Langmuir monolayer studies of non-ionic surfactants and DOTMA for the design of ophthalmic niosomes.

The worldwide increase in diabetes entails a rise in associated diseases, with diabetic retinopathy on the forefront of the ocular complications. To overcome the challenges posed by ocular barriers, self-assembled nanocarriers have gathered increasing attention in recent years, with niosomes revealing themselves to be suitable for the delivery of a variety of drugs. This study investigated the mechanical properties of Langmuir monolayers comprising cholesterol, Tween 60, and 1,2-di-O-octadecenyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTMA), both individually and in binary and ternary systems. The cholesterol monolayer was characterized by an L-shaped isotherm, reflecting two surface aggregation states. Tween 60 exhibited expanded conformation and progressive aggregation, transitioning through a phase change. The addition of cholesterol to Tween 60 resulted in a subtle reduction in surface compressional modulus. The compression isotherms highlighted the stabilizing effect of cholesterol on the monolayer, affecting the film's resistance to compression. The introduction of DOTMA in Tween 60 monolayers revealed concentration-dependent effects, where the compression resistance of the film was proportional to DOTMA concentration. Ternary systems of cholesterol, DOTMA and Tween 60 exhibited unique behavior, with DOTMA enhancing film stability and cholesterol modulating this effect. Temperature and subphase ionic strength variations further exacerbated the effects of DOTMA concentration. Brewster Angle Microscopy confirmed the absence of microdomains in the compressed monolayer, supporting the hypothesis of a monolayer collapse. Overall, the research provided valuable insights into the intricate interactions and mechanical behavior of these surfactant systems and the feasibility of obtaining cationic niosome-based drug delivery.

A multitechnique approach on adsorption, self-assembly and quercetin solubilization by Tetronics® micelles in aqueous solutions modulated by glycine.

Ethylene oxide-propylene oxide (EO-PO) block copolymer micelles are useful potential nanoreservoirs for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs. Considering that glycine is an excipient and can favorably affect the surface/micellar behavior and thus improve solubilization power/dispersion stability/wetting characteristics we have reported here studies on aqueous solution behavior of two commercially available branched block copolymers (Tetronics®) with differing hydrophobicities namely Tetronics® 1307 and 1304, hereafter referred as T1307 and T1304, in the presence of glycine. Steady state fluorescence studies using pyrene as a probe, equilibrium and dynamic surface tension measurements, wetting and dispersion stability studies of Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene; PTFE) and solubilization studies of a hydrophobic antioxidant/anticancer drug quercetin (QN) have been examined. The cloud point (CP) and critical micelle temperature (CMT) decrease while micelle hydrodynamic size (Dh) increases with the addition of glycine as well as on loading of the drug in the micelles. Water penetration through packed PTFE powder and dynamic surface tension confirm the enhanced micellization process for aqueous Tetronic® solutions in presence of glycine and accordingly restricted diffusion for the surfactant molecules towards air-water and PTFE-water interface. The contact angles for Tetronic® solutions in presence of glycine indicate moderate decrease. The pressure-area curves of the copolymers in water and glycine solutions were also constructed. Surface and micellar properties of copolymers are markedly altered in the presence of glycine and can be tuned for use of these nanocarriers in delivery systems.

Surface and Aggregation Behavior of Pentablock Copolymer PNIPAM7-F127-PNIPAM7 in Aqueous Solutions.

The triblock Pluronic F127 was modified by introducing poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) at both the poly(ethylene oxide) ends, and the pentablock copolymer so-prepared was characterized by gel permeation chromatography and (1)H NMR. The degree of polymerization of NIPAM blocks at the two ends was 7. The solution behavior and microstructure of copolymer aggregates in water and aqueous salt solution were examined and compared with F127 by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, microdifferential scanning calorimetry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The behavior of the pentablock copolymer at the air/water interface was determined by Langmuir film balance. Two lower critical solution temperatures were observed for pentablock copolymer, corresponding to poly(propylene oxide) and PNIPAM blocks, respectively. DLS studies show that micelle size increased with increase in temperature and in the presence of salt. SANS measurements provided temperature-dependent structural evolution of copolymer micelles in water and salt solution. The copolymer displays an isotherm with four classical regions (pancake, mushroom, brush, and condensed state). The study has potential applications in controlled drug delivery due to the tunable phase behavior and biocompatibility of the copolymer.

