Random copolymers at a selective interface: Many chains with excluded volume interactions

We investigate numerically, using the bond-fluctuation model, the adsorption of many random AB-copolymers with excluded volume interactions at the interface between two solvents. We find two regimes, controlled by the total number of polymers. In the first (dilute) regime, the copolymers near the interface extend parallel to it, while in the second regime they extend perpendicular to it. The density at the interface and the density in the bulk depend differently on the total number of copolymers: In the first regime the density at the interface increases more rapidly than in the bulk, whereas the opposite is true in the second regime. Received 4 March 1998 and Received in final form 22 September 1998     

Ultra-Sensitive and Ultra-Stretchable Strain Sensors Based on Emulsion Gels with Broad Operating Temperature

Hydrogels with mechanical elasticity and conductivity are ideal materials in wearable devices. However, traditional hydrogels are fragile upon mechanical loading and lose functions in climate change because the internal water undergoes freeze and dehydration. Herein, we synthesize stable emulsions at high and low temperatures by introducing glycerol into the W/W emulsions. Then the high-stable emulsions are used as templates to produce the freestanding emulsion gels with enhanced mechanical strength and conductivity. The introduction of glycerol endows emulsions and emulsion gels with high and low temperature resistance (−20 to 90 °C). The fabricated strain sensors based on emulsion gels show high sensitivity (gauge factor=6.240), high stretchability (1081 %), fatigue resistance, self-healing and adhesion properties, realizing the repeatable and accurate detection of various human motions. These high-performance and eco-friendly emulsion gels can be promising candidates for next-generation artificial skin and human-machine interface.     

Catalytic Emulsion Based on Janus Nanosheets for Ultra-Deep Desulfurization

Catalytic Janus nanosheets were synthesized by using an anion-exchange reaction between heteropolyacids (HPAs) and the modified ionic-liquid (IL) moieties of Janus nanosheets. Their morphology and surface properties were characterized by using SEM, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. Because of their inherent Janus structure, the nanosheets exhibited good amphipathic character with ILs and oil to form a stable ILs-in-oil emulsion. Therefore, these Janus nanosheets can be used as both emulsifiers and catalysts to perform emulsive desulfurization. During this process, sulfur-containing compounds at the interface could be easily oxidized and efficiently removed from a model oil. Application of this Janus emulsion brings an efficient, useful, and green procedure to the desulfurization process. Compared with the desulfurization catalyzed by using HPAs in a conventional two-phase system, the sulfur removal of dibenzothiophene (DBT) achieved in a Janus emulsion system was improved from 68 to 97 % within 1.5 h. Moreover, this emulsion system could be demulsified easily by simple centrifugation to recover both the nanosheets and the ILs. Owing to the good structural stability of the Janus nanosheets, the sulfur removal efficiency of DBT could still reach 99.9 % after the catalytic nanosheets had been recycled at least six times.     

Behaviour of milk protein/polysaccharide systems in high sucrose

The stability of dairy emulsions containing both proteins and polysaccharides is mainly controlled by the nature of the protein–polysaccharide interaction. This work describes the behaviour of a micellar casein/locust bean gum (LBG) model system, and examines the effect of adding sucrose. For such systems a very high incompatibility has been demonstrated leading to thermodynamic separation into two distinct phases, one rich in protein and the other in polysaccharide. The second virial coefficient approach described by Edmond and Ogston was adopted to clarify the effect of sucrose on the micellar casein/LBG phase diagrams.     

