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Mechanically Enhanced Liquid Interfaces at Human Body Temperature Using Thermosensitive Methylated Nanocrystalline
N Scheuble1, T Geue2, S Kuster1
1Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich , 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|January 19, 2016
Summary
Methylated nanocrystalline cellulose (metNCC) forms temperature-sensitive elastic layers at oil/water interfaces. This controlled interfacial change optimizes hydrophobic drug release in lipid-based formulations.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biopolymers
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Hydrophobic drug release is influenced by material properties at oil/water interfaces.
- Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is a promising biopolymer for drug delivery applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop thermosensitive biopolymers from NCC for controlled interfacial gelation.
- To investigate the mechanical performance of methylated NCC (metNCC) at oil/water interfaces at body temperature.
- To optimize lipid-based drug formulations using metNCC's tunable interfacial properties.
Main Methods:
- Surface methylation of NCC using mercerization and dimethyl sulfate.
- Interfacial rheology (shear and dilatational) to measure elasticity.
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and neutron reflection to analyze interfacial structure.
- Thermogelation studies at air/water and MCT/water interfaces.
Main Results:
- metNCC formed elastic interfacial layers that stiffened significantly at body temperature.
- Interfacial properties (elasticity, brittleness) were tunable by adjusting metNCC hydrophobicity.
- Layer thickness and density increased with temperature, indicating enhanced self-assembly.
- metNCC exhibited more brittle interfacial layers compared to commercial methylcellulose.
Conclusions:
- Thermosensitive metNCC offers controllable interfacial properties for drug encapsulation.
- The temperature-dependent structural and mechanical changes are key for optimizing drug release.
- metNCC presents a novel material for advanced lipid-based drug delivery systems.
