carrier capability with two payloads encapsulated dependently in two different compartments. In addition, the microcapsules could respond to two different external stimuli (temperature and pH) and realize the selective and independent release of encapsulated molecules (NR and OG) from the shell and core without any mutual interference. More importantly, the release of NR and OG can be programmed by preprogramming the order of the stimulus responses, which can be altered. Our work develops a simple and effective strategy to fabricate responsive multicompartment microcapsules with preprogrammable release of different molecules.

The Horizon of the Emulsion Particulate Strategy: Engineering Hollow Particles for Biomedical Applications

With their hierarchical structures and the substantial surface areas, hollow particles have gained immense research interest in biomedical applications. For scalable fabrications, emulsion-based approaches have emerged as facile and versatile strategies. Here, the recent achievements in this field are unfolded via an "emulsion particulate strategy," which addresses the inherent relationship between the process control and the bioactive structures. As such, the interior architectures are manipulated by harnessing the intermediate state during the emulsion revolution (intrinsic strategy), whereas the external structures are dictated by tailoring the building blocks and solidification procedures of the Pickering emulsion (extrinsic strategy). Through integration of the intrinsic and extrinsic emulsion particulate strategy, multifunctional hollow particles demonstrate marked momentum for label-free multiplex detections, stimuli-responsive therapies, and stem cell therapies.

A solid lipid nanoparticle formulation of 4-(N)-docosahexaenoyl 2', 2'-difluorodeoxycytidine with increased solubility, stability, and antitumor activity

Previously, we synthesized 4-(N)-docosahexaenoyl 2', 2'-difluorodeoxycytidine (DHA-dFdC), a novel lipophilic compound with a potent, broad-spectrum antitumor activity. Herein, we report a solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) formulation of DHA-dFdC with improved apparent aqueous solubility, chemical stability, as well as efficacy in a mouse model. The SLNs were prepared from lecithin/glycerol monostearate-in-water emulsions emulsified with D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) and Tween 20. The resultant DHA-dFdC-SLNs were 102.2 ± 7.3 nm in diameter and increased the apparent solubility of DHA-dFdC in water to at least 5.2 mg/mL, more than 200-fold higher than its intrinsic water solubility. DHA-dFdC in a lyophilized powder of DHA-dFdC-SLNs was significantly more stable than the waxy solid of pure DHA-dFdC. DHA-dFdC-SLNs also showed an increased cytotoxicity against certain tumor cells than DHA-dFdC. The plasma concentration of DHA-dFdC in mice intravenously injected with DHA-dFdC-SLNs in dispersion followed a bi-exponential model, with a half-life of ~44 h. In mice bearing B16-F10 murine melanoma, DHA-dFdC-SLNs were significantly more effective than DHA-dFdC in controlling the tumor growth. In addition, histology evaluation revealed a high level of apoptosis and tumor encapsulation in tumors in mice treated with DHA-dFdC-SLNs. DHA-dFdC-SLNs represents a new DHA-dFdC formulation with improved antitumor activity.

Novel Bilayer Emulsions Costabilized by Zein Colloidal Particles and Propylene Glycol Alginate, Part 1: Fabrication and Characterization

In this study, both zein colloidal particles (ZCPs) and propylene glycol alginate (PGA) were simultaneously applied to prepare novel bilayer emulsions using the method of layer-by-layer (LBL) electrostatic deposition. The effects of different concentrations of PGA as well as incorporating sequences of ZCPs and PGA on physical stability and microstructure of bilayer emulsions were investigated. Furthermore, optical microscopy as well as confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed that the oil droplets presented uniform spheres and a compact network appeared in bilayer emulsion. Compared to the Pickering emulsion stabilized by ZCPs alone, novel bilayer emulsions exhibited simultaneous and long-term stability against creaming, coalescence, and Ostwald ripening due to the unique interface framework of a particle-polysaccharide hierarchical structure. Novel bilayer emulsions synergistically stabilized by colloidal particles and biopolymers were designed by using interfacial engineering, and a promising pathway was found to produce stable bilayer emulsions for the delivery of bioactive compounds.

Novel Bilayer Emulsions Costabilized by Zein Colloidal Particles and Propylene Glycol Alginate. 2. Influence of Environmental Stresses on Stability and Rheological Properties

Novel bilayer emulsions co-stabilized by zein colloidal particles (ZCPs) and propylene glycol alginate (PGA) were designed to overcome some limitations of conventional emulsions or Pickering emulsions. The bilayer emulsions of various concentrations of PGA (0.01-1.50%, w/v) and different incorporation sequences of ZCPs and PGA (ZCPs/PGA and PGA/ZCPs) were fabricated using the layer by layer (LBL) electrostatic deposition technique. Influence of environmental stresses (pH 2.5-8.5; temperature 60-80 °C ; ionic strength 0-100 mM NaCl) was focused on the stability and rheological properties of the novel bilayer emulsions. In comparison to the Pickering emulsion stabilized by ZCPs alone, bilayer emulsions exhibited improved stability and unique rheological characteristics under environmental stresses. The microstructure of well-defined spheres existing a branchlike network was observed in bilayer emulsions by TEM. A comprehensive evaluation was made of the physical characteristics and stimuli-responsive behavior of bilayer emulsions. The result provided meaningful information for understanding the changing mechanism of rheology of bilayer emulsions under environmental stresses.

