Development of an inhaler for medical purposes and nicotine

Description
On behalf of Severus Patent AG, an inhaler in cigarette format was developed that continuously releases volatile substances such as nicotine, cannabidiol or pharmaceutical products into the inhaled air.

For this purpose, mesoporous inorganic particles with a high absorption capacity of liquid or solid active ingredients were sintered together with submillimeter-sized plastic particles in a suitable filter shape. These filters were loaded with active ingredients and aromas, which were effectively released when air was sucked through.

However, substances with low vapor pressure, such as nicotine, are not released into the air in sufficient quantities at room temperature. We solved this problem by heating the filter using an aluminum sleeve with our fingers, which almost doubles the nicotine concentration in the air sucked through.

For an even stronger release of the active ingredient, we also developed a small, battery-operated heater that can also be accommodated in the usual cigarette format and releases a defined higher concentration of volatile active ingredient at a constantly adjustable temperature.

Partner

• Severus Patent AG, Rotkreuz, Switzerland

Reference

LbL functionalization of chromatography materials

Description
separations in modern chromatography, core-shell particles are used in which only the thin shell is mesoporous and is used for separation. