Interfacial Phenomena in Pharmaceutical Low Moisture Content Powder Processing

Powders are essential materials in the pharmaceutical industry, being involved in majority of all drug manufacturing. Powder flow and particle size are central particle properties addressed by means of particle engineering. The aim of the thesis was to gain knowledge on powder processing with restricted liquid addition, with a primary focus on particle coating and early granule growth. Furthermore, characterisation of this kind of processes was performed. A thin coating layer of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose was applied on individual particles of ibuprofen in a fluidised bed top-spray process. The polymeric coating improved the flow properties of the powder. The improvement was strongly related to relative humidity, which can be seen as an indicator of a change in surface hydrophilicity caused by the coating. The ibuprofen used in the present study had a d50 of 40 μm and thus belongs to the Geldart group C powders, which can be considered as challenging materials in top-spray coating processes. Ibuprofen was similarly coated using a novel ultrasound-assisted coating method. The results were in line with those obtained from powders coated in the fluidised bed process mentioned above. It was found that the ultrasound-assisted method was capable of coating single particles with a simple and robust setup. Granule growth in a fluidised bed process was inhibited by feeding the liquid in pulses. The results showed that the length of the pulsing cycles is of importance, and can be used to adjust granule growth. Moreover, pulsed liquid feed was found to be of greater significance to granule growth in high inlet air relative humidity. Liquid feed pulsing can thus be used as a tool in particle size targeting in fluidised bed processes and in compensating for changes in relative humidity of the inlet air. The nozzle function of a two-fluid external mixing pneumatic nozzle, typical for small scale pharmaceutical fluidised bed processes, was studied in situ in an ongoing fluidised bed process with particle tracking velocimetry. It was found that the liquid droplets undergo coalescence as they proceed away from the nozzle head. The coalescence was expected to increase droplet speed, which was confirmed in the study. The spray turbulence was studied, and the results showed turbulence caused by the event of atomisation and by the oppositely directed fluidising air. It was concluded that particle tracking velocimetry is a suitable tool for in situ spray characterisation. The light transmission through dense particulate systems was found to carry information on particle size and packing density as expected based on the theory of light scattering by solids. It was possible to differentiate binary blends consisting of components with differences in optical properties. Light transmission showed potential as a rapid, simple and inexpensive tool in characterisation of particulate systems giving information on changes in particle systems, which could be utilised in basic process diagnostics.

Biocompatibility and biofunctionalization of mesoporous silicon particles

Several of the newly developed drug molecules experience poor biopharmaceutical behavior, which hinders their effective delivery at the proper site of action. Among the several strategies employed in order to overcome this obstacle, mesoporous silicon-based materials have emerged as promising drug carriers due to their ability to improve the dissolution behavior of several poorly water-soluble drugs compounds confined within their pores. In addition to improve the dissolution behavior of the drugs, we report that porous silicon (PSi) nanoparticles have a higher degree of biocompatibility than PSi microparticles in several cell lines studied. In addition, the degradation of the nanoparticles showed its potential to fast clearance in the body. After oral delivery, the PSi particles were also found to transit the intestines without being absorbed. These results constituted the first quantitative analysis of the behavior of orally administered PSi nanoparticles compared with other delivery routes in rats. The self-assemble of a hydrophobin class II (HFBII) protein at the surface of hydrophobic PSi particles endowed the particles with greater biocompatibility in different cell lines, was found to reverse their hydrophobicity and also protected a drug loaded within its pores against premature release at low pH while enabling subsequent drug release as the pH increased. These results highlight the potential of HFBII-coating for PSi-based drug carriers in improving their hydrophilicity, biocompatibility and pH responsiveness in drug delivery applications. In conclusion, mesoporous silicon particles have been shown to be a versatile platform for improving the dissolution behavior of poorly water-soluble drugs with high biocompatibility and easy surface modification. The results of this study also provide information regarding the biofunctionalization of the THCPSi particles with a fungal protein, leading to an improvement in their biocompatibility and endowing them with pH responsive and mucoadhesive properties.

