Structure evolution during phase separation in spin-coated ethylcellulose/ hydroxypropylcellulose films
Journal article, 2021
using confocal laser scanning microscopy combined with Fourier image analysis, we could extract the characteristic length scale of the phase-separated final structure. Varying spin speed and EC:HPC ratio gave us precise control over the characteristic length scale and the thickness of the film. The results showed that the characteristic length scale increases with decreasing spin speed and with increasing HPC ratio. The thickness of the spin-coated film decreases with increasing spin speed. It was found that the relation between film thickness and spin speed followed the Meyerhofer equation with an exponent close to 0.5. Furthermore, good correlations between thickness and spin speed were found for the compositions 22 wt%
HPC, 30 wt% HPC and 45 wt% HPC. These findings give a good basis for understanding the mechanisms responsible for the morphology development and increase the possibilities to tailor thin EC/HPC film structures.
phase separation mechanisms
phase separation
kinetics
biopolymer
cellulose
confocal laser scanning microscope
porous film
spin-coating
drug delivery
controlled drug release
Author
Pierre Carmona
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Chalmers, Physics, Nano and Biophysics
Magnus Röding
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Applied Mathematics and Statistics
Aila Särkkä
Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Applied Mathematics and Statistics
Christian von Corswant
AstraZeneca AB
Eva Olsson
Chalmers, Physics, Nano and Biophysics
Niklas Lorén
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Chalmers, Physics, Nano and Biophysics
Soft Matter
1744-683X (ISSN) 1744-6848 (eISSN)
Vol. 17 14 3913-3922Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Polymer Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
DOI
10.1039/d1sm00044f