Citric acid-loaded W1/O/W2 multiple emulsions efficiently remove colonic ammonia both in vitro and in vivo

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by chronic and acute liver diseases. It is believed that ammonia played an important role on the pathogenesis of the disease. Herein, acid-loaded water-in-oil-in-water (W₁/O/W₂) multiple emulsions with over 95% encapsulation efficiency were prepared and used to absorb colonic ammonia. The study of citric acid release from W₁ to W₂ in bulk deionized water indicated that only 17% acid released in 8 hours, which proved the stability of the multiple emulsions and hence prevented the intestine from being irritated by acid burst release. In vitro, the W₁/O/W₂ emulsion could remove around 90% ammonia in 1.5 hours from either the 3 mmol/L ammonia solution or the artificial colonic fluid with 1 and 0.5 mmol/L ammonia without acidifying the artificial colonic fluid. In vivo, compared with lactulose, W₁/O/W₂ emulsions could efficiently reduce the blood ammonia to the similar level in the rat models with HE without increasing the water content in feces. All these results indicated a potential application of W₁/O/W₂ multiple emulsions for the treatment of HE.     

马来松香酸和纳米氧化铝颗粒协同稳定具有pH响应性的Pickering乳液

使用有机颗粒稳定Pickering乳液受到越来越多的关注, 润湿性可调的有机颗粒且结合纳米无机颗粒协同稳定不同类型的Pickering乳液却鲜有报道. 系统研究了基于具有多羧酸基团的松香基衍生物马来松香(MPA)与纳米Al₂O₃颗粒在不同pH条件下形成的乳液类型及相关机理. 研究发现, 在单一MPA颗粒体系条件下, pH可以诱导乳液的类型由W/O Pickering乳液到O/W Pickering乳液, 到最后O/W乳液的转变, MPA的亲水性随着pH升高而增强是该乳液转变的原因. 当纳米Al₂O₃颗粒加入到MPA中后, 吸附在MPA颗粒上的亲水性Al₂O₃导致MPA颗粒亲水性增加, 从而可以使W/O Pickering乳液转变为O/W Pickering乳液(pH=1). 当pH=6时, MPA分子与纳米Al₂O₃颗粒同时具有较强的亲水性且分别无法形成稳定的乳液, 但两者的混合体系可以形成稳定的W/O Pickering乳液, 这是因为MPA分子与纳米Al₂O₃颗粒可以在水溶液中形成疏水性较强的络合物. 另外, 研究了MPA浓度及油相体积分数对乳液外观及粒径的影响, 发现随着MPA浓度增加Pickering乳液的粒径逐渐减小, 增加油相的体积分数会引起粒径的增大. 最后, 利用Zeta电势、颗粒在油水界面吸附率、接触角及表/界面张力研究了稳定Pickering乳液的稳定机理, 在油水界面上吸附的类似盔甲状颗粒层及颗粒层之间形成的网状结构是乳液液滴保持稳定的原因. 为Pickering乳液的绿色化制备提供了一种新的途径, 将在化妆品、医药及新材料等领域得到重要应用.     

Exploring the influence of ultrasound on the antibacterial emulsification stability of lysozyme-oregano essential oil

A lysozyme-oregano essential oil (Lys-OEO) antibacterial emulsion was developed via ultrasonic treatment. Based on the general emulsion materials of ovalbumin (OVA) and inulin (IN), the addition of Lys and OEO successfully inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus, two representatives of which were Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria respectively. The emulsion system in this study was designed to compensate for the limitation that Lys could only act on Gram-positive bacteria, and the stability of the emulsion was improved using ultrasonic treatment. The optimal amounts among OVA, Lys and OEO were found to be the mass ratio of 1:1 (Lys to OVA) and 20% (w/w) OEO. The ultrasonic treatment at the power of 200, 400, 600, and 800 W and time length of 10 min improved the stability of emulsion, in which the surface tension was below 6.04 mN/m and the Turbiscan stability index (TSI) did not exceed 10. The multiple light scattering showed that sonicated emulsions were less prone to delamination; salt stability and pH stability of emulsions were improved, CLSM image showed emulsion as oil-in-water type. In the meantime, the particles of the emulsions were found to become smaller and more uniform with ultrasonic treatment. The best dispersion and stability of the emulsion were both achieved at 600 W with a zeta potential of 7.7 mV, the smallest particle size and the most uniform particle distribution.