Coupling multicomponent droplet evaporation and tabulated chemistry combustion models for large-eddy simulations

An evaporation model for multicomponent fuels and emulsions is implemented in OpenFOAM within the Euler–Lagrangian formulation. The model is suitable for pressures typical of heavy duty gas turbines, up to 30 bar, and considers an increased evaporation rate of the most volatile component when the droplet temperature reaches its boiling temperature. Evaporation of emulsion droplets is modeled following a shell approach, assuming that the water in the droplet core does not evaporate. A diffusivity model is introduced to account for the transport of the dispersed phase from the core to the outer shell. The combustion model is based on the Flamelet Generated Manifold approach. The mixture fraction is calculated from the species mass fractions to couple it with the evaporation model. Flamelet tables are created for different enthalpies and mixture fractions so that they can be used in non-premixed simulations. The thermo-chemistry model considers up to two fuel components by using 4-D tables. Experimental data for n-decane droplets are used to validate the evaporation model. Results from the combustion model are compared with the detailed chemistry solutions. Following the separate evaluation of each model, 1-D spray simulations for 0% and 10% initial water contents are performed to verify the coupling between the models, so that they can be applied to partially pre-vaporized spray flames

Skin penetration behavior of lipid-core nanocapsules for simultaneous delivery of resveratrol and curcumin

Polyphenols, which are secondary plant metabolites, gain increasing research interest due to their therapeutic potential. Among them, resveratrol and curcumin are two agents showing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial as well as anticarcinogenic effects. In addition to their individual therapeutic effect, increased activity was reported upon co-delivery of the two compounds. However, due to the poor water solubility of resveratrol and curcumin, their clinical application is currently limited. In this context, lipid-core nanocapsules (LNC) composed of an oily core surrounded by a polymeric shell were introduced as drug carrier systems with the potential to overcome this obstacle. Furthermore, the encapsulation of polyphenols into LNC can increase their photostability. As the attributes of the polyphenols make them excellent candidates for skin treatment, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of co-delivery of resveratrol and curcumin by LNC upon topical application on excised human skin. In contrast to the formulation with one polyphenol, resveratrol penetrated into deeper skin layers when the co-formulation was applied. Based on vibrational spectroscopy analysis, these effects are most likely due to interactions of curcumin and the stratum corneum, facilitating the skin absorption of the co-administered resveratrol. Furthermore, the interaction of LNC with primary human skin cells was analyzed encountering a cellular uptake within 24 h potentially leading to intracellular effects of the polyphenols. Thus, the simultaneous delivery of resveratrol and curcumin by LNC provides an intelligent way for immediate and sustained polyphenol delivery for skin disease treatment

Innovative Sunscreen Formulation Based on Benzophenone-3-Loaded Chitosan-Coated Polymeric Nanocapsules

&lt;i&gt;Aim:&lt;/i&gt; To evaluate the effect of cationic coating of polymeric nanocapsules in sunscreen formulations on the in vitro skin penetration of benzophenone-3. &lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt; Benzophenone-3-loaded nanocapsules were prepared by the interfacial deposition of poly(&amp;#917;-caprolactone) and coated by using a chitosan solution. The nanoparticles were characterized and incorporated in hydrogels. The presence of nanoparticles in hydroxyethyl cellulose gels was observed by transmission electron microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy. Penetration studies were carried out using Franz cells with porcine skin membranes. &lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt; Benzophenone-3-loaded chitosan-coated nanocapsules presented a mean size of 202 ± 7 nm and positive zeta potential (+21 ± 1 mV), while these values for the uncoated nanocapsules were 175 ± 1 nm and –8 ± 1 mV. Penetration profiles showed that a higher amount of benzophenone-3 remained at the skin surface and a lower amount was found in the receptor compartment after the application of the formulation containing chitosan-coated nanocapsules compared to a formulation containing its free form. &lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt; Hydrogel containing benzophenone-3 chitosan-coated nanocapsules represents an innovative formulation to overcome limitations of sunscreen daily use.</jats:p

3D printed tablets loaded with polymeric nanocapsules: an innovative approach to produce customized drug delivery systems

The generation of multi-functional drug delivery systems, namely solid dosage forms loaded with nano-sized carriers, remains little explored and is still a challenge for formulators. For the first time, the coupling of two important technologies, 3D printing and nanotechnology, to produce innovative solid dosage forms containing drug-loaded nanocapsules was evaluated here. Drug delivery devices were prepared by fused deposition modelling (FDM) from poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and Eudragit® RL100 (ERL) filaments with or without a channelling agent (mannitol). They were soaked in deflazacort-loaded nanocapsules (particle size: 138nm) to produce 3D printed tablets (printlets) loaded with them, as observed by SEM. Drug loading was improved by the presence of the channelling agent and a linear correlation was obtained between the soaking time and the drug loading (r2=0.9739). Moreover, drug release profiles were dependent on the polymeric material of tablets and the presence of the channelling agent. In particular, tablets prepared with a partially hollow core (50 infill) had a higher drug loading (0.27 w/w) and faster drug release rate. This study represents an original approach to convert nanocapsules suspensions into solid dosage forms as well as an efficient 3D printing method to produce novel drug delivery systems, as personalised nanomedicines

Nanocarriers for optimizing the balance between interfollicular permeation and follicular uptake of topically applied clobetasol to minimize adverse effects

The treatment of various hair disorders has become a central focus of good dermatologic patient care as it affects men and women all over the world. For many inflammatory-based scalp diseases, glucocorticoids are an essential part of treatment, even though they are known to cause systemic as well as local adverse effects when applied topically. Therefore, efficient targeting and avoidance of these side effects are of utmost importance. Optimizing the balance between drug release, interfollicular permeation, and follicular uptake may allow minimizing these adverse events and simultaneously improve drug delivery, given that one succeeds in targeting a sustained release formulation to the hair follicle. To test this hypothesis, three types of polymeric nanocarriers (nanospheres, nanocapsules, lipid-core nanocapsules) for the potent glucocorticoid clobetasol propionate (CP) were prepared. They all exhibited a sustained release of drug, as was desired. The particles were formulated as a dispersion and hydrogel and (partially) labeled with Rhodamin B for quantification purposes. Follicular uptake was investigated using the Differential Stripping method and was found highest for nanocapsules in dispersion after application of massage. Moreover, the active ingredient (CP) as well as the nanocarrier (Rhodamin B labeled polymer) recovered in the hair follicle were measured simultaneously, revealing an equivalent uptake of both. In contrast, only negligible amounts of CP could be detected in the hair follicle when applied as free drug in solution or hydrogel, regardless of any massage. Skin permeation experiments using heat-separated human epidermis mounted in Franz Diffusion cells revealed equivalent reduced transdermal permeability for all nanocarriers in comparison to application of the free drug. Combining these results, nanocapsules formulated as an aqueous dispersion and applied by massage appeare to be a good candidate to maximize follicular targeting and minimize drug penetration into the interfollicular epidermis. We conclude that such nanotechnology-based formulations provide a viable strategy for more efficient drug delivery to the hair follicle. Moreover, they present a way to minimize adverse effects of potent glucocorticoids by releasing the drug in a controlled manner and simultaneously decreasing interfollicular permeation, offering an advantage over conventional formulations for inflammatory-based skin/scalp diseases