Influence of plasticizers and crosslinking on the properties of biodegradable films made from sodium caseinate

Plasticized protein films were prepared by the casting method from water solution of sodium caseinate and plasticizers with the aim to obtain environmentally friendly materials for packaging applications. Mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation and Young’s modulus) of caseinate based films were determined versus ratio of protein to plasticizer, plasticizer type and relative humidity conditions. Among the different polyol-type plasticizers tested, glycerol (Gly) and triethanolamine (TEA) were the most efficient for the improvement of mechanical properties (high strains for low stresses). Further, chemical crosslinking between formaldehyde (HCHO) and free amino groups (ε-NH₂) of sodium caseinate was performed to increase water resistance of TEA plasticized films. Optimal mechanical properties, i.e. elastic modulus of 105 MPa, tensile strength of 8-9 MPa for elongation at break about 110-125% were obtained for HCHO/ε-NH₂ ratios higher than 1.35. Protein specific water solubility was determined from a 280 nm absorbance. For convenient crosslinker (HCHO) content sodium caseinate solubility can be lowered to less than 5 wt% after 24 h immersion in water.     

Factors Contributing to Solubility Synergism of Some Basic Drugs with β-Cyclodextrin in Ternary Molecular Complexes

Ternary complexes exploiting solubility synergism (SSn) between basic drugs and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in the presence of an organic hydoxy acid have been reported to provide the pharmaceutical technology with highly soluble ternary complexes, even with the least soluble β-CD. In this work, phase solubility techniques were used to study factors affecting SSn in aqueous solution, which may help in understanding the mechanism involved in ternary complex formation in solution, under equilibrium conditions. The equilibrium solubility of both β-CD and each of 8 structurally unrelated drugs were measured in tandem in the presence of different acid types at low and high pHs, and at different time intervals over a period of 1–40 days. The results indicate that SSn is evident regardless of acid type (organic and inorganic) at low pH, but the extent of SSn is acid type dependant and is limited by the drug salt solubility product constant (pK _sp). Among different drugs, no apparent trend exists between drug salt solubility and the extent of SSn, but lowering drug salt solubility by increasing pH depresses SSn. The results also reveal no apparent trend between the magnitude of the complex formation constant (K _ij) and SSn. For example, drugs of low K _ij values such as astemizole, cisapride and sildenafil do not show any SSn, yet ketotifen and pizotifen, which also have low K _ij values, exhibit substantial SSn. However, the solublizing power of β-CD represented by the slope of phase solubility diagram can be used as a marker for SSn (slopes exceeding 0.4 induce SSn).     

Computer-aided selection and optimization of chromatographic columns and conditions for multicolumn analysis procedures

Clearly, the usefulness of a computer-aided column design program will depend on its ability to predict quickly and accurately, a design which will yield chromatograms closely approximating those obtained experimentally. Such a computer model for designing and specifying operating conditions for optimum performance of either single or serially coupled columns with different stationary phases is described herein. Tests have been performed in order to verify the accuracy of the model. In addition to single column optimization and the design of column combinations which can be used to achieve separations difficult or impossible on a single phase alone, the model has proven quite useful as an aid to the design and development of multicolumn analysis procedures that involve critical timing of valve-switching sequences.     

Effect of solvent composition on free release static coating of capillary columns

Summary Three aspects with respect to the selection of solvents for static coating of capillary columns, i.e. coating speed, occurrence of bumping and solubility of stationary phases are discussed. Hypotheses are proposed in an attempt to explain the observed facts that mixed solvents result in much higher coating speeds than those obtained from pure solvents, that a proper choice of solvents together with a good and uniform deactivitation of the column inner wall is needed to prevent bumping. Stationary phase solubility vs. solvent composition is also briefly discussed.     

Conversion of phosphogypsum to potassium sulfate

Summary Solubility of calcium sulfate in concentrated aqueous chloride solutions is of particular significance in chloride hydrometallurgy and various crystallization processes, such as the production of potassium sulfate from phosphogypsum and potassium chloride. This paper examines an example of the second type of application in which gypsum and potassium chloride are reacted to form K₂SO₄. The solubility of phosphogypsum in aqueous solutions of KCl, HCl, and mixtures of both has first been measured at various temperatures and concentrations. The parameters investigated are HCl concentration up to 6M, KCl concentration up to 180 g L^-1 and temperature from 25 to 80°C. In addition, the influence of co-existing chloride salts, such as (HCl+KCl), on the solubility of calcium sulfate is estimated from 25 to 80°C. The solubility increases obviously with the temperature increment as it does initially with acid concentration, reaching a maximum of about 3M HCl, 130 g L^-1 KCl and then drops. At the same time, the solubility of CaSO₄·2H₂O decreases with increasing KCl concentration.     

