Microemulsions of Potassium Oleate,Tween-20, Propylene Carbonate,and Ethylene Glycol as Drug Vehicles for Mefenamic Acid

Different microemulsions were prepared with and without mefenamic acid (MFA). The base microemulsion was mainly composed of distilled water; the aqueous phase, propylene carbonate; the oil phase, potassium oleate; the surfactant, and finally di-ethylene glycol; the cosurfactant. The effect of mixing ionic (potassium oleate) with nonionic (Tween-20) surfactant was investigated via constructing the phase diagrams of such systems. Changes in conductivity and viscosity of the freshly prepared microemulsion over time were monitored as an indication for the stability of the microemulsion. Measurements were carried out at room temperature, after a freeze-thaw cycle and also after storage for 3 days at 60°C, where the latter is treated as an accelerated test for the time-temperature effects on the stability of a microemulsion. It was found that a set of surfactants, instead of a single surfactant, and inclusion of cosurfactant resulted in a broader region where a stable microemulsion is predominant. At a mass ratio of 1:2 of potassium oleate to Tween-20, O/W microemulsions were found to have maximum stability among all examined systems, under the accelerated test, such that they have a minimum portion of combined surfactants and cosurfactant of 60 wt% and maximum of 80 wt%. With the aforementioned specifications, no phase separation and neither significant change in the conductivity nor in the viscosity was observed in any of the examined systems after subjecting them both to the accelerated and freeze-thaw cycle test, indicating that such systems were thermodynamically stable. Samples of micro emulsions passing previous tests were further subjected to an acidic medium by dispersing 1 g of MFA-containing microemulsion in 10 g HCl solution (pH 1) in a shaking water bath at 37°C, for a 6 hour period. The maximum solubility of MFA in a stable microemulsion was approximately 5 wt%, evaluated at room temperature.     

A 2H NMR RELAXATION STUDY OF A MODEL MICROEMULSION

The microemulsion phases of the Winsor system consisting of 47 wt% brine, 2 wt% sodium dodecylsulphate, 4 wt% butanol and 47 wt% toluene were investigated by means of ²H NMR relaxation on the surfactant which was specifically deuterated in the α-position. The measurements were obtained at 20°C for salinities varying from 3 to 10 g NaCl / 100 ml H₂O. From a simple relaxation model the transverse relaxation rates were transformed into sizes of (spherical) droplets, which were compared with the droplet sizes obtained from the sample compositions in the Winsor I and II regions. For the Winsor III region, the transverse relaxation rates could be rationalised in terms of a structural model based on a bicontinuous cubic liquid crystalline phase. Moreover, by invoking previously obtained data, we show that the dependence on salinity of the water, oil and surfactant self-diffusion coefficients can also be explained within the same framework.     

Improved solubilization of Celecoxib in U-type nonionic microemulsions and their structural transitions with progressive aqueous dilution

Celecoxib (clxb) is an important drug for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis by specifically inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Clxb is a type 2 drug characterized by low water solubility (<5 mug/ml) and fast transmembrane transport. The present formulations require high dosage since the transmembrane transport fluctuates and is very difficult to control. Dissolving the drug within an oil phase was not practical since its dissolution was very small and its dispersion in water was impossible. In our recent studies, we learned to construct U-type phase diagrams and to formulate reverse microemulsions (oil-based concentrates) that are progressively and fully dilutable with aqueous phase. In the present study, we solubilized clxb in nanostructures of reverse micelles of U-type nonionic microemulsions that consisted of R(+)-limonene, alcohol, propylene glycol (PG), and hydrophilic surfactant (Tween 60). The solubilization capacity of the drug in these systems is many times higher than in either the oil or the aqueous phase. The clxb solubilized microemulsions are fully diluted with aqueous phase without phase separation. The solubilization capacity decreases as the water content increases. Electrical conductivity, viscosity, and self-diffusion (SD) coefficients of the microemulsion components were measured along a suitable water dilution line. The three major microemulsion regions were detected and the transitions between the W/O to bicontinuous phase and from this phase to the O/W droplets were identified (at 30 and 70 wt% aqueous phase, respectively). From the SD coefficients, it was found that the drug is initially solubilized at the interface of the W/O droplets and there are no significant structural changes. The transition to a bicontinuous phase occurs at the same water content as in the empty (i.e., without drug) system. From the viscosity profiles, we concluded that the drug affects the structure of the bicontinuous phase as reflected in the water content at which the oil-continuous network is destroyed and full inversion occurs (50 vs 55 wt% in the drug-loaded system). Upon further dilution the drug remains solubilized at the interface and is oriented with its hydrophilic part facing the water, and is strongly affects the inversion to O/W droplets. From Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) measurements we learned that the drug effects the structure of microemulsion droplets and forms "ill-defined structures," probably less spherical. Yet, the overall droplet sizes at the high dilutions did not change very much.     