Interaction of poloxamine block copolymers with lipid membranes: Role of copolymer structure and membrane cholesterol content.

Interactions of X-shaped poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) (PEO-PPO) block copolymers with cell membranes were investigated recording the π-A isotherms of monolayer systems of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC):cholesterol 100:0; 80:20 and 60:40 mol ratio and evaluating the capability of the copolymers to trigger haemolysis or to protect from haemolytic agents. Four varieties of poloxamine (Tetronic 904, 908, 1107 and 1307) were chosen in order to cover a wide range of EO and PO units contents and molecular weights, and compared to a variety of poloxamer (Pluronic P85). The π-A isotherms revealed that the greater the content in cholesterol, the stronger the interaction of the block copolymers with the lipids monolayer. The interactions were particularly relevant at low pressures and low lipid proportions, mimicking the conditions of damaged membranes. Relatively hydrophobic copolymers bearing short PEO blocks (e.g., T904 and P85) intercalated among the lipids expanding the surface area (ΔGexc) but not effectively sealing the pores. These varieties showed haemolytic behavior. Oppositely, highly hydrophilic copolymers bearing long PEO blocks (e.g., T908, T1107 and T1307) caused membrane contraction and outer leaflet sealing due to strong interactions of PEO with cholesterol and diamine core with phospholipids. These later varieties were not haemolytic and exerted a certain protective effect against spontaneous haemolysis for both intact erythrocytes and cholesterol-depleted erythrocytes.

Poloxamine micellar solubilization of α-tocopherol for topical ocular treatment.

Ophthalmic delivery of α-tocopherol (TOC), which is the most active and cost/effective form of vitamin E, is receiving increasing attention as a way of preventing and treating glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye syndrome, among other ocular pathologies. The aim of this work was to elucidate the possibility of using poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block copolymers of poloxamine family (namely, Tetronic 1107) to develop polymeric micelles that can host TOC, enhance the apparent solubility and sustain the release of this vitamin in lachrymal fluid. The interactions of Tetronic 1107 with TOC were analyzed at the air-water interface recording the π-A isotherms at various temperatures, indicating favorable interactions as temperature increased from 10 to 29 °C. In 0.9% NaCl aqueous medium, a sharp increase in TOC solubility was observed when T1107 surpasses the critical micellar concentration (CMC); the apparent solubility in 20% T1107 being more than 600-fold and 6000-fold that observed in the absence of copolymer at 4 and 25 °C, respectively. Micelles were characterized before and after loading by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). TOC sustained release profiles were recorded in Franz-Chien diffusion cells. After storage for 3 months at 4 °C, TOC-loaded T1107 10% micellar system retained 84% TOC solubilized, which maintained the antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the rheological properties of the micellar systems were not altered either; the viscoelastic parameters being dependent on T1107 concentration, which opens the possibility of developing from free-flowing eye-drops to in situ gelling systems.

Interactions between the ganglioside GM1 and hexadecylphosphocholine (miltefosine) in monolayers at the air/water interface.

The ganglioside, GM1, was studied as Langmuir monolayers at the air/water interface with surface pressure-area measurements in addition to Brewster angle microscopy. A characteristic plateau transition, observed on aqueous subphases of pH 2 and 6, 20 degrees C, at the surface pressure of ca. 20 mN/m, was attributed to the reorientation of GM1 polar group upon film compression. This transition was found to disappear at alkaline subphases (pH 10) due to the hydration of fully ionized polar group, hindering its reorientation. The interactions between GM1 and hexadecylphosphocholine (miltefosine) were investigated in mixed monolayers and analyzed with the mean molecular areas, excess areas of mixing and the excess free energy of mixing versus film composition plots. The monolayers stability, quantified by the collapse pressure values, as well as the strength of interaction was found to diminish in the following order: pH 6>pH 2>pH 10. The strongest interaction occurs for mixed films of miltefosine molar fraction, XM=0.7-0.8, especially at low pressure region, and are explained as being due to the surface complex formation of 3:1 or 4:1 (miltefosine:ganglioside) stoichiometry (XM=0.75 or 0.8, respectively).