Thin film hydration

Figure 1 Cryo-TEM microscopy of DSPC DSPG CHOL liposomes obtained by thin-film hydration method and extruded through 0.2-pm polycarbonate membranes. Abbreviations. DSPC, l,2-distearoyl-s -glycerol-3-phosphocholine DSPG, 2,2-distearoyl-5 -glycerol-3[phosphor-rac-(l-glycerol)] CHOL, cholesterol.

The formation of liposomes [or better arsonoliposomes (ARSL)], composed solely of arsonolipids (Ars with R=lauric acid (C12) myristic acid (C14) palmitic acid (C16) and stearic acid (C18) (Fig. 1) have been used for ARSL construction), mixed or not with cholesterol (Choi) (plain ARSL), or composed of mixtures of Ars and phospholipids (as phosphatidylcholine [PC] or l,2-distearoyl- -glyceroyl-PC [DSPC]) and containing or not Choi (mixed ARSL), was not an easy task. Several liposome preparation techniques (thin-film hydration, sonication, reversed phase evaporation, etc.) were initially tested, but were not successful to form vesicles. Thereby a modification of the so called one step or bubble technique (8), in which the lipids (in powder form) are mixed at high temperature with the aqueous medium, for an extended period of time, was developed. This technique was successfiil for the preparation of arsonoliposomes (plain and mixed) (9). If followed by probe sonication, smaller vesicles (compared to those formed without any sonication [non-sonicated]) could be formed [sonicated ARSL] (9). Additionally, sonicated PEGylated ARSL (ARSL that contain polyethyleneglycol [PEG]-conjugated phospholipids in their lipid bilayers) were prepared by the same modified one-step technique followed by sonication (10). 

Liposomes Thin film hydration <200 nm Detirelix DSPC/DSPG/ cholesterol Increased half-life of Detirelix from. 2 (free) to 21.6h (liposomes) 13... 

Liposomes are mostly prepared by the thin film hydration method in which a thin fihn is produced by dissolving the phospholipids in suitable organic solvent... 

Pluronic poloxamers can be suitable carrier materials for this purpose due to their capacity to enhance the absorption of water-insoluble compounds by formation of micelles in aqueous environment that can host such hydrophobic compounds. Different authors have described the formation of quercetin-loaded Pluronic micelles by thin-film hydration methods and have shown that the resulting micelles enhanced the solubilization of the active compound. Ghanem et al. described the encapsulation of quercetin in Pluronic F127 via spray drying. ... 

Sathali et al. formulated a topical gel containing clobetasol propionate niosomes to prolong the duration of action and prevent side effects. The clobetasol propionate niosomes were prepared by altering the ratio of various non-ionic surfectants (Span 40,60, and 80) to cholesterol by the thin film hydration method. The in vivo results showed that the niosomal gel had a sustained as well as a prolonged action. 

There are many methods to prepare liposomes. This review will discuss only some of the commonly used methods. These include liposomes made by thin film hydration, reverse phase evaporation, freeze-drying, and proliposome methods. 

Microscopic sheets of amorphous silica have been prepared in the laboratory by either (/) hydrolysis of gaseous SiCl or SiF to form monosilicic acid [10193-36-9] (orthosihcic acid), Si(OH)4, with simultaneous polymerisation in water of the monosilicic acid that is formed (7) (2) freesing of colloidal silica or polysilicic acid (8—10) (J) hydrolysis of HSiCl in ether, followed by solvent evaporation (11) or (4) coagulation of silica in the presence of cationic surfactants (12). Amorphous silica fibers are prepared by drying thin films of sols or oxidising silicon monoxide (13). Hydrated amorphous silica differs in solubility from anhydrous or surface-hydrated amorphous sdica forms (1) in that the former is generally stable up to 60°C, and water is not lost by evaporation at room temperature. Hydrated sdica gel can be prepared by reaction of hydrated sodium siUcate crystals and anhydrous acid, followed by polymerisation of the monosilicic acid that is formed into a dense state (14). This process can result in a water content of approximately one molecule of H2O for each sdanol group present. 

Since the natural passivity of aluminium is due to the thin film of oxide formed by the action of the atmosphere, it is not unexpected that the thicker films formed by anodic oxidation afford considerable protection against corrosive influences, provided the oxide layer is continuous, and free from macropores. The protective action of the film is considerably enhanced by effective sealing, which plugs the mouths of the micropores formed in the normal course of anodising with hydrated oxide, and still further improvement may be afforded by the incorporation of corrosion inhibitors, such as dichromates, in the sealing solution. Chromic acid films, in spite of their thinness, show good corrosion resistance. 

The surface forces apparatus (SEA) can measure the interaction forces between two surfaces through a liquid [10,11]. The SEA consists of two curved, molecularly smooth mica surfaces made from sheets with a thickness of a few micrometers. These sheets are glued to quartz cylindrical lenses ( 10-mm radius of curvature) and mounted with then-axes perpendicular to each other. The distance is measured by a Fabry-Perot optical technique using multiple beam interference fringes. The distance resolution is 1-2 A and the force sensitivity is about 10 nN. With the SEA many fundamental interactions between surfaces in aqueous solutions and nonaqueous liquids have been identified and quantified. These include the van der Waals and electrostatic double-layer forces, oscillatory forces, repulsive hydration forces, attractive hydrophobic forces, steric interactions involving polymeric systems, and capillary and adhesion forces. Although cleaved mica is the most commonly used substrate material in the SEA, it can also be coated with thin films of materials with different chemical and physical properties [12]. 

A simplified series of reactions between a hafnium salt and sulfuric acid is given in Fig. 4.3. The reactions showcase important facets of thin-film synthesis (but do not address the precise identities of intermediates or complexities of aqueous hafnium chemistry.) In the first step, a hafnium oxide chloride crystal hydrate is dissolved in water to disperse small hafnium-hydroxo molecular clusters. Sulfato ligands are subsequently added in the form of sulfuric acid. Since sulfato binds more strongly than chloro, hafnium-hydroxo-sulfato aqueous species are created. Under mild heating, these species readily poly-... 

Fig. 8-39. Electron state density in an electrode metal, Du, a semiconductor film, Dt, hydrated redox particles, Dredox, and exchange reaction current of redox electrons, t., in electron transfer equilibrium M = exchange current at a bare metal electrode, M/F= exchange current at a thin-film-covered metal electrode.

Fig. 8-41. Electron transfer reaction of hydrated redox particles in equilibrium on a metal electrode covered with a thick film (F, solid curve) and with a thin film (F, dashed curve) >cs = electron transfer current via the conduction band >scl = tunneling electron current through a depletion layer in the conduction band >vb = hole transfer current via the valence band.

The effect of humidity on conductivity of thin films of poly(dG)-poly(dC) and poly(dA)-poly(dT) in air was also investigated. It was found that above 20% relative humidity (RH) the conductance increases exponentially with RH [68]. It was concluded that the resistance of the films is not determined by that of the DNA, but rather by conduction through the hydration layers surrounding the DNA molecules in the film [68]. 

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