Oil/water droplet formation by temperature change in the water/c(16)e(6)/mineral oil system

Droplet sizes of oil/water (O/W) nanoemulsions prepared by the phase inversion temperature (PIT) method, in the water/C16E6/mineral oil system, have been compared with those given by a theoretical droplet model, which predicts a minimum droplet size. The results show that, when the phase inversion was started from either a single-phase microemulsion (D) or a two-phase W+D equilibrium, the resulting droplet sizes were close to those predicted by the model, whereas, when emulsification was started from W+D+O or from W+D+Lalpha (Lalpha = lamellar liquid crystal) equilibria, the difference between the measured and predicted values was much higher. The structural changes produced during the phase inversion process have been investigated by the 1H-PFGSE-NMR technique, monitoring the self-diffusion coefficients for each component as a function of temperature. The results have confirmed the transition from a bicontinuous D microemulsion at the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) temperature to oil nanodroplet dispersion in water when it is cooled to lower temperatures.     

十二烷基磺酸钠微乳状液结构转变的电化学研究

制备了C12H25SO3Na-C4H9OH-C7H16-H2O四组分体系在km=W(C4H9OH)/W(C12H25SO3Na)=2时的拟三元相图。使用二茂铁和铁氰化钾作为电化学探针用循环伏安法测定了起始含油量为21％的无水混合物在滴加水过程中所形成的微太液的扩散系数。从扩散系数随含水量的变化确定微乳液的结构转变。含水量为20％－45％时生成油包水型微液;含水量大于65％时生成水包油型微乳液。当含水量在45％－65％之间时形成的是二连续型微乳液。电导率数据证实了循环伏安法的测定结果。     

Studies on the Phase Behavior of Beta‐cypermethrion Microemulsion

The phase behavior of the system of surfactant SAA [0203B, nonionic surfactant 700# and methanol (weight ratio=6∶1∶1)]/mixed oil [beta‐cypermethrion, dimethyl benzene and cyclohexanone (weight ratio=2∶2∶1,or 0∶2∶1)]/water [distilled water (0 mg/L), or standard water (342 mg/L), or ultra‐hard water (500 mg/L)] has been studied in a pseudoternary phase diagram at 25 ± 1°C. Our results indicated that the isotropic monophasic area in the phase diagrams decreased significantly as the beta‐cypermethrion was added in the oil phase. In an attempt to the microemulsion electrical condectivity can be define regions corresponding to three structure states W/O, B.C., and O/W type in the microemulsion domain. The influence of beta‐cypermethrion on their regions sequences B.C. > O/W?W/O type. This work will be beneficial to improving the quality of beta‐cypermethrion microemulsion and make it more competitive in the market.     