Purification of pharmaceuticals and nutraceutical compounds by sub- and supercritical extraction and chromatography

This thesis discusses the use of sub- and supercritical fluids as the medium in extraction and chromatography. Super- and subcritical extraction was used to separate essential oils from herbal plant Angelica archangelica. The effect of extraction parameters was studied and sensory analyses of the extracts were done by an expert panel. The results of the sensory analyses were compared to the analytically determined contents of the extracts. Sub- and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) was used to separate and purify high-value pharmaceuticals. Chiral SFC was used to separate the enantiomers of racemic mixtures of pharmaceutical compounds. Very low (cryogenic) temperatures were applied to substantially enhance the separation efficiency of chiral SFC. The thermodynamic aspects affecting the resolving ability of chiral stationary phases are briefly reviewed. The process production rate which is a key factor in industrial chromatography was optimized by empirical multivariate methods. General linear model was used to optimize the separation of omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters from esterized fish oil by using reversed-phase SFC. Chiral separation of racemic mixtures of guaifenesin and ferulic acid dimer ethyl ester was optimized by using response surface method with three variables per time. It was found that by optimizing four variables (temperature, load, flowate and modifier content) the production rate of the chiral resolution of racemic guaifenesin by cryogenic SFC could be increased severalfold compared to published results of similar application. A novel pressure-compensated design of industrial high pressure chromatographic column was introduced, using the technology developed in building the deep-sea submersibles (Mir 1 and 2). A demonstration SFC plant was built and the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine A was purified to meet the requirements of US Pharmacopoeia. A smaller semi-pilot size column with similar design was used for cryogenic chiral separation of aromatase inhibitor Finrozole for use in its development phase 2.

Luonto, tiede ja teknologia : Kansanvalistuksen Suomi-kuva 1870-1920

Nature, science and technology. The image of Finland through popular enlightenment texts 1870-1920 This doctoral thesis looks at how Finnish popular enlightenment texts published between 1870 and 1920 took part in the process of forming a genuine Finnish national identity. The same process was occurring in other Nordic countries at the time and the process in Finland was in many ways influenced by them, particularly Sweden. In Finland the political realities under Russian rule especially during the Russification years, and the fact that its history was considered to be short compared to other European countries, made this nation-building process unique. The undertaking was led by members of the national elite, influential in the cultural, academic as well as political arenas, who were keen to support the foundation of a modern Finnish identity. The political realities and national philosophy of history necessitated a search for elements of identity in nature and the Finnish landscape, which were considered to have special national importance: Finland was very much determined as a political entity on the basis of its geography and nature. Nature was also used as means of taking a cultural or political view in terms of, for example, geographical facts such as the nation s borders or the country s geographical connections to Western Europe. In the building of a proper national identity the concept of nature was not, however, static, but was more or less affected by political and economic progress in society. This meant that nature, or the image of the national landscape, was no longer seen only as a visual image of the national identity, but also as a source of science, technology and a prosperous future. The role of technology in this process was very much connected to the ability to harness natural resources to serve national interests. The major change in this respect had occurred by the early 20th century, when indisputable scientific progress altered the relationship between nature and technology. Concerning technology, the thesis is mainly interested in the large and at the time modern technological manifestations, such as railways, factories and industrial areas in Finland. Despite the fact that the symbiosis between national nature and international but successfully localized technology was in Finnish popular enlightenment literature depicted mostly as a national success story, concerns began to arise already in last years of the 19th century. It was argued that the emerging technology would eventually destroy Finland s natural environment, and therefore the basis of its national identity. The question was not how to preserve nature through natural science, but more how to conserve such natural resources and images that were considered to be the basis of national identity and thus of the national history. National parks, isolated from technology, and distant enough so as to have no economic value, were considered the solution to the problem. Methodologically the thesis belongs to the genre of science and technology studies, and offers new viewpoints with regard to both the study of Finnish popular enlightenment literature and the national development process as a whole.

Tieteellinen ajattelu yliopisto-opinnoissa : haastattelututkimus psykologian, teologian ja farmasian opiskelijoista

The aim of this dissertation is to explore the academic thinking and personal epistemology of university students. More specifically, the aim is to understand and promote students’ research and academic skills as a central goal of academic studies in the research-intensive university of Helsinki. Two of the four studies examine the personal epistemology of psychology students in different study phases, and the variation in personal epistemology among final-year psychology, theology and pharmacy students. Furthermore, personal epistemology was explored as a phenomenon among the student groups. In the fourth study the individual answers of the students interviewed are investigated in more detail. The main focus is on examining students’ beliefs about the nature of knowledge and knowledge acquisition as a representation of their personal epistemology. Study I presents a model which describes the main elements and aspects of teaching and learning in pharmacy education. Firstly, the meaning of quality of teaching and learning is explored. On the basis of this information, the study concentrates on the pedagogical implications of changing pharmacy teaching to improve the quality of learning. Study II describes the results of a cross-sectional study of psychology students participating in undergraduate and master’s level psychology programmes. The students (N = 53) were interviewed concerning their beliefs about knowledge and knowing, the aim being to explore students’ responses about thinking and reasoning. The results are analysed using content analysis to create categories of personal epistemology and comparisons among the students according to the phase of their studies. Study III examines interdisciplinary differences in final-year psychology, pharmacy and theology students’ (N = 52) academic thinking and personal epistemology. The aims of study IV are to examine and compare the consistency of personal epistemology profiles among university students (N = 87) representing three academic disciplines. The individual answers are examined and rated on a scale from absolutist to evaluativist thinking. On the basis of this data, three personal epistemology profiles are identified: a) absolutist profiles; b) relativistic profiles; and c) evaluativist profiles consisting of the subgroups entitled “limited” and “sophisticated”. The results of the studies clearly demonstrate that personal epistemology varies between students in different age groups, study phases, and disciplines. Three categories, including several subcategories, emerge to describe the personal epistemology of students. Furthermore, three personal epistemology profiles can be identified from the data. The comparison between students reveals interesting differences and similarities among student groups, and developmental trends of personal epistemology.

Koulu, digitaalinen teknologia ja toimivat käytännöt

Artikkelissa tarkastellaan sitä, mitkä seikat liittyvät teknologian innovatiiviseen hyödyntämiseen koulun toiminnassa ja pedagogisissa käytännöissä sekä yleensä koulun kehittymiseen. Tutkimuksen viitekehyksenä toimii ”Innovatiivisen, kehittyvän koulun malli” ja sen teoreettiset lähtökohdat. Aineisto on koottu kuudesta koulusta, ja se koostuu opettajien ja rehtoreiden haastatteluista sekä oppituntien videoinneista. Artikkeliin on koottu parhaita esimerkkejä koulumallin kuvaamien ilmiöiden käytännöistä, jotka aikaisemman tutkimuksen perusteella edistävät koulun kehittämistä ja pedagogisten innovaatioiden leviämistä kouluyhteisössä. Koulujen välillä on suuria eroja yhteisöllisessä kehittämiskulttuurissa, mikä heijastuu myös pedagogisiin käytäntöihin. Uusia ilmiöitä näyttävät olevan koulun tietokäytännöt uuden teknologian keinoin ja oppilaiden informaalin oppimisen kautta opittujen taitojen käyttäminen hyväksi koulussa sekä oppilaiden osallistaminen koulutyöhön muutenkin kuin oppijan roolissa.

Energia-teknologia: taulak eta abakoak

Helburuak: Ikasmaterial honen helburu nagusiak honako hauek dira: Beroaren transmisioa irakasteko behar diren taula, abako eta korrelazio batzuk biltzea, ikasleak ikasturtean zehar irakasgaia hobeto jarrai dezan. Horretaz gain energia-teknologiako beste arlo batzuen (errekuntza, aire hezea eta hozte teknologia) taulak eta abakoak biltzea ere. Gai hauekin erlazionaturiko ariketa multzoa ere ageri da testuan emaitzekin. Norentzat: Industria Ingeniaritzako 4. mailako ikasleentzat. Baita Ingeniaritza Kimikoan Beroaren Transmisioa ikasten dabiltzan 2. mailako ikasleentzat, edota Industria Antolakuntzan bigarren zikloko lehenengo mailako ikasleentzat. 2010-11 ikasturtetik aurrera indarrean egongo diren gradu ikasketetan bigarren mailan irakatsiko den Termoteknia izeneko irakasgaian lagungarria ere izango da.

Teknologia elektrikoa

Helburuak: Sektore elektrikoan gaur egun erabiltzen diren teknologiei buruzko oinarrizko ezagutza bat lortzea. Norentzat: Industria Ingeniaritzako 4. mailako Teknologia Elektrikoa I ikasgaiko ikasleentzat.

Teknologia Elektrikoa I. Laborategiko praktikak

Helburuak: Teknologia Elektrikoa I ikasgaiko edukin teorikoei buruzko laborategiko praktikak burutzea. Norentzat: Teknologia Elektrikoa I ikasgaiko ikasleentzat.

