Surface properties and surface free energy of cellulosic etc mucoadhesive polymers.

The paper presents the sorption and wettability properties for several mucoadhesive polymers (Carbopol 974P NF (carbomer polymer; carboxy polymethylene), Noveon AA-1, (polycarbophil; acrylic acid polymer crosslinked with divinyl glycol) HPMC (hypromellose; cellulose 2-hydroxyethyl methyl ester) and HEC (cellulose 2-hydroxyethyl ether) and a film-forming polymer Kollidon VA 64 (polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer)) commonly used in controlled drug delivery systems. Moreover, the surface energy of powders was determined using the data obtained according to the three types of experimental investigation. The contact angle measurements for powders were performed according to the Washburn method and using the capillary rise technique. Whereas the sessile drop method was performed on the compressed discs of mucoadhesive polymers. For the surface characterization the IGC technique was also applied. The results obtained by different methods, for both: wettability and surface energies, were compared and correlated. The presented study showed significant differences in the morphology and surface properties of mucoadhesion polymers considered. It was confirmed that for the accurate quantification of the free surface energy (and its components), for mucoadhesive polymers considered, not only the IGC in finite concentration, but also the Washburn method should be used.

Examination of the chemical changes in cured phenol-formaldehyde resins during storage.

Chemical changes occurring within cured phenol-formaldehyde resins (resite and novolak type) during their storage were investigated by FT-NIR, py-GCMS and inverse gas chromatography. It was shown that a mixture of resite with novolak was less stable than resite or novolak itself as regards bulk properties. This aging phenomenon is mainly due to reaction of ammonia (product of hexa decomposition) with CH2OH groups present in resite. FT-NIR technique seems to be the least sensitive method for assessment chemical changes occurring during cured resins storage. Applications of py-GCMS and IGC method made able to indicate that more significant changes were for bulk samples (py-GCMS results) than on their surface (IGC results).

Assessment of the chemical changes during storage of phenol-formaldehyde resins pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry, inverse gas chromatography and Fourier transform infra red methods.

The chemical changes occurring in the phenol-formaldehyde resins (resol and novolac type) during their storage were investigated. In this paper the FT-IR, py-GCMS and inverse gas chromatography methods were applied for assessment of the changes occurring during storage of the phenolic resins. We have found that during storage some examined resins occurred partial curing. The results from all techniques applied are consistent. Py-GCMS is useful technique for screening the storage processes but IGC seems to be most sensitive one.

Effect of impregnating agent and relative humidity on surface characteristics of sorbents determined by inverse gas chromatography.

Sorbents that potentially can be used for separation of the products of biotechnological conversion of glycerol were examined. Properties of Zeolite 5A, resins: Amberlite, Diaion and their samples impregnated with an aqueous solutions of 1,2,3-propanetriol, 1,3-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, acetic acid, succinic acid and model fermentation broth were investigated. Because surface properties will probably depend on the ambient humidity the IGC experiments were carried out under different conditions of relative humidity RH=0, 40 and 80%. Activity of the sorbents surface was expressed by the value of the dispersive component of the free surface energy. Inverse gas chromatography was also used to express acid-base properties of materials described by KA and KD parameters. The changes in the activity of investigated sorbents significantly varied depending on the type of impregnating agent. Moreover, the obtained results demonstrate that humidity can strongly influence, in some cases, the dispersive component of the free surface energy and the ability to specific interactions (KA and KD).