Tailoring the flow properties of inhaled micronized drug powders by atomic and molecular layer deposition

For dry powder inhaled formulations, good flow behaviour is vital in re-dispersing the powder. However, inhaled drug powders with a particle size below 10 µm are classified as highly cohesive materials with poor flow characteristics. Here we demonstrate how to alter the flow properties of micronized budesonide powders by depositing different...

Molecular Layer Deposition of Polyurea on Silica Nanoparticles and Its Application in Dielectric Nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites (NCs) offer outstanding potential for dielectric applications including insulation materials. The large interfacial area introduced by the nanoscale fillers plays a major role in improving the dielectric properties of NCs. Therefore, an effort to tailor the properties of these interfaces can lead to substantial...

A combined experimental and multiscale modeling approach for the investigation of lab-scale fluidized bed reactors

We show the potential of coupling numerical and experimental approaches in the fundamental understanding of catalytic reactors, and in particular fluidized beds. The applicability of the method was demonstrated in a lab-scale fluidized bed reactor for the platinum-based catalytic oxidation of hydrogen. An experimental campaign has been...

Atomic and Molecular Layer Deposition for Controlled Drug Delivery

The majority of pharmaceutical products is made of solid powders. The morphology and surface characteristics of drug particles affect both their bulk behaviour, e.g., flowability, dispersibility and tabletability, in the manufacturing process of dosage forms as well as their bioavailability upon administration into the human body. For instance,...

Gas Phase Modification of Silica Nanoparticles in a Fluidized Bed: Tailored Deposition of Aminopropylsiloxane

Functionalized nanoparticles have various applications, for which grafting of a chemical moiety onto the surface to induce/improve certain properties is needed. When incorporated in polymeric matrices, for instance, the modified nanoparticles can alter the interfacial characteristics leading to improvements ofthe macroscopic properties of the...

Controlled Pulmonary Delivery of Carrier-Free Budesonide Dry Powder by Atomic Layer Deposition

Ideal controlled pulmonary drug delivery systems provide sustained release by retarding lung clearance mechanisms and efficient lung deposition to maintain therapeutic concentrations over prolonged time. Here, we use atomic layer deposition (ALD) to simultaneously tailor the release and aerosolization properties of inhaled drug particles...

Drug powders with tunable wettability by atomic and molecular layer deposition: From highly hydrophilic to superhydrophobic

The wettability of pharmaceuticals is a key physical property which influences their dissolution rate, dispersibility, flowability and solid-state stability. Here, we provide a platform of surface nanoengineering methods capable of tuning the wettability of drug powders from high hydrophilicity to superhydrophobicity with drug loadings up to...

Fluidization of fine lactose for dry powder inhalation: A comparison of assisting methods

Fluidization of cohesive pharmaceutical powders is difficult to achieve and typically requires the introduction of external forces. This study investigates the fluidization of the fine inhalation grade of lactose powders (size range from 0.1-20 μm) that are specifically developed for dry powder inhalation (DPI) applications. The fluidization...

Numerical analysis of mechanical reliability of multi-coated phase change materials

Nanoencapsulated phase change materials (nePCMs) are nowadays under research for thermal energy storage purposes. NePCMs are composed of a phase change core surrounded by a shell that confines the core when molten. One of the main concerns of nePCMs when subjected to thermal processes is the mechanical failure of the passivation shell...

Sub-nanoscale Surface Engineering of TiO₂Nanoparticles by Molecular Layer Deposition of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) for Suppressing Photoactivity and Enhancing Dispersibility

In this work, we report molecular layer deposition (MLD) of ultrathin poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films on gram-scale batches of ultrafine particles for the first time. TiO2 P25 nanoparticles (NPs) are coated up to 50 cycles in an atmospheric-pressure fluidized-bed reactor at 150 °C using terephthaloyl chloride and ethylene glycol as...

Nanoengineering of Crystal and Amorphous Surfaces of Pharmaceutical Particles for Biomedical Applications

The morphology, size, and surface properties of pharmaceutical particles form an essential role in the therapeutic performance of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients as constituents in various drug delivery systems and clinical applications. Recent advances in methods for surface modification, however, rely heavily on...

Oriented Attachment and Nanorod Formation in Atomic Layer Deposition of TiO₂ on Graphene Nanoplatelets

Understanding the spontaneous organization of atoms on well-defined surfaces promises to enable control over the shape and size of supported nanostructures. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) boasts atomic-scale control in the synthesis of thin films and nanoparticles. Yet, the possibility to control the shape of ALD-grown nanostructures remains...