Teknologia berrikuntzen gestioa eta enpresa antolakuntzen aldaketa

Enpresetako zuzendariek, enpresa handi nahiz txiki edo ertainekoek, kontuan izan beharko lukete gehienetan enpresan informazio tekonlogia berriak sartzen direnean antolaketan eta prozesu produktiboan berrantolaketak burutu behar direla %100ean aprobetxatu nahi badira behintzat teknologia berri horien emaitzak.

Osagai eta sistema elektronikoen teknologia

Helburuak: Liburu honetan zehar, osagai, zirkuitu eta sistema elektronikoak gauzatzeko erabiltzen diren teknologiez aritzen gara. Teknologia elektronikoa izugarri garatu da azkeneko berrogei urteotan, batez ere azkeneko bi hamarkadetan, eta ezinezkoa litzateke teknologia elektronikoaren ikuspegi oso eta zabala testuliburu bakarrean ematea. Aldiz, ingeniari elektronikoak osagai elektroniko erabilienen teknologia ulertzeko eta osagaien aukeraketa eta erabilera egokia egiteko beharrezkoak izango dituen ezagutzak testu bakarrean bildu nahi izan ditugu. Norentzat izan daiteke baliagarria: Ingeniaritza elektronikoaren edozein adarretan ikasten ari diren ikasleei zuzenduta dago testu hau batez ere, baina ingeniaritza elektrikoko ikasleentzat ere interesgarria izango delakoan gaude. Bestalde, lanbide heziketan, Elektrizitate eta Elektronika arloan aritzen diren ikasle eta irakasleentzat ere baliogarria izan daiteke kontsultarako testu gisa.

Bigarren hezkuntzarako merkaturaturiko teknologia arloko simulazio-softwareen arteko konparaketa eta azterketa

Bigarren Hezkuntzako Teknologia arloan gai desberdinen azalpena egiten da. Alde batetik DBHn Mekanika, Elektrizitatea, Elektronika eta Automatismo (Elektriko, Elektroniko, Pneumatiko eta Hidraulikoen) eta Programazioaren oinarriak lantzen dira; bestetik Batxilerrean jarraipena ematen zaie gai horiei guztiei. Arlo hauetako edukiak lantzeko era berriak aurkitu beharra dago. Irakaskuntza tradizionala ez da egokia Teknologiaren grina sortzeko ikaslegoaren gehiengo batengan. Aldaketaren beharra ikusten da eta horretarako ezinbestekoa da baliabide digitalen laguntza. Gure ikastetxeetako Hardware baliabide digitalak alde batetik eta gure ikasle guztien smartphone erako sakeleko telefonoak bestetik izango dira aldaketa horren oinarriak. Nolabaiteko sinergia baten beharra dago Hardware baliabide hauen guztien eta Interneten aurki ditzakegun Software baliabideen artean. Hau guztia kontutan edukita, Gradu Amaierako Lan honen helburua, aipatutako gaietara egokitutako, merkatuan aurkitzen diren simulatzaileen azterketa egitea izango da. Baliabide digital hauek sailkatuko dira egun gehien erabiltzen diren sistema eragileak ardatz hartuta. Gaika sailkatuko dira. Gai bakoitzean Kurrikulumean zehaztuta dauden eta erreminta hauen bitartez bete ahalko diren edukiak azalduko dira. Simulatzaile bakoitzari buruzko informazio baliagarria emango da, hala nola, programa nondik deskargatu daitekeen, dohainik den edo ordaindu beharra dagoen eta zenbat, laguntza eskaintzen duen edo ez, eta beste hainbat informazio interesgarri. Azkenik arakatutako simulatzaile guztien artean gai bakoitzerako egokienak direnen aukera egingo da.