FORMATION OF MULTIPLE EMULSIONS IN A FOUR-COMPONENT SYSTEM CONTAINING NONIONIC SURFACTANTS

ABSTRACT

W/O/W and O/W/O multiple emulsions have been found in systems consisting of water, light mineral oil, and two nonionic surfactants (Span 80 and Tween 20).No specific order of addition of the components or pre-mixing was followed. Following gentle agitation at 25°, 35° and 45° for 48?hours, W/O/W emulsions were found at water contents above 30%, while 0/W/O emulsions generally appeared below 60% water.W/0 and 0/W emulsions, micellar phases and liquid crystalline phases were also observed at various compositions. The multiple emulsion regions decreased in size as temperature increased and the areas and positions of the other phases were also temperature dependent.     

Microemulsion polymerization of acrylamide and styrene: Effect of the structures of reaction media

Isothermal phase diagrams of the system cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/n‐butanol/n‐octane/water were constructed, and the effect of the oil (n‐octane) contents on the microemulsions was studied at 40 °C. We determined the microemulsion structures of two systems, CTAB/n‐butanol/10% n‐octane/water and sodium dodecyl sulfonate (As)/n‐butanol/20% styrene/water, by conductivity measurements to investigate the polymerization of acrylamide and styrene in the two microemulsion systems. The polymerization kinetics of the water‐soluble monomer acrylamide in CTAB micelles and the different CTAB/n‐butanol/10% n‐octane/water microemulsion media [water‐in‐oil (W/O), bicontinuous (BC), and oil‐in‐water (O/W)] were studied with water‐soluble sodium bisulfite as the initiator. The maximum polymerization rate in CTAB micelles was found at the second critical micelle concentration. A mechanism of polyacrylamide formation and growth was proposed. A connection between the structures of the microemulsions and the polymerization rates was observed; the maximum polymerization rate occurred at two transition points, from W/O to BC and from BC to O/W, and the polyacrylamide molecular weights, which depended on the structures of the microemulsions, were also found. A square‐root dependence of the polymerization rates on the initiator concentrations was obtained in CTAB micelles and O/W microemulsion media. The polymerization of the oil‐soluble monomer styrene in different As/n‐butanol/20% styrene/water microemulsion media (W/O, BC, and O/W) was also investigated with different initiators: water‐soluble potassium persulfate and oil‐soluble azobisisobutyronitrile. A similar connection between the structures of the microemulsions and the conversions of styrene in CTAB/n‐butanol/10% n‐octane/water for the polymerization of acrylamide was observed again. The structures of the microemulsions had an important role in the molecular weights and sizes of polystyrene. The polystyrene particles were 10–20 nm in diameter in BC microemulsion media and 30–60 nm in diameter in O/W microemulsion media according to transmission electron microscopy. We determined the solubilization site of styrene in O/W microemulsion drops by ¹H NMR spectra to analyze the results of the microemulsion polymerization of styrene. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3320–3334, 2001     

Evaporation from microemulsions

The composition of W/O microemulsions during slow evaporation at room temperature and at 90°C was determined by chemical analysis. One series of microemulsions was stabilized by pentanol combined with sodium dodecyl sulfate, the other one was combined with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide.The hydrocarbon was styrene and the evaporation in the microemulsion was compared to that of the corresponding styrene/pentanol solutions.The results showed significant influence on the evaporation by the microemulsion structure; especially for water contents close to the minimum for stability     

烷基聚葡糖苷C9.6G1.3/n-C4H9OH/n-C6H14/H2O微乳液体系的介电弛豫谱研究

The pseudotertiary phase diagram of the microemulsion system alkyl polyglucoside/n-butanol/n-hexane/water was plotted at （30.0±0.1） ℃. The dielectric measurements, including permittivity, conductivity, relaxation strength, characteristic relaxation time, etc,, were applied to investigate the microstructure of the system. Unique dielectric relaxations were observed over the frequency range of 5-10^7 Hz, taking place possibly through an interracial polarization mechanism. According to the results obtained from dielectric spectroscopy, the structures of the microemulsion O/W, BC and W/O were determined, and some dielectric and phase parameters were calculated.     

