Investigation of drug release and 1H‐NMR analysis of the in situ forming systems based on poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide)

In situ forming biodegradable polymeric systems loaded with betamethasone (BTM) and betamethasone acetate (BTMA) were prepared using poly(DL ‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA), ethyl heptanoate (EH), and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) as the biodegradable polymer, additive, and solvent, respectively. The drug release studies were carried out in buffer (pH = 7.4, 37°C) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). ¹H‐NMR was used to determine the polymer degradation behavior, release mechanism, and interactions between the polymer and drug. The ¹H‐NMR spectra showed that all interactions between the polymer and drug were hydrogen bonding. Hydroxyl groups and fluorine in drugs were involved in hydrogen bonding with PLGA polymer. In ¹H‐NMR studies, we found that the degradation rate in the systems loaded with BTMA was higher than the systems loaded with BTM because BTMA is only slightly soluble and accelerates the hydrolysis of PLGA chains. The formulations loaded with BTM had obviously lower burst release compared with BTMA loaded samples. With respect to ¹H‐NMR spectra, the mechanism of BTM release is controlled by two effective factors: solvent removal and polymer degradation. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of thermal dispersion on heat transfer in cross-flow tubular heat exchangers

Effects of thermal dispersion on heat transfer and temperature field within cross-flow tubular heat exchangers are investigated both analytically and numerically, exploiting the volume averaging theory in porous media. Thermal dispersion caused by fluid mixing due to the presence of the obstacles plays an important role in enhancing heat transfer. Therefore, it must be taken into account for accurate estimations of the exit temperature and total heat transfer rate. It is shown that the thermal dispersion coefficient is inversely proportional to the interstitial heat transfer coefficient. The present analysis reveals that conventional estimations without consideration of the thermal dispersion result in errors in the fluid temperature development and underestimation of the total heat transfer rate.     

Size and morphology controlling of PLGA microparticles produced by electro hydrodynamic atomization

Among the various methods used to produce microparticles, electrospraying is becoming increasingly popular, and it has the advantage of control over the size, shape and morphology of the produced particles. Particle size and morphology are the main factors used to control the rate of microsphere degradation and drug diffusion. The aim of this study was to use some process and solution parameters of the electrospraying such as flow rate, collecting distance, nozzle diameter and polymer molecular weight to control size, shape and morphology of the produced particles. Tests demonstrated that the size of microparticle can be fine‐tuned by adjusting the variables of flow rate, collecting distance and nozzle diameter. Other relevant factors that can be as tuning parameters were those of solvent vapor pressure and application of a polymer mix with different molecular weights. Results showed that microparticle size increased under an increased flow rate and needle gauge setting and a decreased electrical field. Results of the tests showed that morphology of the produced microsphere could be adjusted by the aforementioned parameters. For example, by lowering solvent vapor pressure by adding solvent with a high boiling point, the morphology was changed from a textured surface to a smooth one. Molecular weight of the polymer had a significant effect on morphology, whereas polymer with a low molecular weight caused defect in the produced microparticle, and a high molecular weight produced cup‐like morphology, but a polymer mix that constituted polymers of high and low Molecular weights improved morphology of the produced particles. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fully Developed Forced Convection in a Parallel Plate Channel with a Centered Porous Layer

In this study, fully developed heat and fluid flow in a parallel plate channel partially filled with porous layer is analyzed both analytically and numerically. The porous layer is located at the center of the channel and uniform heat flux is applied at the walls. The heat and fluid flow equations for clear fluid and porous regions are separately solved. Continues shear stress and heat flux conditions at the interface are used to determine the interface velocity and temperature. The velocity and temperature profiles in the channel for different values of Darcy number, thermal conductivity ratio, and porous layer thickness are plotted and discussed. The values of Nusselt number and friction factor of a fully clear fluid channel (Nu _cl = 4.12 and fRe _cl = 24) are used to define heat transfer increment ratio (e_th = Nu_p/Nu_cl)({\varepsilon _{\rm th} =Nu_{\rm p}/Nu_{\rm cl})} and pressure drop increment ratio (e_p = fRe_p/fRe_cl )({\varepsilon_{\rm p} =fRe_{\rm p}/fRe_{\rm cl} )} and observe the effects of an inserted porous layer on the increase of heat transfer and pressure drop. The heat transfer and pressure drop increment ratios are used to define an overall performance (e = e_th/e_p)({\varepsilon = \varepsilon_{\rm th}/\varepsilon_{\rm p})} to evaluate overall benefits of an inserted porous layer in a parallel plate channel. The obtained results showed that for a partially porous filled channel, the value of e{\varepsilon} is highly influenced from Darcy number, but it is not affected from thermal conductivity ratio (k _r) when k _r > 2. For a fully porous material filled channel, the value of e{\varepsilon} is considerably affected from thermal conductivity ratio as the porous medium is in contact with the channel walls.     

Effect of an Inserted Porous Layer Located at a Wall of a Parallel Plate Channel on Forced Convection Heat Transfer

A theoretical study is performed on heat and fluid flow in partially porous medium filled parallel plate channel. A uniform symmetrical heat flux is imposed onto the boundaries of the channel partially filled with porous medium. The dimensional forms of the governing equations are solved numerically for different permeability and effective thermal conductivity ratios. Then, the governing equations are made dimensionless and solved analytically. The results of two approaches are compared and an excellent agreement is observed, indicating correctness of the both solutions. An overall Nusselt number is defined based on overall thermal conductivity and difference between the average temperature of walls and mean temperature to compare heat transfer in different channels with different porous layer thickness, Darcy number, and thermal conductivity ratio. Moreover, individual Nusselt numbers for upper and lower walls are also defined and obtained. The obtained results show that the maximum overall Nusselt number is achieved for thermal conductivity ratio of 1. At specific values of Darcy number and thermal conductivity ratio, individual Nusselt numbers approach to infinity since the value of wall temperatures approaches to mean temperature.