Team for Physicochemistry of Interfacial Phenomena

Head of the team Dr. Sci., Prof. Babak Valery Georgievich

The laboratory was founded in 1994 at the Institute of Food Substances of Russian Academy of Sciences. In 1996 it became a division of INEOS.

THE LIST OF CO-WORKERS OF THE TEAM

Main fields of activity

Study of the interfacial layers of polymers, surfactants and surfactant-polymer complexes for the purposes of controlling steric stabilisation, structure formation and adhesion in polymer containing disperse systems (suspensions, emulsions, foams) involved in different technological processes.

Colloid aspects of micro- and nano-encapsulation of bioactive substances.

Main achievements for 3 last years:

The interfacial properties and the structure of adsorption layers of polysaccharides (hydrosoluble derivatives of chitin and chitosan, alginates, etc.), hydrophobically modified by the covalent binding of the alkyl chains, and their complexes with oppositely charged ionic surfactants have been studied. The understanding was achieved of the role of the hydrophobic interaction between the alkyl chains and of the electrostatic interaction between the ionised functional groups of the components in the processes of the aggregation (micellisation) in the bulk of aqueous solutions and at the interface, as well as in the stabilisation of emulsion, foams, and dispersions.

The formation and the structure-mechanical properties of the physical gel of surfactant-polyelectrolyte complexes by the frontal diffusion of surfactant molecules into aqueous solution of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes have been studied. It has been shown the possibility of the microencapsulation of proteins and enzymes into these physical gels.

Projects and grants

1. INTAS project N 96-1193 (1997-2000) "Associating polyelectrolytes: theory and application for hydrophobically modified polysaccharides"
2. Grant RFFI N 01-03-32215 (2001-2002). "Brush like derivatives of chitin" (in collaboration with the Laboratory of Heterochain Polymers)
3. INTAS project N 00-500 (2001-2003). "New approaches to the study of the associating ionic polysaccharides".

Cooperation with Russian and Foreign Partners

• Chair of Physics of Polymers and Crystallography (head, academician RAS, .A.R.Khokhlov), Physical Faculty of Moscow State University - interfacial properties of associating ionic polysaccharides.
• Laboratory for Heterochain Polymers (head, Prof. V.A.Vasnev), A.Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences - interfacial properties of brush like chitin derivatives, properties of "star-like" fluorinated surfactants.
• Laboratory for Physiologically Active (Bio)Polymers (head, Prof.I.A.Yamskov), A.Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences - properties of physical gels from surfactant/polysaccharide complexes
• Laboratory for Fluoroorganic Compounds (head, Prof. G.G.Belen'ky), A.Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences - synthesis and properties of new nonionic fluorinated surfactants.
• Laboratory for Biopolymers (head, Prof. V.P.Zubov, Dr. E.A.Markvicheva), Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science - synthesis of new thermo- and magneto sensitive capsules; properties of Langmuir monolayers of surfactant/polyelectrolyte complexes.
• CERMAV CNRS (Prof. M.Rinaudo, coordinator of the INTAS project), Grenoble, France - properties of associating polysaccharides (1998-2003).
• Laboratoire Physico - Chimie des Colloïdes (directeur Dr. M.-J.Stebe), Faculte des Sciences, Universite Henri Poincare, Nancy, France - properties of highly concentrated emulsions (2000-2002).
• UPRES EA 2169 "Vectorisation Particulaire" (Directeur, Prof. J.-P.Benoit, Dr. F.Boury), Faculte de Pharmacie, Universite d'Angers, France - interfacial properties of Gibbs and Langmuir monolayers of some biocompatible polymers in connection with the problem of microencapsulation of proteins (2001).
• Laboratoire de Pharmacie Galenique (directeur, Prof. Ph. Maincent), Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Université Henri Poincaré, Nancy, France - controlled release from micro- and nanoencapsules of biologically active substances (2000-2002).

Current Publications:

1. Babak V.G., Stébé M.-J. A Review on Highly Concentrated Emulsions: Physicochemical Principles of Formulation. J. Dispersion Sci. and Technol. (special P.Becher issue) , . 2002. N 1/2 (in press).
2. Babak V.G. Foams. Colloid Aspects of Formulation and Properties.
   In: "Les mousses : moussage et demoussage". (Ed. S. Lagerge). Monpellier: EDP Science, 2002 (in press).
3. Babak V.G. Colloid Properties of Chitin and Chitosan Derivatives. Theory and Practical Application. In: "Chitin, Chitosan. Properties and Application". Moscow: Nauka, 2001 (in Russian, sent to the editor).
4. Babak V.G., Chernycheva Yu.A., Kildeeva N.R., Myagkov I.V., Kosobrodova E.A., Boury F., Maincent P. Stability of o/w nano-emulsions of methylene chloride solutions of some biocompatible polymers in connection with interfacial properties of their adsorption layers, Langmuir (prepared for publication).