Spontaneous Nucleation of Stable Perfluorocarbon Emulsions for Ultrasound Contrast Agents

Phase-change contrast agents are rapidly developing as an alternative to microbubbles for ultrasound imaging and therapy. These agents are synthesized and delivered as liquid droplets and vaporized locally to produce image contrast. They can be used like conventional microbubbles but with the added benefit of reduced size and improved stability. Droplet-based agents can be synthesized with diameters on the order of 100 nm, making them an ideal candidate for extravascular imaging or therapy. However, their synthesis requires low boiling point perfluorocarbons (PFCs) to achieve activation (i.e., vaporization) thresholds within FDA approved limits. Minimizing spontaneous vaporization while producing liquid droplets using conventional methods with low boiling point PFCs can be challenging. In this study, a new method to produce PFC nanodroplets using spontaneous nucleation is demonstrated using PFCs with boiling points ranging from -37 to 56 °C. Sometimes referred to as the ouzo method, the process relies on saturating a cosolvent with the PFC before adding a poor solvent to reduce solvent quality, forcing droplets to spontaneously nucleate. This approach can produce droplets ranging from under 100 nm to over 1 μm in diameter. Ternary plots showing solvent and PFC concentrations leading to droplet nucleation are presented. Additionally, acoustic activation thresholds and size distributions with varying PFC and solvent conditions are measured and discussed. Finally, ultrasound contrast imaging is demonstrated using ouzo droplets in an animal model.

Antileishmanial activity of sulphonamide nanoemulsions targeting the β-carbonic anhydrase from Leishmania species

The β-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) from Leishmania spp. (LdcCA) is effectively inhibited by aromatic/heterocyclic sulphonamides, in the low nanomolar range, but no in vitro antileishmanial activity was detected for such compounds. We formulated some of these sulphonamides as nanoemulsions (NEs) in clove oil, and tested them in vitro against Leishmania infantum MHOM/BR/1974/PP75 and Leishmania amazonensis IFLA/BR/1967/PH8 strains. Interesting inhibitory concentrations IC50 were observed for some of the sulphonamides NEs, with IC50 as low as 3.90 µM (NE-3F) and 2.24 µM (NE-5B) for L. amazonensis and 3.47 µM (NE-5B) for L. infantum. Some of the investigated NEs displayed toxicity for macrophages beyond the parasites. For the same nonoemulsions, a selective index (SI) greater than for Amphotericin B. Haemolytic assay using human red blood cells indicate that the NEs were less cytotoxic than amphotericin B, a widely used antifungal agent. NEs demonstrated to be an excellent strategy for increasing the penetration of these hydrophilic drugs through membranes, with a huge increase of efficacy over the sulphonamide CA inhibitor (CAI) alone.

Nanoemulsions of sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase inhibitors strongly inhibit the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi

Sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors targeting the α-class enzyme from the protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi, responsible of Chagas disease, were recently reported. Although many such derivatives showed low nanomolar activity in vitro, they were inefficient anti-T. cruzi agents in vivo. Here, we show that by formulating such sulfonamides as nanoemulsions in clove (Eugenia caryophyllus) oil, highly efficient anti-protozoan effects are observed against two different strains of T. cruzi. These effects are probably due to an enhanced permeation of the enzyme inhibitor through the nanoemulsion formulation, interfering in this way with the life cycle of the pathogen either by inhibiting pH regulation or carboxylating reactions in which bicarbonate/CO2 are involved. This type of formulation of sulfonamides with T. cruzi CA inhibitory effects may lead to novel therapeutic approaches against this orphan disease.

Influence of pH and Salt Concentration on Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Colloidal Peanuts

Solid-stabilized emulsions commonly known as Pickering emulsions offer unique benefits such as superior stability and controlled permeability compared to conventional surfactant stabilized emulsions. In this article, the effect of pH, the electrolyte and particle concentration, homogenization speed, and volume fraction of oil on the formation, stability, and the microstructure of emulsion droplets stabilized by micron-size peanut-shaped hematite particles are investigated. The influence of surface charge of particles on emulsification is studied by varying the pH of the dispersing medium, the addition of an electrolyte or a combination of both. Stable O/W emulsions are formed only when the aqueous dispersions at intermediate pH between 4 and 11, and decane (2:1 volume ratio) are vigorously mixed. However, emulsions are not formed when the particles are highly charged that is, at pH 2 and 12. The presence of monovalent salt or high-speed homogenization assists the emulsion formation at pH 3, whereas their combination helps in emulsification at pH 2. However, neither the addition of an electrolyte nor the high-speed homogenization or their combination facilitates the formation of emulsions at pH 12. We show that the image-charge repulsion and the surface charge induced wettability change can explain the influence of both pH and salt concentrations on the formation of Pickering emulsions. Although oil-in-water emulsions typically cream because of the density difference, microscopy observations revealed the presence of a large number of small particle-covered oil droplets in the sediments of the emulsified samples. These drops are observed to be entrapped in dense-particle networks. This leads to a considerable reduction in the number of particles available for the stabilization of floating emulsion droplets and thus influences their size and surface coverage. The possibility of tailoring the stability, droplet size and, the surface coverage discussed in this article can play a crucial role in situations that demand controlled release of active components.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Polyglycerol Fatty Acid Esters and Their Application as Emulsion Stabilizers

Polyglycerol ester is considered an excellent kind of food emulsifier. The aim of the current study was to synthesize polyglycerol fatty acid esters (PGFEs) with different-sized long-chain fatty acids (i.e. long-carbon fatty acid polyglycerol esters, L-PGFEs; medium-carbon fatty acid polyglycerol esters, M-PGFEs; and short-carbon fatty acid polyglycerol esters, S-PGFEs), using Lipozyme 435 as a catalyst in a solvent-free system. Thereafter, the physicochemical properties of the newly synthesized PGFEs and their potential applications as food emulsifiers were investigated. The maximum esterification efficiencies of L-PGFEs, M-PGFEs, and S-PGFEs were 69.37, 67.34, and 71.68%, respectively, at the optimum conditions: a reaction temperature of 84.48 °C, a reaction time of 6 h, a molar ratio of polyglycerol to fatty acid of 1.35:1, and 1.41 wt % enzyme usage (based on the total substrate mass). A high-performance liquid chromatograph equipped with an evaporative light-scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) and an electrospray-ionization mass spectrometer (ESI-MS) were employed to identify the synthesized products. The results demonstrated that the main components of these PGFEs were dimeric glycerides (68.3%), triglycerides (13.13%), and a small amount of tetraglycerides (3.18%). The properties of the PGFEs were characterized by physical and chemical methods. Compared with M-PGFEs and S-PGFEs, L-PGFEs had the best physicochemical properties without any obvious odor. Further, the emulsion capabilities of these different long-chain PGFEs were evaluated via examining the particle sizes and storage stabilities and comparing them with those of glycerin monostearate (GMS). The results showed that the emulsions prepared with L-PGFEs had the best stability and the smallest particle sizes (16.8 nm) compared with those of M-PGFEs, S-PGFEs, and GMS, and they were not prone to oil-droplet coalescence or the separation of oil and water. From the current study, the newly synthesized PGFEs with long-chain fatty acids showed the best advantages as a food emulsifier compared with M-PGFEs, S-PGFEs, and even glycerin monostearate.