Effect of processing conditions on gel formation in ternary cellulose acetate systems

A series of ternary systems composed of cellulose acetate (CA), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), and water were prepared by varying the mixing temperature and order of component addition with increasing water content. The viscoelastic properties of the resulting ternary systems were measured using steady state and dynamic rheology. The CA/DMA/H₂O mixture formed physical gels at 17.5 and 19 wt% water concentrations after heating to 50 and 70/90 °C, respectively. Gel formation was characterized by the loss of a Newtonian plateau in the steady state as well as the transition of the elastic (G′) modulus becoming greater than the viscous (G″) modulus in the dynamic state. The order of component addition dramatically affected phase behaviour. Adding CA to the DMA/water solution resulted in lower moduli gels and the formation of a two-phase phase separated system at high nonsolvent contents in those prepared at low temperatures. The kinetics of phase separation was improved by subjecting the gels to a thermal treatment of 90 °C. In this case, the gels previously heated at 50 and 70° C showed a one-phase phase separated gel with higher viscous and elastic moduli.     

半微分电分析研究CTAB/n-C_4H_9OH/n-C_7H_(16)/H_2O微乳结构

制备了十六烷基三甲基溴化铵/正丁醇/正庚烷/水四组分体系的相图。讨论了 体系中助表面活性剂与表面活性剂的质量比k_m对形成微乳状液单相区域大小的影 响。以二茂铁为电活性探针用半微分电分析法测定系列微乳样品的表观扩散系数 D_(app)，从表观扩散系数D_(app)随含水量Φ_w的变化确定微乳液的微结构和结构 转变。电导率数据证实了半微分电分析的实验结果。     

Microemulsions studies: Correlation between viscosity,electrical conductivity and electrochemical and fluorescent probe measurements

Microemulsion systems involving brine and dodecane, and stabilized by sodium dodecylsulfate and both pentanol and heptanol have been investigated. Results of various experiments including conductivity and viscosity measurements, electrochemical diffusion coefficients and fluorescent probe studies have been gathered and compared in order to gain additional understanding of the microemulsion structure. The diffusion coefficients of hydrophilic hydroquinone and hydrophobic ferrocene obtained from the Levich equation at the rotating disc electrode, vary as the self-diffusion coefficients of water and dodecane, respectively; the results are consistent with those obtained by other workers from tracer or NMR self-diffusion studies. The fluorescence analysis of the polarity sensed by pyrene and the microviscosity felt by dipyrenylpropane suggests that the progressive addition of pentanol and dodecane to SDS micelles leads to solubilizate the probes more in the droplet interior where they experience a more hydrophobic environment. The systematic study of the two microemulsion systems provides insight into the microscopic properties of the oil domains in which the fluorescent probes are assumed to be located. In the system stabilized by n-heptanol as cosurfactant, the microviscosity sensed by P(CH₂)₃P is shown to be much lower than the bulk viscosity of the microemulsion. All the results evidence the well-known structural transitions: water continuous, bicontinuous and oil continuous in the single monophasic area of the brine/ SDS/n-pentanol/dodecane system; premicellar aggregates and water swollen micelles in the W/O area of the brine/SDS/n-heptanol/dodecane system.     

Formulation of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Microemulsion Using Mixed Nonionic Surfactants

A novel class of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)-in-water microemulsion based on Tween80, EL-35, ethanol, and n-octanol was investigated as potential food delivery systems. The influences of pH on the microemulsion region were considered. The microemulsion structural transition was divided into water-in-oil (W/O), bicontionuous, and oil-in-water (O/W) microemulsion by conductivity and viscosity method. The microemulsion size and polydispersity were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The size of O/W microemulsion droplets depends strongly on the contents of surfactants and CLA, and the diameter ranges from 22.1 to 30.7 nm and from 18.3 to 32.8 nm, respectively. All samples keep a remarkable stability in the experiments of 30 days. The stability of CLA in microemulsion and ethanol solution was determined by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, the results revealed that the stability of the CLA in the microemulsion was increased remarkably.     

