Schiume ed emulsioni biocompatibili stabilizzate da particelle per il trasporto di agenti curativi

Responsabili di progetto

Francesca Ravera, Marcel Krzan

Accordo

POLONIA - PAS (NUOVO ACCORDO) - Polish Academy of Sciences/Polska Akademia Nauk

Bando

CNR-PAN 2017-2019

Dipartimento

Scienze chimiche e tecnologie dei materiali

Area tematica

Scienze chimiche e tecnologie dei materiali

Stato del progetto

Nuovo

Proposta di ricerca

Foams and emulsions are intrinsically unstable systems with a cellular internal structure, consisting of poly-dispersed gas bubbles, or droplets, separated by thin liquid films. Being the evolution of these disperse systems and their transient stability driven by the drainage and rupture of such liquid films, they are assumed to be strongly related to the interfacial properties of the adsorption layers at liquid interfaces and, in particular, to their surface rheological properties.
Solid particles dispersed in aqueous media have been widely employed as stabilizers of foams and emulsions [1,2,3]. Such ability is determined by their chemical nature, size, morphology and surface state. In many applications, micro-nanosized particles are associated to appropriate surfactants in order to obtain the correct degree of hydrophobicity to favour their transfer into the interfacial adsorption layer which, consequently, favours the stabilisation of the respective foam/emulsion systems.
Particle stabilized emulsions and foams have unique properties as concerns the control of their stability and morphology. Such properties make them potentially applicable in a huge number of research and technological fields, among them the development of innovative body-care and biomedical products. For this kind of application, it is of crucial importance to investigate bio-surfactant and/or biocompatible particles.
In spite of the increasing industrial interest for this kind of bio-compatible, non-toxic and easily degradable components, the scientific literature on the topic is still limited and, even if such similar systems are already used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic production, the applied technology is often not adequately supported by appropriate scientific research and analysis.
Aim of this project is to define new methods and formulations for stable emulsions and foams, allowing the replacing of the synthetic surfactants commonly used as foam/emulsion stabilizers by surface active proteins or lipids and, similarly, classical mineral particles by organic components. As a result, we expect to obtain modern, innovative, biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic and non-allergenic products with a wide applicability in body-care and bio-medical fields.
To this purpose the planned activities will focus on the study of composite adsorption layers at liquid interfaces in relation to the respective disperse systems properties. The research will follow a hierarchical approach where the systems are investigated at three levels: the single interface, the liquid film between bubbles or drops and the foam/emulsion behaviour.
Examples of bio-surfactants which will be used as foam/emulsion stabilizers are proteins, polysaccharides, glycolipids and phospholipids. Biological active agents, such as chitosan, bacterial cellulose, Hyaluronic acid or Levan, selected for their relevance for bio-medical or cosmetics application, will be also investigated. In addition, the bio- particles utilized will be, for example, chitosan, silk fibroin, liposomes or dendrimers.
The ICMATE and ICSC teams possess a large expertise in the investigation of physico-chemical properties of interfacial layers at liquid interfaces, transport/kinetic processes and thermodynamics of composite adsorption layers. In particular, ICMATE owns a long time experience in the field of surfactants and nanoparticles at liquid interfaces to stabilize emulsions and foams [4,5] and masters unique research equipment for investigating the dynamic interfacial phenomena and interfacial rheology (drop/bubble shape and capillary pressure tensiometers) [6]. The competences of ICSC in the field of bio-surfactants, bio-polymers [7, 8] and other systems relevant for bio-medical application, are fundamental to complement the ICMATE know-how and to realize the project objectives. It is worth to notice that ICSC received an important grant by the Polish National Science Center, NSC, (n. 2011/01/B/ST8/03717) for a research on the theme of bio-foams for bio-medical applications and M. Krzan will coordinate a further NSC project (n. 2016/21/B/ST8/02107), on similar theme for the period 2017-2020 which includes ICMATE-CNR as cooperating institution.
The principal equipments shared by ICSC in the project will be a confocal microscope and a rotational rheometer that will be devoted to the morphological and mechanical characterisation of the obtained foams and emulsions. AFM and Ellissometry will be also used at the ICSC laboratory to evaluate the properties of the respective composite thin films.
The cooperation between ICSC and ICMATE, started in 2011, in the framework of the activities of the COST Actions CM1101 (Colloidal Aspects of Nanoscience for Innovative Processes and Materials) and MP1106 (Smart and green interfaces). Thanks to these actions the proposers participated in various conferences and international meetings which allowed fruitful exchanges of knowledge, experiences and ideas for future research. On November 2014, thanks to a funding by COST MP1106, Marcel Krzan could visit the CNR research group in Genoa for 2 weeks.
The results from this cooperation were presented at international scientific conferences and workshops (8 contributions between poster and oral communications) and a publication on the theme of the present proposal has been submitted on November 2016 (Jarek et al., Stable and biocompatible aqueous foams containing chitosan, subm. to Colloid & Surface A).
References:
1. Aveyard et al., Adv. Coll. & Interf. Sci. 503 (2003), 100-102
2. Destribats et al. Langmuir, 30 (2014), 93139326
3. Stocco et al, Soft Matter, 7 (2010), 631-637
4. Ravera et al, Curr. Opinions on Coll. & Interf. Sci., 15 (2010),217-228
5. Ravera et al. J. of Phys. Chem. B, 110 (2006), pp. 19543
6. Ravera et al., Coll. & Surf. A, 323 (2007), 99-108
7. Krzan et al, Coll. & Surf. B;, 128 (2015) 261-267
8. Krzan et al., Coll. & Surf. A:, 438 (2013) 112-118

Obiettivi della ricerca

Aim of this project is the development of a new technology to generate nontoxic, easy degradable, stable foams or emulsions, based on natural surfactants, to be used as healing carriers for application in body-care, cosmetics and biomedical fields. New formulations and methods will be defined on the bases of an advanced physico-chemical experimental approach.
To this purpose specific objectives are:
o The definition of innovative formulations optimized for biocompatibility and foam/emulsion stability where the amount of stabilizers is minimized.
o To assess the mechanisms at the bases of the foam/emulsion stabilization
o To clarify the role of the specific features of the used agents, in the stabilization of the dispersed systems and in their functionality as healing agent carriers.
The results obtained will contribute to the reduction of synthetic surfactants in industrial products, improving their bio-compatibility and minimising also the environmental impact of the waste materials.
Besides the scientific objectives, the project will allow establishing a synergy between two leading laboratories in the field of physical chemistry of interfaces and colloidal systems, providing a unique opportunity to exchange expertise on complementary experimental methodologies and systems and to compare results obtained with state-of-the-art instrumentation. This collaboration will be very promising for the development of future research projects in bio-medical fields.

Ultimo aggiornamento: 16/04/2024