High-throughput double emulsion-based microfluidic production of hydrogel microspheres with tunable chemical functionalities toward biomolecular conjugation

Chemically functional hydrogel microspheres hold significant potential in a range of applications including biosensing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering due to their high degree of flexibility in imparting a range of functions. In this work, we present a simple, efficient, and high-throughput capillary microfluidic approach for controlled fabrication of monodisperse and chemically functional hydrogel microspheres via formation of double emulsion drops with an ultra-thin oil shell as a sacrificial template. This method utilizes spontaneous dewetting of the oil phase upon polymerization and transfer into aqueous solution, resulting in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based microspheres containing primary amines (chitosan, CS) or carboxylates (acrylic acid, AA) for chemical functionality. Simple fluorescent labelling of the as-prepared microspheres shows the presence of abundant, uniformly distributed and readily tunable functional groups throughout the microspheres. Furthermore, we show the utility of chitosan's primary amine as an efficient conjugation handle at physiological pH due to its low pKa by direct comparison with other primary amines. We also report the utility of these microspheres in biomolecular conjugation using model fluorescent proteins, R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) and green fluorescent protein (GFPuv), via tetrazine-trans-cyclooctene (Tz-TCO) ligation for CS-PEG microspheres and carbodiimide chemistry for AA-PEG microspheres, respectively. The results show rapid coupling of R-PE with the microspheres' functional groups with minimal non-specific adsorption. In-depth protein conjugation kinetics studies with our microspheres highlight the differences in reaction and diffusion of R-PE with CS-PEG and AA-PEG microspheres. Finally, we demonstrate orthogonal one-pot protein conjugation of R-PE and GFPuv with CS-PEG and AA-PEG microspheres via simple size-based encoding. Combined, these results represent a significant advancement in the rapid and reliable fabrication of monodisperse and chemically functional hydrogel microspheres with tunable properties.

In-air microfluidics enables rapid fabrication of emulsions, suspensions, and 3D modular (bio)materials

Microfluidic chips provide unparalleled control over droplets and jets, which have advanced all natural sciences. However, microfluidic applications could be vastly expanded by increasing the per-channel throughput and directly exploiting the output of chips for rapid additive manufacturing. We unlock these features with in-air microfluidics, a new chip-free platform to manipulate microscale liquid streams in the air. By controlling the composition and in-air impact of liquid microjets by surface tension-driven encapsulation, we fabricate monodisperse emulsions, particles, and fibers with diameters of 20 to 300 μm at rates that are 10 to 100 times higher than chip-based droplet microfluidics. Furthermore, in-air microfluidics uniquely enables module-based production of three-dimensional (3D) multiscale (bio)materials in one step because droplets are partially solidified in-flight and can immediately be printed onto a substrate. In-air microfluidics is cytocompatible, as demonstrated by additive manufacturing of 3D modular constructs with tailored microenvironments for multiple cell types. Its in-line control, high throughput and resolution, and cytocompatibility make in-air microfluidics a versatile platform technology for science, industry, and health care.

Microemulsion-Based Soft Bacteria-Driven Microswimmers for Active Cargo Delivery

Biohybrid cell-driven microsystems offer unparalleled possibilities for realization of soft microrobots at the micron scale. Here, we introduce a bacteria-driven microswimmer that combines the active locomotion and sensing capabilities of bacteria with the desirable encapsulation and viscoelastic properties of a soft double-micelle microemulsion for active transport and delivery of cargo (e.g., imaging agents, genes, and drugs) to living cells. Quasi-monodisperse double emulsions were synthesized with an aqueous core that encapsulated the fluorescence imaging agents, as a proof-of-concept cargo in this study, and an outer oil shell that was functionalized with streptavidin for specific and stable attachment of biotin-conjugated Escherichia coli. Motile bacteria effectively propelled the soft microswimmers across a Transwell membrane, actively delivering imaging agents (i.e., dyes) encapsulated inside of the micelles to a monolayer of cultured MCF7 breast cancer and J744A.1 macrophage cells, which enabled real-time, live-cell imaging of cell organelles, namely mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi body. This in vitro model demonstrates the proof-of-concept feasibility of the proposed soft microswimmers and offers promise for potential biomedical applications in active and/or targeted transport and delivery of imaging agents, drugs, stem cells, siRNA, and therapeutic genes to live tissue in in vitro disease models (e.g., organ-on-a-chip devices) and stagnant or low-flow-velocity fluidic regions of the human body.

Preparation of double Pickering emulsions stabilized by chemically tailored nanocelluloses

Nanocelluloses are bio-based nanoparticles of interest as stabilizers for oil-in-water (o/w) Pickering emulsions. In this work, the surface chemistry of nanocelluloses of different length, nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC, long) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC, short), was successfully tailored by chemical modification with lauroyl chloride (C12). The resulting nanofibers were less hydrophilic than the original and able to stabilize water-in-oil (w/o) emulsions. The combination of the two types of nanocelluloses (C12-modified and native) led to new surfactant-free oil-in-water-in-oil (o/w/o) double emulsions stabilized by nanocellulose at both interfaces. Characterization was performed with respect to droplet size distribution, droplet stability over time, and stability after centrifugation. Nanocellulose-based Pickering emulsions can be designed with a substantial degree of control, as demonstrated by the stability of the chemically tailored NFC double emulsions. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that increased nanofiber length leads to increased stability.