Liquid crystalline epoxies bearing biphenyl ether and aromatic ester mesogenic units: Synthesis and thermal properties

Two liquid crystalline epoxies containing biphenyl ether and aromatic ester mesogenic units, oxybis(4,1-phenylene)bis(4-(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)benzoate)(LCE1) and oxybis(4,1-phenylene) bis(4-(4-(oxiran-2-yl)butoxy)benzoate)(LCE2), were synthesized and characterized. Subsequently, the epoxy monomers were cured with diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). From DSC, XRD and POM results, monomers did not show liquid crystalline phase while the cured samples exhibited nematic phase. The cured samples showed good mechanical properties with strength of 99.1MPa and excellent thermal stabilities with high glass transition temperature up to 168.0?°C, 5% weight loss temperature at 343?°C and high char yield of 24.5% at 800?°C. The relationship between thermal conductivity and network structure was discussed in this work. Due to the introduction of mesogenic units into epoxy networks, the cured resins showed high thermal conductivity as high as 0.292?W/(m*K), more than 1.5times higher than conventional epoxy resins. By introducing alumina (Al₂O₃) into LCE1/DDS cured system, composites of LCE1/DDS/Al₂O₃ with the highest thermal conductivity of 1.61?W/(m*K) was obtained with the content of 80?wt% while that of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA, E51) epoxy resin/DDS/Al₂O₃ was 1.10?W/(m*K). The as-prepared epoxy resins showed high glass transition temperature and excellent thermal stabilities, indicating the potential of application in microelectronics.     

SDS/BA/H~2O体系的结构与电学特性

SDS/BA/H~2O体系电导率、反离子缔合度和电容测定表明：在O/W微乳液区域,电导率、反离子缔合度和电容值都较小;在恒定m(SDS)/m(H~2O)下,随着BA含量的增加,电导率、反离子缔合度和电容值先增加,达到一最大值后又逐渐下降。在双连续区域,为链式导电机理,电导率、反离子缔合度、电阻和电容值几乎不随水含量变化。根据加权最小二乘法回归,O/W球形胶束区域的电容值与各物理化学特性数值(κ,β,N,D,ε,χ)的关系为：C/μF=1.036×10^-^8(1-β)Z~sκD^-^1+0.03466ε~1x~1=0.09677ε~2x~2。     

Conductive Flow Parameters of Mixed Nonionic Surfactants Microemulsions

This article focuses on the electrical conductivity study of the brine solution/sucrose laurate/ethoxylated mono-di-glyceride/oil + ethanol system. The oils were R (+)-limonene, isopropylmyristate and caprylic-capric triglyceride. The mixing ratio (w/w) of ethanol/oil and that of sucrose laurate/ethoxylated mono-di-glyceride equal unity. The brine solution was 0.01 M aqueous sodium chloride solution. No observable effect was observed on the phase boundaries by replacing pure water with brine solution in the case of R (+)-limonene based microemulsions. In the systems based on isopropylmyristate and caprylic-capric triglyceride, the replacement of pure water by brine significantly affected the phase boundaries, the microemulsion region shrink and the total monophasic area of microemulsions decreased. Electrical conductivity increases with the increase in the water volume fraction and percolation thresholds were observed. The critical volume fractions where the percolation thresholds appear depend on the type of oil used in the microemulsion formulation. Electrical conductivity was measured at different temperatures and the activation energy of conduction flow was evaluated. At the percolation threshold the activation energy of conduction flow reaches a minimum value. Beyond the percolation threshold, a small increase is observed in the activation energy of conduction flow then it decreases with the increase in the water volume fraction indicating structural transitions.     

