Wettability Profiles Research Articles

The Influence of Spray Drying on the Dispersive and Physicochemical Properties of Magnesium Oxide

Magnesium hydroxide was obtained in a precipitation reaction with the use of magnesium nitrate or magnesium sulphate and sodium hydroxide. The influence of the temperature of the process, the mode and rate of substrate supply, as well as the concentration and ratio of the substrates on the product's properties, were tested. The intermediate product Mg(OH)2 was subjected to drying by static and spray techniques followed by calcination to obtain magnesium oxide. To establish the effect of the synthesis conditions and drying techniques on the dispersive and physicochemical properties of the magnesium oxide obtained, this product was characterized using a number of experimental methods to obtain the bulk density, polydispersity index, and particle size distribution in the nano- and micrometric ranges. Moreover, the wettability profiles in water system were examined. For selected magnesium oxide samples the crystalline structure was determined by the WAXS method, and adsorptive properties (surface area, volume, and size of pores) as well as electrical properties (dielectric permittivity and electrical conductivity) were measured. Application of all the above-mentioned methods enabled a comprehensive characterization of the products and revealed a significant effect of spray drying on their properties, in particular on their dispersion and morphology.

Formulation and characterisation of lyophilised rapid disintegrating tablets using amino acids as matrix forming agents

Despite recent advances in the formulation of lyophilised rapid disintegrating tablets (RDTs), the inclusion of matrix supporting/disintegration enhancing agents has been limited to the use of saccharides and polyols. In this study, the feasibility of using amino acids as matrix forming agents in lyophilised RDTs was investigated. Twelve amino acids were chosen (alanine, arginine, threonine, glycine, cysteine, serine, histidine, lysine, valine, asparagine, glutamine and proline), and the suitability for freeze drying, mechanical properties and disintegration time after inclusion of the amino acids at varied concentration were studied. In addition, the porosity of the RDTs and wettability profile of the amino acids were investigated to understand the mechanisms of disintegration. The results suggest the suitability of these amino acids for the lyophilisation regime, as they displayed satisfactory safety margin between the glass transition and shelf temperature (−40 °C), except proline-based formulations. Moreover, the crystallisation behavior of alanine, glycine, cysteine and serine at high concentration increased the stability of the formulation. The characterisation of the RDTs suggests that high concentration of the amino acids is required to enhance the mechanical properties, whereas only optimum concentrations promote the disintegration. Moreover, wetting time of the amino acid and porosity of the tablet are the two factors that control the disintegration of RDTs.

Liquid droplet movement on horizontal surface with gradient surface energy

A surface with gradient surface energy was fabricated on a silicon wafer by using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology with the dodecyltrichlorosilane (C12H25Cl3Si) vapor which was adsorbed chemically on the surface of the silicon wafer to form a self-assemble monolayer (ASM) and thus a gradient profile of wettability. The microscopic contours of the gradient surface were measured with Seiko SPA400 atom force microscope (AFM). And the surface wettability profile was characterized by the sessile drop method, measuring the contact angle of fine water droplets that lay on the gradient surface, to represent the distribution of the surface energy on the surface. Using a high-speed video imaging system, the motion of water droplet on the horizontal gradient surface was visualized and the transient velocity was measured under ambient condition. The experimental results show that the liquid droplets can be driven to move from hydrophobic side to hydrophilic side on the horizontal gradient surface and the velocity of droplet can reach up to 40 mm/s. In addition, the motion of the water droplet can be generally divided into two stages: an acceleration stage and a deceleration stage. The droplet presents a squirming movement on the surface with a lower peak velocity and a larger extent of deceleration motion. And the static advancing contact angle of the droplet is obviously larger than the dynamic advancing contact angle on the gradient energy surface.

Surface chemical structure for soft contact lenses as a function of polymer processing.

The surface chemistry and topography of cast-molded Etafilcon-A and doubled-sided lathed Etafilcon-A soft contact lenses were determined to be significantly different. The variations in surface chemical and morphologic structure between the two lenses were the result of contact lens manufacturing methods. The surface of the cast-molded Etafilcon-A had a consistently less rough surface compared to the doubled sided lathed Etafilcon-A as determined by atomic force microscopy. The surface of the doubled sided lathed Etafilcon-A contained primarily silicone and wax contamination in addition to minute amounts of HEMA. The cast-molded Etafilcon-A had an elemental and chemical content which was consistent with the polymer stoichiometry. Contact angle wettability profiles revealed inherent wettability differences between the two lenses types. The cast-molded Etafilcon-A had an inherently greater water wettability, polarity, and critical surface tension. This means that these two lenses cannot be compared as similar or identical lens materials in terms of surface composition. The manufacturing method used to produce a soft contact lens directly determines the surface elemental and chemical structure as well as the morphology of the finished lens material. These results suggest possible differences in the clinical comfort, spoilage, and lubricity felt during patient wear.

Electrically charged polymeric substrates enhance nerve fibre outgrowth In vitro

The physical, chemical and electrical properties of synthetic guidance devices are known to influence nerve regeneration in vivo. In the present study, neurons were cultured directly on electrically charged polymer growth substrates to determine if local electrical charges enhance nerve fibre outgrowth in vitro. Piezoelectric polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) generate transient surface charges under minute mechanical strain. Mouse neuroblastoma (Nb2a) cells were cultured directly on electrically poled (i.e. piezoelectric) and unpoled (i.e. nonpiezoelectric) PVDF substrates in serum-free and serum-containing media. Nerve fibre outgrowth was analysed 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after plating. Piezoelectric PVDF substrates generated 2–3 mV at 1200 Hz when placed on standard incubator shelves and unpoled PVDF substrates showed no output. Nb2a cells grown on piezoelectric substrates exhibited significantly greater levels of process outgrowth and neurite lengths at all time periods for both media conditions. Detailed surface characterization of PVDF substrates using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and a comprehensive wettability profile revealed that poled and unpoled PVDF was chemically indistinguishable and showed similar surface wettabilities and adhesive properties. Therefore, we conclude that enhanced process outgrowth was induced by the film's piezoelectric output, making poled PVDF a unique biomaterial for which cell/polymer interactions are mediated predominantly through bulk electrical properties rather than surface properties.

Hydrogen/liquid vapor radio frequency glow discharge plasma oxidation/hydrolysis of expanded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (ePTFE) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) surfaces

AbstractModification of fluorine‐containing polymers has recently received much attention due to new chemistries allowing for refunctionalization of these materials, especially their surfaces. In this article results are discussed which demonstrate various interesting modifications (including incorporations of OH and oxygen comprised functionality) to expanded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (ePTFE) surfaces. This is effected through the use of low damage, radio frequency glow discharge (RFGD) processes. The low damage conditions, which preserve the original pore structure/morphology of these RFGD treated materials, are supported by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) while the resulting atomic and molecular effects are investigated through other surface analytical methodology. All materials reported in this investigation have been subjected to intensive structural analyses utilizing Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA), Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR), and wettability profiles obtained through contact angle measurements using a large series of liquids having varying surface tensions and surface reactive functionality. Through this multitechnique analysis of both expanded PTFE and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) treated surfaces, a model is supported which illustrates surfaces possessing both high and low energy regions comprising both oxygen and fluorine functionality in close molecular proximity.