Development of novel zein-sodium caseinate nanoparticle (ZP)-stabilized emulsion films for improved water barrier properties via emulsion/solvent evaporation

This work attempted to develop novel high barrier zein/SC nanoparticle (ZP)-stabilized emulsion films through microfluidic emulsification (ZPE films) or in combination with solvent (ethyl acetate) evaporation techniques (ZPE-EA films). Some physical properties, including tensile and optical properties, water vapor permeability (WVP), and surface hydrophobicity, as well as the microstructure of ZP-stabilized emulsion films were evaluated and compared with SC emulsion (SCE) films. The emulsion/solvent evaporation approach reduced lipid droplets of ZP-stabilized emulsions, and lipid droplets of ZP-stabilized emulsions were similar to or slightly lower than that of SC emulsions. However, ZP- and SC-stabilized emulsion films exhibited a completely different microstructure, nanoscalar lipid droplets were homogeneously distributed in the ZPE film matrix and interpenetrating protein-oil complex networks occurred within ZPE-EA films, whereas SCE films presented a heterogeneous microstructure. The different stabilization mechanisms against creaming or coalescence during film formation accounted for the preceding discrepancy of the microstructures between ZP-and SC-stabilized emulsion films. Interestingly, ZP-stabilized emulsion films exhibited a better water barrier efficiency, and the WVP values were only 40-50% of SCE films. A schematic representation for the formation of ZP-stabilized emulsion films was proposed to relate the physical performance of the films with their microstructure and to elucidate the possible forming mechanism of the films.

Formulation of emulsion adhesives with removal properties by using alkali soluble resins

This study was aimed at developing environmental friendly adhesion materials using alkali soluble resins (ASRs). Water-borne emulsion pressure-sensitive adhesives show good compatibility with different polymer emulsions, high solid contents, and good working property, thereby allowing adjustment of the extensive viscosity. On the other hand, it is not easily recyclable and its adhesion and water-resistance properties are not optimal. Herein, ASR was used as the polymeric surfactant. ASR presents good emulsion stabilization, high molecular weight, and solubility in alkali solutions. ASR contains both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups, thereby reducing the surface tension of the aqueous phase stabilizing monomer droplet or polymer particles. Additionally, it can form aggregates as a result of inter- and intramolecular hydrophobic interactions. The large number of carboxyl groups of this resin stabilizes polymer particles by an electrostatic effect. The recycling and adhesion properties of this resin were assessed by using UTM, a weight method. Further properties of the resin were determined by DSC, GPC, and ETC.

Development and characterization of dilutable self-microemulsifying premicroemulsion systems (SMEPMS) as templates for preparation of nanosized particulates

The utilization of self-microemulsifying premicroemulsion systems (SMEPMS) as templates for preparing poorly water-soluble compounds in the nanosized range represents a promising strategy. Fenofibrate was formulated with n-butyl L-lactate, Tween 80, and a number of cosurfactants (ethanol, 1-propanol, and PEG 600), diluted with the water phase (either water or saccharide solution) and then subjected to a freeze-drying (FD) process to obtain SMEPMS nanosized particulates. Results demonstrated that the particle size after resuspension of these FD SMEPMS nanosized particulates in water was too large, so the addition of saccharide solutions (lactose, mannitol, glucose, sucrose, and trehalose) as the solid carrier to prevent particles from aggregating seemed to be necessary and workable due to steric hindrance and repulsion. However, instability of these resuspended FD nanosized particulates after 30–90 minutes still occurred, and the addition of 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate in the resuspending medium was able to retard the aggregation and maintain the particle size within the nano-range. Evaluation by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction also confirmed the results. It was concluded that using an SMEPMS formulation with PEG 600 as the cosurfactant, and in the presence of a suitable saccharide as an anticaking agent and FD process were able to produce fenofibrate nanoparticles.

Antimicrobial particles from emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of quaternary ammonium surfactants

The purpose of this Article is to characterize polymeric particles of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) synthesized in the presence of one of two different quaternary ammonium surfactants (QACs): cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB). The methods used are dynamic light scattering for sizing, polydispersity and zeta potential analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology visualization, and plating plus colony-forming unities (CFU) counting for the determination of antimicrobial activity. The results point out the high QAC concentration required to obtain cationic and bioactive antimicrobial particles with good colloidal stability and a permanent load of the polymeric network with QACs. Over a range of micromolar QAC concentrations, there is remarkable antimicrobial activity of PMMA/CTAB or PMMA/DODAB particles, which is much higher than those determined for the QACs by themselves. Loading the biocompatible polyacrylate particles with QACs is a facile, fast, low-cost approach to obtaining highly efficient antimicrobial nanoparticles.

Hierarchical polymerized high internal phase emulsions synthesized from surfactant-stabilized emulsion templates

In building construction, structural elements, such as lattice girders, are positioned specifically to support the mainframe of a building. This arrangement provides additional structural hierarchy, facilitating the transfer of load to its foundation while keeping the building weight down. We applied the same concept when synthesizing hierarchical open-celled macroporous polymers from high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) templates stabilized by varying concentrations of a polymeric non-ionic surfactant from 0.75 to 20 w/vol %. These hierarchical poly(merized)HIPEs have multimodally distributed pores, which are efficiently arranged to enhance the load transfer mechanism in the polymer foam. As a result, hierarchical polyHIPEs produced from HIPEs stabilized by 5 vol % surfactant showed a 93% improvement in Young's moduli compared to conventional polyHIPEs produced from HIPEs stabilized by 20 vol % of surfactant with the same porosity of 84%. The finite element method (FEM) was used to determine the effect of pore hierarchy on the mechanical performance of porous polymers under small periodic compressions. Results from the FEM showed a clear improvement in Young's moduli for simulated hierarchical porous geometries. This methodology could be further adapted as a predictive tool to determine the influence of hierarchy on the mechanical properties of a range of porous materials.