Main publications for the last 3 years :

1. Babak V.G. Stabilization of Emulsion Films and Emulsions by Surfactant-Polyelectrolyte Complexes. In: Food Colloids : Fundamentals of Formulation, E.Dickinson and R.Miller, Eds., Royal Soc. of Chemistry, Cambridge, 2001, p. 91-102.
2. Babak V.G., Langenfeld A., Fa N., Stebe M.J. Rheological Properties of Highly Concentrated Fluorinated Water-in-Oil Emulsions. Prog. Colloid Polym Sci. 2001, Vol.118, p. 216-220.
3. Babak V.G., E.A. Skotnikova, I.G.Lukina, S.Pelletier, P.Hubert, E.Dellacherie. Hydrophobically-associating alginate derivatives: surface tension properties of their aqueous solutions with oppositely-charged surfactants. J.Colloid Interface Sci. 2000, Vol.225, 505-510
4. Babak V.G., Merkovich E.A., Desbrières J., Rinaudo M. Formation of an ordered nanostructure in surfactant-polyelectrolyte complexes formed by interfacial diffusion. Polymer Bulletin, 2000, Vol.45, 77-81.
5. Babak V.G., Kildeeva N.R., Merkovich E.A., Desbrières J., Rinaudo M. Colloid Properties of Complexes between Chitin Derivatives and Surfactants: Fundamentals and Applications. Proc. Conf. Polymerix 2000. Biopolymers: Food and Cosmetic Applications, CBB Developement, Rennes, France, 2000, p. 27-38.
6. Poncelet D., Babak V.G., Neufeld R.J., Goosen M.F.A., Burgarski B. Theory of Electrostatic Dispersion of Polymer Solutions in the Production of Microgel Beads Containing Biocatalyst. Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 1999, Vol. 79, 213-228.
7. Poncelet D., Babak V.G., Dulieu C., Picot A. A physicochemical approach to production of alginate beads by emulsification-internal ionotropic gelation. Colloids and Surfaces A. Physico-chemical and Engineering Aspects. 1999, Vol. 155, 171-176.
8. Babak V.G. Review. Generalized line tension theory revisited. Colloids and Surfaces. A. Physico-chemical and Engineering Aspects (special A. Neumann issue). 1999, Vol. 156, 423-448.
9. Babak V.G., Lukina I.G., Vikhoreva G.A., Desbrières J., Rinaudo M. Interfacial properties of dynamic association between chitin derivatives and surfactants. Colloids and Surfaces. A. Physico-chemical and Engineering Aspects. 1999, Vol. 147, 139-148
10. Gref R., Babak V.G., Bouillot P., Lukina I., Bodorev M., Dellacherie E. Interfacial and emulsion properties of amphiphilic water-soluble poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lastic acid) dibloc copolymers for fabrication of biocompatible nanoparticles. Coloids & Surfaces. A. Physico-chemical and Engineering Aspects. 1998, Vol. 143, N 2-3, 413-420.
11. Babak V.G. Thin liquid films. In: Russian Physical Encyclopaedia, Moscow: Encyclopaedia, 1998, Vol.5, pp.121-131 (in Russian).
12. Babak V.G. Review. Thermodynamics of plane-parallel liquid films. Colloids and Surfaces. A. Physico-chemical and Engineering Aspects (special H.Sonntag issue). 1998, Vol.142, N 2-3, 135-153.

Participation in the Conferences ( 2001)

1. 28^th Int. Symp. On Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials, San Diego, California, USA Babak V.G., Kildeeva N.R. The Production of Chitosan-Surfactant Complex Gel Capsules for Enzyme Delivery (poster).
2. Int. Conf. Formula III. New Concepts and Strategies in Formulation: From Laboratory to Industry:
   • Babak V.G., Stebe M.J. Highly Concentrated Emulsions. Basic Physicochemical Principles of Formulation and Control of Functional Properties (oral presentation);
   • Babak V.G., Chernycheva Yu.V., Boury F., Malzert A., Benoit J.P., Ulbrich N., Maincent Ph. Microparticulate Systems to Sustained Delivery of Proteins. Physicochemical Principles of Fromulation (poster);
   • Babak V.G., Kildeeva N.R., Merkovich E.A., Rinaudo M. Formulation of Enzyme Delivery Systems on the Basis of Chitosan-Surfactant Physical Gel Complexes (poster).
3. 3^rd International Symposium on Chitin Enzymology and4^th Conference of the European Chitin Society, Senigallia (Ancona), Italy:
   • Babak V.G., Kildeeva N.R., Merkovich E.A., Rinaudo M. Formation of Enzyme Delivery Systems from Chitosan-Surfactant Physical Gel Complexes (poster);
   • Babak V.G., Merkovich E.A., Carruette M.-L., Galbraikh L.S., Vikhoreva G.A., Kim V.E. Viscosimetric study of the initial stage of gelation kinetics in the mixed chitosan-glutaraldehyde solutions (poster).
4. 6th Conference "New Achievements in the Study of Chitin and Chitosan", Moscow-Shchelkovo
   • Babak V.G., Rinaudo M. Colloid properties of complexes between the derivatives of chitin and the surfactants: theory and practical applications (oral presentation)
   • Kildeeva N.R., Babak V.G., Merkovich E.A., Tchesnokova O.Ya., et al. The inclusion of enzymes into the envelopes of the chitosan-surfactant complexes (oral presentation).