II Materialen Zientzia eta Teknologia Kongresua. Donostian, 2014 uztailak 3, 4

Egurra, sua; zura, mahaia; larrua, abarka; artila, galtzerdia; burnia, ardatza; altzairua, iltzea; buztina, teila; porlana, pareta; galipota, kaminoa… Materialak, tresnak. Zenbat aldiz aipatuak Euskal Herriko eguneroko berbeta, hizketa eta solasaldi arruntetan! Harria, herria, zioen Aresti poetak ere. Teknologiaren alorrari dagokionean, materialen gaia gehienbat metalurgiarekin lotu izan zen mundu osoan eta batik bat gure herrian. XX. mendearen hasieran garapen industrialak egundoko bultzada izan zuen, bereziki automobilgintzaren eta hegazkingintzaren hedapenarekin. Halaber, elektrizitatea arras zabaldu zelarik, etxetresnen kontzeptua bera ere aldatu egin zen. Horrela, tresna eta baliabide berriek gizartearen ohituren eta izaera beraren aldaketa sakonak erakarri zituzten. Baina, hori guztia material berriak sortu eta garatzeari zor zitzaion: polimeroak, metal eta zeramika berriak, estaldura sintetikoak, etab. ezinbestekoak bilakatu ziren. Orduan ikusi zen materialek arlo berezi bat merezi zutela zientziaren eremuan. Eta horrela, premiak eraginda, Fisika eta Kimika oinarrizko zientzietatik abiatua eta ingeniaritzaren gorpuzkera sendoaz hornituta, Materialen Zientzia sortu zen. Materialen Zientzia eta Teknologia euskaraz, beranduago etorriko zen. Askoz lehenagokoak dira “Pisia” eta “Kimia”, 1935 inguran Jauregi apaiz karmeldar aitzindariak idatzitako liburuak. Eta gero, iluntasunean bidexka ia ezinezkoak jorratuz, Elhuyar Taldea 1972an, Udako Euskal Unibertsitatea 1973an eta UZEI 1977an sortu ziren; euskara irakaskuntzara, unibertsitatera eta zientziara jalgi zedin. Hurrengo urtetan emaitzak gauzatzen hasiak ziren, bai eta Materialen Zientzia eta Teknologiaren arlo berrian ere. Izan ere, mugarria da, besteen artean, Nafarroako Unibertsitateko Donostiako Goi Mailako Injineru Eskolan 1979an Jon Nazabalek aurkeztu zuen “Zenbait mekanizapen errazeko altzairuren berotako erresistentzia mekanikoa eta duktibilitatea” doktoretzatesia. 1991ko uztailean, Udako Euskal Unibertsitateak “Materialen ezagutza teknika ezberdinen bitartez” topaketa antolatu zuen Iruñean, bertan 30en bat zientzialari euskaldun bildu ginelarik. Gaur egun, Euskal Herrian baditugu hainbat ingeniari, fisikari, kimikari eta biologo euskaldun, Materialen Zientzia eta Teknologia garatzen ari direnak, bai unibertsitate, bai zentro teknologiko eta enpresetan. Pertsona horien interesak, ikuspegiak eta lorpenak euskaraz azaltzeko antolatu zen 2012an Arrasaten Materialen Zientzia eta Teknologia I kongresua, ehunen bat pertsona bilduz. Orain dela bi urte hartutako konpromisoari helduz, eta harian haritik jarraituz, aurten Materialen Zientzia eta Teknologia II kongresua UPV/EHUko Polymat institutuak antolatu du. Aldez aurretik, mila esker dagoeneko parte hartzeko izena eman duten guztiei eta gure esker onenak erakunde laguntzaileei: Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Kutxa, CicNanogune eta Elhuyar. Zientziak eta euskarak elkartzen gaituzte. Eta bietan badago elkartze gune bat: kinka larrian daudela beti. Ez baitago zientziarik zientzialariaren zalantzarik gabe, ez eta euskara euskaldun bakoitzaren nahi pertsonalik barik. Antxon Santamaria, Batzorde Antolatzailearen izenean

Zientzia eta Teknologia Fakultateko III. Ikerkuntza Jardunaldiak ; Enpresa eta Berrikuntza Teknologikoko Zentroen Aurkezpenerako VII. Jardunaldiak

[ES]El objetivo de estas jornadas es, por una parte, mostrar a nuestro alumnado la investigación que llevan a cabo los diferentes grupos de la facultad, de cara a despertar vocaciones investigadoras. Por otro lado, como en otras ocasiones, varias empresas y centros de innovación tecnológica presentarán al alumnado de los últimos cursos las posibilidades y los requisitos para su incorporación al mundo laboral

Zientzia eta Teknologia Fakultateko IV. Ikerkuntza Jardunaldiak

[EU]I. Abstracts. Ahozko komunikazioak 1. Biozientziak: Alderdi Molekularrak 2. Biozientziak: Ingurune Alderdiak. 3. Fisika eta Ingenieritza Elektronika 4. Geología 5. Matematika 6. Kimika 7. Ingenieritza Kimikoa eta Kimika II. Abstracts. Idatzizko Komunikazioak (Posterrak) 1. Biozientziak 2. Fisika eta Ingenieritza Elektronika 3. Geologia 4. Matematika 5. Kimika 6. Ingenieritza Kimikoa