Semicontinuous monomer-starved emulsion polymerization as a means to produce nanolatexes: analysis of nucleation stage

In this research, particle nucleation was decoupled from particle growth in the monomer-starved semicontinuous (micro)emulsion polymerization of styrene by close monitoring of the end of nucleation. This enabled us to exclude the effects of particle growth on nucleation and therefore unravel inherent features of nucleation in this process. Nanolatexes with average particle sizes as small as 15 nm were obtained. The average size of particles at the end of nucleation was found to be almost independent of surfactant concentration ([S]) but varied with the rate of monomer addition (Ra) to the 1/3 power. Nucleation time varied almost proportionally with [S](1.0). The sharpest particle size distribution was obtained at the lowest monomer feed rate used. The weight-average molecular weights (M̅w) of the polymer produced decreased with decreasing Ra. A simple correlation was developed which shows that the number-average molecular weight (M̅n) is proportional to Ra(1.0) but independent of [S] (i.e., [S](0.0)), which was in fair agreement with the experimental results. It is also shown that the polymer molecular weight is proportional to the average volume of particles; the smaller the particle, the lower the molecular weight.

In situ functionalization and PEO coating of iron oxide nanocrystals using seeded emulsion polymerization

Herein we demonstrate that seeded emulsion polymerization is a powerful tool to produce multiply functionalized PEO coated iron oxide nanocrystals. Advantageously, by simple addition of functional surfactants, functional monomers, or functional polymerizable linkers-solely or in combinations thereof-during the seeded emulsion polymerization process, a broad range of in situ functionalized polymer-coated iron oxide nanocrystals were obtained. This was demonstrated by purposeful modulation of the zeta potential of encapsulated iron oxide nanocrystals and conjugation of a dyestuff. Successful functionalization was unequivocally proven by TXRF. Furthermore, the spatial position of the functional groups can be controlled by choosing the appropriate spacers. In conclusion, this methodology is highly amenable for combinatorial strategies and will spur rapid expedited synthesis and purposeful optimization of a broad scope of nanocrystals.

Preparation and physicochemical properties of surfactant-free emulsions using electrolytic-reduction ion water containing lithium magnesium sodium silicate

Surfactant-free emulsions by adding jojoba oil, squalane, olive oil, or glyceryl trioctanoate (medium chain fatty acid triglycerides, MCT) to electrolytic-reduction ion water containing lithium magnesium sodium silicate (GE-100) were prepared, and their physiochemical properties (thixotropy, zeta potential, and mean particle diameter) were evaluated. At an oil concentration of 10%, the zeta potential was ‒22.3 ‒ ‒26.8 mV, showing no marked differences among the emulsions of various types of oil, but the mean particle diameters in the olive oil emulsion (327 nm) and MCT emulsion (295 nm) were smaller than those in the other oil emulsions (452-471 nm). In addition, measurement of the hysteresis loop area of each type of emulsion revealed extremely high thixotropy of the emulsion containing MCT at a low concentration and the olive emulsion. Based on these results, since surfactants and antiseptic agents markedly damage sensitive skin tissue such as that with atopic dermatitis, surfactant- and antiseptic-free emulsions are expected to be new bases for drugs for external use.

Facile synthesis of biomimetic honeycomb material with biological functionality

A microfluidic approach to a honeycomb-structure material based on the synergistic effects of polymer rapid precipitation, double emulsion templating, and internal effervescent salt decomposition is reported. The delicate honeycomb structure exhibits unique characteristics with an external nanopore membrane and internal multiple cavities. The biological functionality of the artificial structure is explored to serve as microcarriers for cell culture and drug release, indicating their attractive properties for potential biomedical applications.

Transient pore dynamics in pH-responsive liquid membrane

We have investigated the transient pore dynamics in a chemically destabilized liquid membrane in buffer solutions at macroscopic scale. A hole opened and closed repeatedly in response to pH in the surrounding media when the concentration of surfactant in the liquid membrane was sufficiently high to form emulsion at equilibrium and the membrane was larger than a critical value. The analysis of pore dynamics allowed us to estimate some physicochemical properties such as membrane tension, line tension, and membrane viscosity.

Light and neutron scattering study of PEG-oleate and its use in emulsion polymerization

Steric stabilization of colloids forms a robust mechanism to obtain colloids that are stable in a variety of environments, and that can be used to study the phase behavior of hard or soft spheres. We report the synthesis of sterically stabilized colloids in an aqueous environment using readily dissolvable surfactants, with an unsaturated hydrophobic tail. We synthesized a new surfactant by esterification of a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain of 4.1 kg/mol with oleic acid, called PEG4OA. The micellization of PEG4OA was characterized by light and neutron scattering, which yielded values for the aggregation number and the overall size that are in excellent agreement with a comparable surfactant with a saturated octadecane chain, Brij 700. We successfully used PEG4OA in the emulsion polymerization of polystyrene colloids. In comparison with the smaller surfactant Tween 80, PEG4OA yielded smaller colloids with radii around 50 nm, and the addition of 1-dodecanethiol reduced the formation of aggregates during the synthesis. A contrast variation study with small angle neutron scattering (SANS) showed that a dense PEG layer was grafted to the colloid surface.

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. At low xanthan concentrations, the emulsions cream. However, above a certain concentration a three-dimensional network of droplets is formed, which can prevent creaming. We attribute the formation of this structure to depletion attraction. The rheological behavior of an emulsion that is macroscopically stable should be elastic, while it should be viscous for a creaming emulsion. In order to distinguish between stable and unstable samples, we measure their relaxation time by mechanical rheology and find a good correlation to the visual observation. However, the measured relaxation times are much shorter than the time-scales, on which we observe creaming. We hypothesize that the measured relaxation time is related to the droplet-droplet interaction. This determines the frequency at which microscopic rearrangements occur, which weaken the network structure prior to creaming. Based on this interpretation, the relaxation time gives direct access to the microstructural processes involved in creaming. We therefore suggest using it as a predictive parameter of creaming stability.

