Lilianna Szyk-Warszyńska

Biocompatible long-sustained release oil-core polyelectrolyte nanocarriers: From controlling physical state and stability to biological impact

It has been generally expected that the most applicable drug delivery system (DDS) should be biodegradable, biocompatible and with incidental adverse effects. Among many micellar aggregates and their mediated polymeric systems, polyelectrolyte oil-core nanocarriers have been found to successfully encapsulate hydrophobic drugs in order to target cells and avoid drug degradation and toxicity as well as to improve drug efficacy, its stability, and better intracellular penetration. This paper reviews recent developments in the formation of polyelectrolyte oil-core nanocarriers by subsequent multilayer adsorption at micellar structures, their imaging, physical state and stability, drug encapsulation and applications, in vitro release profiles and in vitro biological evaluation (cellular uptake and internalization, biocompatibility). We summarize the recent results concerning polyelectrolyte/surfactant interactions at interfaces, fundamental to understand the mechanisms of formation of stable polyelectrolyte layered structures on liquid cores. The fabrication of emulsion droplets stabilized by synergetic surfactant/polyelectrolyte complexes, properties, and potential applications of each type of polyelectrolyte oil-core nanocarriers, including stealth nanocapsules with pegylated shell, are discussed and evaluated.

Role of convection in particle deposition at solid surfaces

Abstract Recent theoretical and experimental data concerning colloid particle deposition from well-defined flows onto solid/liquid interfaces were reviewed. The macroscopic flow fields in the vicinity of the spherical and cylindrical collector (both isolated and forming a structured layer) were presented. Analogous solutions for the impinging-jet cells of (i) radial symmetry (radial impinging-jet cell RIJ) and (ii) plane symmetry (the slot impinging-jet cell SIJ) were also discussed. Similarities and differences between these flows are pointed out. The method of decomposing the macroscopic flows into local flows of simple geometry like shearing and stagnation flows was exposed. The microscopic flows are discussed in some detail, especially those connected with the motion of a spherical particle parallel and perpendicular to a solid wall. Using the local flow distributions the governing continuity equation is formulated, incorporating the convective transport in the bulk and the specific force dominated transport at the surface. Approximate analytical models aimed at decoupling these transfer steps are described, in particular the surface force boundary layer approximation (SFBLA). Limiting analytical solutions for the perfect sink boundary conditions were given. A procedure of extending the convective diffusion theory to non-linear adsorption regimes governed by the steric barrier due to adsorbed particles, was also presented. The role of the electro-hydrodynamic coupling leading to the hydrodynamic scattering effect in the blocking phenomena was discussed. The theoretical results are confronted with experimental data obtained in the well-defined systems, e.g. mostly in the RIJ and SIJ cells using monodisperse polystyrene latex colloids. A good agreement of theoretical and experimental data was found and most of the theoretical predictions were quantitatively confirmed, in particular the significance of the hydrodynamic scattering effect.

Nanostructured multilayer polyelectrolyte films with silver nanoparticles as antibacterial coatings

Ultrathin polyelectrolyte films containing silver nanoparticles appear to be a promising material for antimicrobial coatings used in the medical area. The present work is focused on the formation of multilayer polyelectrolyte films using: polyethyleneimine (PEI) as polycation, Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) as polyanions and negatively charged silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which led to the polyelectrolyte-silver nanocomposite coatings. The film thickness and mass were measured by ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and the structure and morphology of films were visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Systematic increase of the UV-Vis absorption confirmed formation of the consecutive layers of the film. The analysis of bacteria cell adhesion to films surface was done by the luminometry measurement. Three gram-negative bacterial strains with strong adhesive properties were used in this study: Escherichia coli, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Asaia lannenesis. It was found that nanocomposite films have antimicrobial properties, which makes them very interesting for a number of practical applications, e.g. for the prevention of microbial colonization on treated surfaces.

Influence of electropolishing and anodic oxidation on morphology, chemical composition and corrosion resistance of niobium

The work presents results of the studies performed on electropolishing of pure niobium in a bath that contained: sulphuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, ethylene glycol and acetanilide. After the electropolishing, the specimens were subjected to anodic passivation in a 1moldm(-3) phosphoric acid solution at various voltages. The surface morphology, thickness, roughness and chemical composition of the resulting oxide layers were analysed. Thusly prepared niobium samples were additionally investigated in terms of their corrosion resistance in Ringers solution. The electropolished niobium surface was determined to be smooth and lustrous. The anodisation led to the growth of barrier-like oxide layers, which were enriched in phosphorus species.

Fluctuations in the number of irreversibly adsorbed particles

Fluctuations in the number of colloid particles adsorbed irreversibly under pure diffusion transport conditions were determined as a function of surface density and ionic strength of the suspension. The experiments were carried out for monodisperse polystyrene latex particles of micrometer size range adsorbing irreversibly at mica surface. The surface density of adsorbed particles at various areas was determined using the direct microscope observation method. A new experimental cell was used enabling in situ observations of particles adsorption under conditions of negligible gravity effects. It was found that the particle density fluctuations for high ionic strength were in a good agreement with the theoretical results derived from the random sequential adsorption (RSA) model. Also, the theoretical results stemming from the equilibrium scaled particle theory reflected the experimental data satisfactorily. For lower ionic strength a deviation from the hard sphere behavior was experimentally demonstrated. T...

Colloidal characteristics and functionality of rationally designed esculin-loaded hydrogel microcapsules

This work reports the development of different types of alginate hydrogel microparticles designed specifically for the esculin (ESC) payload. Negatively charged alginate (ALG) microspheres were prepared by the ionotropic gelation technique, and an oppositely charged polyelectrolyte (PE) shell as a compatible polycation (chitosan (CHIT) or gelatin (GEL)) or a synthetic PEs (poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS)) were adsorbed using electrostatic complexation. Thorough characterization of microparticles was performed with advanced microscopic techniques (scanning electron, fluorescence and confocal), followed by stability studies, ESC encapsulation efficacy determination and in vitro release kinetics measurements. We provide an in-depth investigation of the relationships between the properties (thickness, viscosity, areal mass, zeta potential) of the outer shell and the retaining and release abilities of the fabricated microcarriers, using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring technique (QCM-D), spectroscopic ellipsometry and streaming potential measurements, combined in a new approach that was not attempted before for micrometric particles. The PAH-PSS and GEL coatings provided sufficient protection against ESC release under simulated gastric conditions that followed a two-stage Corrigan-Gallagher model with a marginal release rate in the first (lag) stage. This seems to be an interesting outcome, since it is rather peculiar for a low-molecular weight hydrophilic compound encapsulated in a highly porous microhydrogel to be released in such a manner.