Dynamic mechanical analysis of polymeric systems of pharmaceutical and biomedical significance.
Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is an analytical technique in which an oscillating stress is applied to a sample and the resultant strain measured as functions of both oscillatory frequency and temperature. From this, a comprehensive knowledge of the relationships between the various viscoelastic parameters, e.g. storage and loss moduli, mechanical damping parameter (tan delta), dynamic viscosity, and temperature may be obtained. An introduction to the theory of DMA and pharmaceutical and biomedical examples of the use of this technique are presented in this concise review. In particular, examples are described in which DMA has been employed to quantify the storage and loss moduli of polymers, polymer damping properties, glass transition temperature(s), rate and extent of curing of polymer systems, polymer-polymer compatibility and identification of sol-gel transitions. Furthermore, future applications of the technique for the optimisation of the formulation of pharmaceutical and biomedical systems are discussed.
School of Pharmacy, The Queen's University of Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
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Jones
D004548:Elasticity; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity
D005782:Gels; D011108:Polymers