One-step formation of w/o/w multiple emulsions stabilized by single amphiphilic block copolymers

Multiple emulsions are complex polydispersed systems in which both oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion exists simultaneously. They are often prepared accroding to a two-step process and commonly stabilized using a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfactants. Recently, some reports have shown that multiple emulsions can also be produced through one-step method with simultaneous occurrence of catastrophic and transitional phase inversions. However, these reported multiple emulsions need surfactant blends and are usually described as transitory or temporary systems. Herein, we report a one-step phase inversion process to produce water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) multiple emulsions stabilized solely by a synthetic diblock copolymer. Unlike the use of small molecule surfactant combinations, block copolymer stabilized multiple emulsions are remarkably stable and show the ability to separately encapsulate both polar and nonpolar cargos. The importance of the conformation of the copolymer surfactant at the interfaces with regards to the stability of the multiple emulsions using the one-step method is discussed.

Process optimization and stability of D-limonene-in-water nanoemulsions prepared by ultrasonic emulsification using response surface methodology

D-limonene in water nanoemulsion was prepared by ultrasonic emulsification using mixed surfactants of sorbitane trioleate and polyoxyethylene (20) oleyl ether. Investigation using response surface methodology revealed that 10% d-limonene nanoemulsions formed at S0 ratio (D-limonene concentration to mixed surfactant concentration) 0.6-0.7 and applied power 18 W for 120 s had droplet size below 100 nm. The zeta potential of the nanoemulsion was approximately -20 mV at original pH 6.4, closed to zero around pH 4.0, and around -30 mV at pH 12.0. The main destabilization mechanism of the systems is Ostwald ripening. The ripening rate at 25 °C (0.39 m3 s(-1)×10(29)) was lower than that at 4 °C (1.44 m3 s(-1)×10(29)), which was in agreement with the Lifshitz-Slezov-Wagner (LSW) theory. Despite of Ostwald ripening, the droplet size of d-limonene nanoemulsion remained stable after 8 weeks of storage.

Analysis of semibatch emulsion polymerization: role of ultrasound and initiator

In this work semibatch miniemulsion was carried out wherein the effect of free radicals produced by ultrasound and an external addition of initiator was examined. Influence of different variables on polymerization rate and polymer particle size has also been investigated. Over a range of 0-4% (by wt) initiator, the polymerization rate was found to increase over a range of 0.56-1.33 g L(-1) min(-1). Similarly monomer concentration range (7.2-15 wt.%) changed the polymerization rate from 1.33 to 2.61 g L(-1) min(-1). Under optimum parametric conditions polymer particle size 50 nm were obtained with a narrow size distribution. Syndiotactic phase of PMMA was observed by controlling the formulation recipe. Although, number of reports could be found in the literature [9,13,17,18,20,22] related to batch emulsion polymerization, this experimental data could be useful for the production of large scale monodispersed PMMA latex as all of the scale-up and design parameters have been qualitatively addressed.

Surfactant concentration regime in miniemulsion polymerization for the formation of MMA nanodroplets by high-pressure homogenization

This article focuses on the adequate surfactant concentration regime in which MMA droplets are stabilized sufficiently against coalescence during high-pressure homogenization but still no diffusion processes from droplets to micelles take place in the polymerization. Monomer miniemulsions with different surfactant concentrations were prepared with different energy inputs. Emulsions result that depend either on the surfactant concentration or on the energy input of the homogenization process. For both cases, the occupancy of the interface is compared as a function of the droplet size. It is shown that the surfactant concentration needed for the stabilization of a specified interface area decreases with increasing droplet size. For the dependence of droplet size on the energy input, it is shown that more surfactant can be applied before emulsion polymerization starts, but the applicable surfactant concentration is lower than the cmc and also depends on droplet size.

A new method for the preparation of concentrated translucent polymer nanolatexes from emulsion polymerization

A novel method for the preparation of concentrated, colloidally stable, translucent polymer nanolatexes is presented. Herein nanolatexes are obtained from emulsion polymerization, utilizing the potential of catalytic chain transfer to enhance the particle nucleation efficiency. Low amounts of emulsifier are required (<8% w/w based on monomer) while the nanolatexes concentration can be increased to 40% w/w. The nanolatexes are translucent in appearance, which was correlated to the average particle size and width of the particle size distribution using Mie theory. Increasing the nanolatex concentration was found to have no deteriorating effect on either the optical or colloidal properties. Preparing translucent nanolatexes via this method is advantageous, as the amount of emulsifier is significantly reduced without sacrificing the optical transparency or the high interfacial surface area of the polymer colloids.

An in vitro study of a phase-shift nanoemulsion: a potential nucleation agent for bubble-enhanced HIFU tumor ablation

Phase-shift nanoemulsions have the potential to nucleate bubbles and enhance high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) cancer therapy. This emulsion consists of albumin-coated dodecafluoropentane (DDFP) droplets with a mean diameter of approximately 260 nm at 37°C. It is known that superheated perfluorocarbon droplets can be vaporized with microsecond long ultrasound pulses if the acoustic pressure exceeds a specific threshold. In addition, it is well documented that particles smaller than 400 nm can extravasate through leaky tumor vessels and accumulate in the tumor interstitial space. Thus, nanoemulsions may passively target solid tumors, thus localizing cavitation nuclei for bubble-enhanced HIFU-mediated heating. In this study, we investigate the acoustic droplet vaporization of a DDFP nanoemulsion in tissue-mimicking gels and demonstrate the ability to nucleate inertial cavitation (IC) and enhance HIFU-mediated heating. The nanoemulsion was dispersed throughout albumin-acrylamide gel phantoms and sonicated with microsecond-length HIFU pulses (f = 2 MHz). The pressure threshold needed to vaporize the nanoemulsion was measured as a function of degree of superheat, pulse length and nanoemulsion concentration. It was determined that the vaporization threshold was inversely proportional with degree of superheat and independent of pulse length and concentration within the range of values tested. It was also shown that the bubbles formed from vaporized nanoemulsions reduced the IC threshold in the gel phantoms. Finally, it was demonstrated that cavitation from vaporized nanoemulsions accelerated HIFU-mediated heating. The results from this study demonstrate that phase-shift nanoemulsions can be combined with HIFU to provide a high degree of spatial and temporal control of bubble-enhanced heating.

