U6. Biomaterial Processing and Nanostructuring Unit

U6-S04. Analysis of particle size, concentration and Z-potential of nanoparticles (On-site&Remote) OUTSTANDING

Analysis of particle size, concentration and Z-potential of nanoparticles

Measurement of the particle size distribution, Z-potential and concentration of solid or dispersed materials (suspensions, liposome, vesicles, emulsions).

The equipments for the analysis are the following:

• Zetasizer Nano & Ultra (Malvern Panalytical)
• Mastersizer 2000 (Malvern Panalytical)
• Nanosight NS300 (Malvern Panalytical)

Customer benefits

The equipment provides particle size, concentration and Z-potential measurements for customers who need to characterise these physico-chemical properties and add value to their materials.

Target customer

Universities, hospitals, public research organisations and pharmacological and chemical industries.

References

• Nanomedicine 2020 24:102136. 10.1016/j.nano.2019.102136.
• ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2020, 12, 18, 20253–20262 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c03040
• Chem. Mater. 2022, 34, 19, 8517–8527 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c00384

U6-S05. Freeze dryer

Freeze dryer

Freeze drying (also known as lyophilization) is a water (or other solvents) removal process typically used to preserve materials, with the goal of extending their shelf life or reducing its weight. Freeze drying works by freezing the material, then reducing the pressure and adding heat to allow the frozen water in the material to change directly to a vapor (sublimation).

Freeze drying occurs in three phases:

1. Freezing: Freezing can be done in a freezer, a chilled bath (shell freezer) or on a shelf in the freeze dryer. Cooling the material below its triple point ensures that sublimation, rather than melting, will occur. This preserves its physical form.
2. Primary Drying: Freeze drying’s second phase is primary drying (sublimation), in which the pressure is lowered and heat is added to the material in order for the water to sublimate. About 95% of the water in the material is removed in this phase. Primary drying can be a slow process.
3. Secondary Drying: Freeze drying’s final phase is secondary drying (adsorption), during which the ionically-bound water molecules are removed. Most materials can be dried to 1-5% residual moisture.

Customer benefits

• Solvent removal typically used to preserve materials, with the goal of extending their shelf life or reducing its weight.
• The design of the equipment offers the best performance in the smallest possible space.
• Equipment suitable for laboratories: compact and easy to install.
• Technical reliability and excellent performance.
• Ease of use: touch screen user interface.

Target customer

• Pharmaceutical industry
• Food Industry
• Chemical industry
• Materials research centers

U6-S02. High-pressure phase analysis – solubility, emulsification (Remote) OUTSTANDING

High-pressure phase analysis – solubility, emulsification.

This phase equilibria unit is built for the measurement and detection of phase equilibria and phase transitions by optical means.
The mixture of solute and solvent gas is agitated by the magnetic stirrer. Whenever samples are drawn from the top or the bottom connection in the cell, the directly connected counterbalance piston moves towards the centre of the cell, this keeping the pressure in the measuring cell constant even during the sampling operation. No need to add additional solvent gas, which would change mass ratio and temperature and consequently result in a disturbed equilibrium.

Customer benefits

Phase equilibria cell:
• Capacity: 29-55 mL (depending on piston position)
• Operating pressure max.: 200 Bar
• Operating temperature max.: 150 °C

Counterbalance piston to maintain constant pressure during sampling operation
• Optical windows: 2x ø28mm (sapphire)
• Optical path length: 58 mm

Double wall heating jacket for heating with external thermostat.
High-pressure thermocouple type K (inner temperature)

Target customer

• Pharmaceutical industry
• Food Industry
• Chemical industry
• Materials research centers

References

N-Grimaldi, et al. ACS Nano 2017, 11, 10774-10784

U6-S01. Use of High-pressure laboratory-scale plant

Use of High-pressure laboratory-scale plant

with 50, 100 and 300 mL reactors for the processing of biomaterials. Processing of cytotoxic compounds when required.

Preparation of soft molecular materials with controlled structure at supramolecular, micro- and nanoscopic level, using one-step methodologies based on green compressed fluids (i.e. compressed and supercritical CO2).Micro- and nanoparticulate single compounds with high supramolecular homogeneity (i.e., pure polymorphic phases, materials with single polymer folding, etc.).

• Particulate polymeric matrix uniformly loaded with active compounds (therapeutics, cosmetic ingredients, catalyst, pigments, and dyes, etc.)
• Dispersed systems (suspensions, liposomes, emulsions, vesicles) with narrow particle size distribution and high morphological homogeneity.
• Porous materials, either crystalline or amorphous, with defined porosity and porous size.

Customer benefits

Lab-scale high pressure systems, based on a 50 mL, a 100 mL and a 300 mL stirred high pressure autoclaves equipped with pumps for the supply of compressed fluids and liquid solutions. The high-pressure systems can also optionally be equipped with several filters, manometers, thermocouples, and back pressure regulators. The maximum operative pressure is 23 MPa and the maximum operative temperature is 200 °C.
The 300 mL system is also equipped with a mass flowmeter, and a data acquisition system.
All the plants have been designed for micro- and nanostructuring molecular and soft materials.

Target customer

• Pharmaceutical industry
• Food Industry
• Chemical industry
• Materials research centers

References

• M.Köber, et al., J.C.I.S 2023, 631, 202-211.
• E.Elizondo,et al., J. Am. Chem.Soc. 2012, 134, 1918−192.
• I.Cabrera, et al. Nano Lett. 2013, 13, 3766−3774.