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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
A mechanistic modelling approach to polymer dissolution using magnetic resonance microimaging
Erik Kaunisto1, Susanna Abrahmsen-Alami, Per Borgquist
1Department of Chemical Engineering, LTH, Lund University, PO Box 124, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
Abstract:
In this paper a computationally efficient mathematical model describing the swelling and dissolution of a polyethylene oxide tablet is presented. The model was calibrated against polymer release, front position and water concentration profile data inside the gel layer, using two different diffusion models. The water concentration profiles were obtained from magnetic resonance microimaging data which, in addition to the previously used texture analysis method, can help to validate and discriminate between the mechanisms of swelling, diffusion and erosion in relation to the dissolution process. Critical parameters were identified through a comprehensive sensitivity analysis, and the effect of hydrodynamic shearing was investigated by using two different stirring rates. Good agreement was obtained between the experimental results and the model.
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