Emulsion polymerization routes to chemically anisotropic particles

Methods are presented to synthesize suspensions of chemically and shape anisotropic colloids on submicrometer length scales. Particles are synthesized through seeded emulsion polymerization where a weakly cross-linked seed is swollen with monomer that phase separates at the reaction temperature resulting in a protrusion. The final particles can be considered to be composed of interpenetrating spheres. pH-sensitive anisotropy is created through the use of different surface coatings on each of the interpenetrating spheres. Dark-field imaging, dynamic light scattering, and scanning electron microscopy are used to characterize the particles.

Microfluidic preparation of water-in-oil-in-water emulsions with an ultra-thin oil phase layer

We developed a novel microfluidic device to prepare monodisperse water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsions with an ultra-thin (<1 microm) oil phase layer. This microfluidic device was composed of two microchannel junctions, one of which had a step structure, and a uniformly hydrophobic surface for effective oil removal from W/O/W droplets. At the first junction, an internal aqueous phase was transformed into slug-shaped water-in-oil (W/O) droplets by a flow-focusing mechanism. At the second junction equipped with the step structure, the preformed slug-shaped W/O droplets were introduced into an external aqueous phase and were transformed into spherical W/O droplets. In the downstream area of the second junction, the W/O droplets were released from the hydrophobic surface of the microchannel into the external aqueous phase by inertial lift force and were transformed into W/O/W droplets. During this process, most of the oil phase was effectively removed from the W/O droplets: the bulk of the oil phase flowed along the hydrophobic surface of the microchannel. The thickness of the oil phase layer of the resulting W/O/W droplets was ultra-thin, less than 1 microm. The volume of the internal aqueous phase of the W/O/W droplets reflected that of the W/O droplets and was controlled by the flow rates of the internal aqueous phase and oil phase during W/O droplet formation. We successfully demonstrated encapsulation of water-soluble molecules and polymer particles into the prepared W/O/W emulsion.

Design of porous polymeric scaffolds by gas foaming of heterogeneous blends

One of the challenges in tissue engineering scaffold design is the realization of structures with a pre-defined multi-scaled porous network. Along this line, this study aimed at the design of porous scaffolds with controlled porosity and pore size distribution from blends of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and thermoplastic gelatin (TG), a thermoplastic natural material obtained by de novo thermoplasticization of gelatin. PCL/TG blends with composition in the range from 40/60 to 60/40 (w/w) were prepared by melt mixing process. The multi-phase microstructures of these blends were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. Furthermore, in order to prepare open porous scaffolds for cell culture and tissue replacement, the TG and PCL were selectively extracted from the blends by the appropriate combination of solvent and extraction parameters. Finally, with the proposed combination of gas foaming and selective polymer extraction technologies, PCL and TG porous materials with multi-scaled and highly interconnected porosities were designed as novel scaffolds for new-tissue regeneration.

Optimization of processing parameters for the preparation of phytosterol microemulsions by the solvent displacement method

The purpose of this study was to optimize the parameters involved in the production of water-soluble phytosterol microemulsions for use in the food industry. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to model and optimize four of the processing parameters, namely, the number of cycles of high-pressure homogenization (1-9 cycles), the pressure used for high-pressure homogenization (100-500 bar), the evaporation temperature (30-70 degrees C), and the concentration ratio of microemulsions (1-5). All responses-particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), and percent ethanol residual (%ER)-were well fit by a reduced cubic model obtained by multiple regression after manual elimination. The coefficient of determination (R(2)) and absolute average deviation (AAD) value for PS, PDI, and %ER were 0.9628 and 0.5398%, 0.9953 and 0.7077%, and 0.9989 and 1.0457%, respectively. The optimized processing parameters were 4.88 (approximately 5) homogenization cycles, homogenization pressure of 400 bar, evaporation temperature of 44.5 degrees C, and concentration ratio of microemulsions of 2.34 cycles (approximately 2 cycles) of high-pressure homogenization. The corresponding responses for the optimized preparation condition were a minimal particle size of 328 nm, minimal polydispersity index of 0.159, and <0.1% of ethanol residual. The chi-square test verified the model, whereby the experimental values of PS, PDI, and %ER agreed with the predicted values at a 0.05 level of significance.

Two-dimensional Raman correlation spectroscopy study of an emulsion copolymerization reaction process

The emulsion copolymerization of styrene and 1,3-butadiene using an oligomeric nonionic surfactant as an emulsifier to make a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) copolymer latex was monitored by real-time in situ Raman spectroscopy. Time-resolved Raman spectra collected during the early stage of the polymerization reaction were subjected to a series of data analysis techniques, including two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectroscopy, multivariate self-modeling curve resolution (SMCR), and kernel analysis, to elucidate the fine details of the complex reaction process. Generalized 2D correlation analysis of time-resolved Raman spectra readily identified the characteristic Raman scattering bands for the monomers and copolymer. Cross-peaks appearing in 2D Raman correlation spectra showed that the decrease in the spectral intensity of Raman bands assignable to 1,3-butadiene occurs before the band intensity changes for styrene or SBR copolymer. The positions of asynchronous cross-peaks were used to identify a spectral region with the most distinct pattern of intensity variations, which in turn could be used as the starting point for the alternating least squares iteration of the SMCR analysis. SMCR analysis of the time-resolved Raman spectra generated a set of estimated pure component spectra and concentration profiles of styrene, 1,3-butadiene, and SBR copolymer without requiring independently measured calibration data. The estimated concentration profiles of monomers and copolymer indicated that the reaction of 1,3-butadiene started before the consumption of styrene and production of SBR copolymer. Kernel analysis of the estimated concentration profiles provided a succinct measure of the similarity and dissimilarity of the concentration changes of monomers and copolymer.