Magnetite nanoparticle mediated catalytic aquathermolysis of Omani heavy crude oil

The worldwide demand for energy continues to grow and the production of heavy crude is escalating due to shortage of conventional light crude. The transportation of heavy crude oil from the head-well to the refinery is a challenging task due to its high viscosity and low API gravity. Catalytic aquathermolysis is one of the most significant and cost-effective viscosity reduction techniques employed in the up gradation of the crude oil at elevated temperatures and hence to enhance oil extraction process. In this study, catalytic aquathermolysis of Omani heavy crude oil was performed using magnetite nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were synthesised by reverse co-precipitation method using iron salts in alkaline medium. The synthesised NPs were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X- Ray analysis (EDX) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The XRD results exhibited a characteristic peak confirming the high purity of iron oxide nanoparticles. The FTIR spectral analysis designated two well-defined peaks corresponding to wave numbers of 500 ?cm^?1 and 630 ?cm^?1, endorses the presence of Fe–O. The catalytic aquathermolysis experiments were carried out in a Parr high temperature-high pressure batch reactor at different experimental conditions. The processing parameters in temperature range of 250 ?°C - 300 ?°C, 0.1% to 0.3% catalyst loading, water to oil ratio of 1:7 to 3:7 with 24–72 ?h of reaction time. The initial pressure in the reactor was maintained at 32 ?bars and the optimization was performed using the Taguchi method to maximize the level of heavy oil. An orthogonal array was employed to analyse the effects of mean response and mean signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) to upgrade the heavy oil. The regression analysis was used to establish a relationship between the viscosity and experimental parameters. The experimental outcomes indicates that the maximum reduction in viscosity occurred at a processing temperature of 300 ?°C, 1:7 ?W/O ratio, 0.1 ?wt% of catalyst concentration and 48 ?h of reaction time. Similarly, the optimum conditions for the reduction in API gravity were obtained at 280 ?°C temperature, 3:7 ?W/O ratio, 0.2 ?wt% of catalyst concentration and a reaction time of 24 ?h.     

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. Nano-emulsions with droplet radius 60-70 nm and 25-30 nm were obtained at total surfactant concentrations of 4 and 8 wt%, respectively. Moreover, droplet size remained practically unchanged, independent of the surfactant mixing ratio, X(C12E6). At 4 wt% surfactant concentration, the polydispersity and instability of nano-emulsions increased with the increase in X(C12E6). However, at 8 wt% surfactant concentration, nano-emulsions with low polydispersity and high stability were obtained in a wide range of surfactant mixing ratios. Phase behavior studies showed that at 4 wt% surfactant concentration, three-liquid phases (W+D+O) coexist at the starting emulsification temperature. Furthermore, the excess oil phase with respect to the microemulsion D-phase increases with the increase in X(C12E6), which could explain the increase in instability. At 8 wt% surfactant concentration, a microemulsion D-phase is present when emulsification starts. The low droplet size and polydispersity and higher stability of these nano-emulsions have been attributed, in addition to the increase in the surface or interfacial activity, to the spontaneous emulsification produced in the microemulsion D-phase.     

Spherical filler-promoting thermally conductive pathway in graphite-containing polymer composites for high heat radiation

Graphite is an efficient and affordable filler for polymer composites, allowing the control of thermal conductivity. In comparison to other thermally conductive fillers, graphite is lightweight and flexible but affords anisotropic thermal conductivity. Herein, the control of thermal conductivity of graphite-containing polymer composite sheet using spherical polymer particles as additional fillers is described. The thermal conductivity in the through-plane direction (λ_t) of the composite sheet is enhanced by varying the composition ratio of the two fillers (flaky graphite and spherical particles), and optimizing the forming temperature and pressure. Graphite-containing (25 wt%) polymer composite sheet formed by compression at 150 °C and 10 MPa exhibits λ _t value of 0.66 W/m K. Upon mixing of polystyrene microspheres, λ _t is successfully increased. The maximum value of thermal conductivity for a composite sheet with 35 wt% of graphite and 50 wt% of spherical particles is 7.51 W/m K, at 180 °C and 10 MPa. The graphite-containing polymer matrix forms a sequentially connected network-like structure in the composite sheet. Excess polymer microspheres lead to the formation of void structures inside the composite sheet, reducing the thermal conductivity. Thermo-camera observations proved that the composite sheets with higher λ _t value showed comparably high heat radiations. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 607–615