Compatibility factors, stabilization

Approved packaging is normally selected after completing package performance qualification testing as well as product compatibility and stability studies. Since in most cases (exceptions transdermal delivery systems, diagnostic tests, and medical devices) packaging is not intimately involved in the manufacturing process of the product itself, it differs from other factors, such as raw materials. 

Cohesion and adh ion forces and complex surface interactions among all components of the system influence the compatibility of stabilizers with the polymer matrix. The compatibility may be related to differences between the halftimes of crystallization of the pure and stabilizer doped polymer, to the solubility of stabilizers or volatility differences between pure and in polymer dissolved stabilizers. Experimental data confirm that the compatibility of AO and LS is an important factor for the finally observed stabilization effect [30]. 

Sufficient compatibility of stabilizers in polymer matrices is a highly important factor for their applicability and determines significantly their performance. Tailor-made stabilizers with both an aaive function and an individual segment influencing the solubility can adapt to a specific environment given by the polymer matrix. 

The selection of an appropriate antioxidant depends on factors such as stability, toxicity, efficiency, odor, taste, compatibility with other ingredients, and distribution phenomena between the two phases. Antioxidants that give protection primarily in the aqueous phase include sodium metabisulfite, ascorbic acid, thioglycerol, and cysteine hydrochloride. Oil-soluble antioxidants include lecithin, propyl gal-late, ascorbyl palmitate, and butylated hydroxytoluene. Vitamin E has also been used, but its virtue as a natural antioxidant has been the subject of some controversy. 

Where the instructions for use of the product involve admixture or dilution with drinks or other materials, appropriate compatibility data will be required. Factors to consider include ease and rate of dissolution, homogeneity, chemical and physical stability over the period of use, particle size, etc. 

Since the first report on the ferrocene mediated oxidation of glucose by GOx [69], extensive solution-phase studies have been undertaken in an attempt to elucidate the factors controlling the mediator-enzyme interaction. Although the use of solution-phase mediators is not compatible with a membraneless biocatalytic fuel cell, such studies can help elucidate the relationship between enzyme structure, mediator size, structure and mobility, and mediation thermodynamics and kinetics. For example, comprehensive studies on ferrocene and its derivatives [70] and polypy-ridyl complexes of ruthenium and osmium [71, 72] as mediators of GOx have been undertaken. Ferrocenes have come to the fore as mediators to GOx, surpassing many others, because of factors such as their mediation efficiency, stability in the reduced form, pH independent redox potentials, ease of synthesis, and substitutional versatility. Ferrocenes are also of sufficiently small size to diffuse easily to the active site of GOx. However, solution phase mediation can only be used if the future biocatalytic fuel cell... 

There has been a recent revival in interest in the use of ethanol-diesel fuel blends (E-diesel) in heavy-duty vehicles as a means to reduce petroleum dependency, increase renewable fuels use, and reduce vehicle emissions [27]. E-diesel blends containing 10-15% ethanol could be prepared via the use of additives. However, several fuel properties that are essential to the proper operation of a diesel engine are affected by the addition of ethanol to diesel fuel - in particular, blend stability, viscosity and lubricity, energy content and cetane number (increasing concentrations of ethanol in diesel lower the cetane number proportionately) [28]. Materials compatibility and corrosiveness are also important factors that need to be considered. 

The particular absorber to be used in a given application depends on several factors. One important criterion is whether the absorber will strongly absorb that portion of the ultraviolet spectrum responsible for degradation of the plastic under consideration. Compatibility, volatility, thermal stability, and interactions with other additives and fillers are other items that must be considered. When used in food wrappings, Food and Drug Administration approval must be obtained. While one or more of these considerations may rule out a given stabilizer or influence llie choice of one class over another, the final selection must await the results of extensive accelerated and long-term tests. 

The choice of the proper stationary and mobile phases for the foregoing purpose would depend on several factors, such as the nature (polarity, stability in mobile phase) of the NOC analyzed and the availability/compatibility of the detector used. For example, if only a TEA is available as a detector, the use of an ion-exchange or a reversed-phase system is ruled out, because both require aqueous mobile phase for proper operation. Moisture in the mobile phase causes freeze-up of the cold traps in the TEA and also results in noisy response due to interference during chemiluminescence detection. Similarly, if one is using, as the detector the newly developed Hi-catalyzed denitrosation-TEA (62) or the photolytic cleavage-TEA (58), a reversed-phase system using aqueous mobile phase would be the method of choice. These detectors, however, have not been demonstrated to work in the normal-phase system. The use of an electrochemical detector will also be incompatible with an organic solvent as the mobile phase. 

Some ofthe factors that affect the physical stability of emulsions include the type and concentration of surfactant used to stabilize the emulsion, the phase volume ratio (i.e., ratio of oil to aqueous phase), droplet size, compatibility of drug and excipients with the emulsion, and storage condition ofthe emulsion. 

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