Facile fabrication of monodisperse polymer hollow spheres

This article reports the facile synthesis of monodisperse polymer hollow spheres by seeded emulsion polymerization without additional treatment. In this method, P(St-MMA-MAA) copolymer latex particles were first prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization and then used as seeds to carry out emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), divinyl benzene (DVB), and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator at 80 degrees C. The void of hollow spheres was readily adjusted by changing the monomer/seed weight ratio, and it could be enlarged while the diameters of hollow spheres changed little after etching by dimethyl formamide (DMF). The effects of synthetic parameters including the monomer composition and the properties of seeds on the morphology of hollow spheres were investigated in detail. On the basis of the experimental results, it seemed reasonable to conclude that the formation of hollow spheres was due to the "dissolution" of seeds in monomers and phase separation between the constituent polymers. As a thermodynamic factor, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) would allow the preparation of solid particles depending on its level.

Preparation and Biodegradation of Sugar-Containing Poly(vinyl acetate) Emulsions

To accelerate the biodegradability of poly(vinyl acetate)-based emulsions, emulsion copolymerizations of vinyl sugars, including triacetylated N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc)-substituted 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (GlcNAc(Ac)3-substituted HEMA), glucose-substituted HEMA (GEMA) and 6-O-vinyladipoyl-D-glucose (6-O-VAG) with vinyl acetate (VAc), were carried out using poly(vinyl alcohol) as an emulsifying agent in the presence of poly[(butylene succinate)-co-(butylene adipate)] [poly(BS-co-BA)]. Copolymerization with GEMA produced a stable emulsion and that with 6-O-VAG also produced a homogeneous emulsion. Their biodegradation tests indicated that PVAc main chain scission was accelerated by copolymerization with vinyl sugars.

Microfluidic large-scale integration on a chip for mass production of monodisperse droplets and particles

In this study, we report the mass production of monodisperse emulsion droplets and particles using microfluidic large-scale integration on a chip. The production module comprises a glass microfluidic chip with planar microfabricated 16-256 droplet-formation units (DFUs) and a palm-sized stainless steel holder having several layers for supplying liquids into the inlets of the mounted chip. By using a module having 128 cross-junctions (i.e., 256 DFUs) arranged circularly on a 4 cm x 4 cm chip, we could produce droplets of photopolymerizable acrylate monomer at a throughput of 320.0 mL h(-1). The product was monodisperse, having a mean diameter of 96.4 microm, with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.3%. Subsequent UV polymerization off the module yielded monodisperse acrylic microspheres at a throughput of approximately 0.3 kg h(-1). Another module having 128 co-flow geometries could produce biphasic Janus droplets of black and white segments at 128.0 mL h(-1). The product had a mean diameter of 142.3 microm, with a CV of 3.3%. This co-flow module could also be applied in the mass production of homogeneous monomer droplets.

Pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals based on soft nanotechnology techniques with antioxidative, immunostimulative and other therapeutic activities

A number of 46 out of a total of more than 200 recent patents in soft nanotechnology referring to applications of nanoemulsions for pharmaceutical and cosmetical formulations has been selected and reviewed. As key factors to maximize the efficiency of bioactive principles embedded within colloidal drug delivery systems are the nature and ratio of hydrophilic/lipophilic components, of surfactants/cosurfactants as emulsifiers, their mutual solubility and biocompatibility, the size and polydispersity of nanoparticles. The antioxidant and immunostimulative actions are discussed in relation to the specific therapeutic effects of galenical compositions used for preventing and/or treating various diseases.

Preparation of chitosan-hyaluronate double-walled microspheres by emulsification-coacervation method

Chitosan (CHS)-hyaluronate (HA) double-walled microspheres were prepared by emulsification-coacervation method. Tripolyphosphate (TPP) acted as ion crosslinker. The effects of oil/water volume ratio, surfactant, solution pH, TPP concentration, HA concentration, and emulsification time on microspheres fabrication and morphology were examined by Zeta (zeta) potential, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR). It was found that TPP concentration, solution pH, surfactant and emulsification time were crucial factors for microspheres fabrication. Spherical microspheres with smooth surface were formed when TPP concentration was 8% or higher. The optimal pH for microspheres formation ranged from 6.0 to 7.0. As for surfactant, the microspheres obtained when span80 was applied alone were shapelier compared with those obtained when both span80 and tween80 were applied. With insufficient emulsification time, vacuous microcapsules, but not compact microspheres were formed. In addition, oil/water volume ratio and HA concentration also affected the microspheres morphology, but less importantly.

Water-handling properties of vernix caseosa and a synthetic analogue

A naturally occurring barrier cream, vernix caseosa, is the viscous material synthesized by the sebaceous glands in the late gestational human fetus. Vernix functions as a moisturizer by increasing the skin hydration and water-holding capacity of treated skin. Vernix films are semi-permeable, i.e., in the range that facilitates barrier repair. Antioxidant, disinfectant, and skin cleansing functions are also present. Premature infants have a markedly immature epidermal barrier and the excessive water loss can lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances, along with high evaporative heat loss. Application of petrolatum-based, low-water creams on these infants has decreased TEWL and improved the skin condition. However, in infants of 500-750 g, this treatment was associated with an increased incidence of late-onset nosocomial infection, and questions regarding efficacy and safety have been raised. The water-handling properties, semi-permeability and multi-functionality, suggest that application of vernix may promote the development and restoration of premature or other compromised skin. The present study focuses on the development of barrier creams to simulate the water-handling properties of native vernix. Barrier creams were prepared as high-water-phase emulsions containing various lipid mixtures. Several stable creams with high water content exhibited slow water release and water vapor transport rates in the range to facilitate barrier repair. The results showed the importance of emulsion type in preventing water release. Preparations with vernix-like lipids demonstrated water release profiles closer to the native vernix benchmark than those with conventional lipids. The work resulted in a synthetic vernix barrier cream prototype for evaluation on skin and to which additional functionality, e.g., anti-infective and antioxidant activity, could be added.