Quantitative determination of sodium stearyl fumarate in a tablet formulation from continuous manufacturing using a high-pH reversed-phase HPLC method

This study demonstrates the first use of a reversed-phase (RP) high-performance liquid chromatography method with a high-pH buffer for the analysis of sodium stearyl fumarate (SSF) from a tablet formulation. After examining the retention time and peak shape using various buffer concentrations, buffer pH, and RP stationary phases, an optimized method was established using the XBridge® BEH C18 at high pH. This column was further evaluated for method specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, stability, and sensitivity. Finally, the method was successfully used as a convenient and robust analytical procedure to accurately quantitate SSF in stratified tablets from a continuous manufacturing process to confirm the excipient uniformity throughout the process.     

Fast switching of vertically aligned negative liquid crystals by optically hidden relaxation

We propose a method for fast switching of vertically aligned (VA) negative liquid crystals (LCs) by hiding the relaxation process of LCs. During the turn-off process, a strong in-plane electric field is applied for a short duration of time instead of relying solely on the slow relaxation of LCs. The LC molecules are rotated to the transmission axis of one of the polarisers by the applied in-plane electric field, resulting in turn-off switching that is 5.8 times faster than that of a conventional VA cell. By applying an overdriving scheme, we experimentally obtained a total response time of 3.3 ms.     

Electrospinning of poly(lactic acid): Theoretical approach for the solvent selection to produce defect‐free nanofibers

In this study an integrated methodology was proposed for the selection of solvent systems to produce electrospinnable solutions that form defect‐free poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fibers with narrow diameter distributions. The solvent systems were chosen using a thermodynamic approach, combined with electrical and rheological property criteria. More specifically, the three step methodology includes (1) initial choice of solvent by solubility evaluation to meet thermodynamic criteria, (2) electrical properties, that is, conductivity and dielectric constant adjustment by using solvent mixtures to meet electrical property criteria, and (3) critical entanglement concentration (C_e) determination by viscosity measurements, supported by elastic and plastic moduli measurements, followed by concentration adjustment to meet rheological criteria. All three criteria need to be met to ensure defect‐free nanofiber morphology. The methodology was demonstrated using PLA solutions that were characterized in terms of thermodynamic properties, conductivity, surface tension, and viscosity measurements. These data were analyzed and related to the nanofiber morphology and diameter as determined from scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Measurements of the elastic (G′) and the plastic (G″) moduli of PLA solutions showed a sharp increase of G′ at the chain entanglement concentration. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1483–1498     

Magnetization switching modes in nanopillar spin valve under the external field

The current-induced magnetic switching is studied in Co/Cu/Co nanopillar with an in-plane magnetization traversed under the perpendicular-to-plane external field.Magnetization switching is found to take place when the current density exceeds a threshold.By analyzing precessional trajectories,evolutions of domain walls and magnetization switching times under the perpendicular magnetic field,there are two different magnetization switching modes:nucleation and domain wall motion reversal;uniform magnetization ...     

一种带疏水长链的水溶性偶氮引发剂的合成及端基疏水聚合物疏水缔合效应研究

以偶氮二异丁腈、十二胺为主要原料,通过Pinner反应制备了一种两端各带有12个碳烷基链的水溶性偶氮引发剂——2,2'-偶氮二异丁基十二脒盐酸盐AIBL.采用核磁氢谱、元素分析及液相色谱对AIBL进行了结构及纯度表征,采用TGA、DSC和紫外分光光度计研究了其热分解现象和热分解动力学,采用表面张力仪对其表面活性进行了测定.结果表明,所合成的引发剂AIBL具有预想的结构和较高的纯度,其热分解反应属于一级反应,热分解活化能为134.80 k J/mol,70℃下水中的半衰期约为4 h;AIBL在水溶液中具有表面活性,其临界胶束浓度为0.13 g/L,对应的表面张力为33.57 m N/m.以丙烯酰胺为单体、AIBL为引发剂制备了水溶性端基疏水聚合物SPAM.采用溴化法研究其转化率,应用乌氏黏度法、零切黏度法以及荧光探针对其缔合作用进行了研究.结果表明,AIBL具有良好的引发丙烯酰胺聚合的能力;相对于不带疏水长链的引发剂所合成的聚合物PAM,SPAM具有明显的疏水缔合效应,这说明AIBL成功地将疏水长链引入到聚合物的端基中,从而形成端基疏水聚合物.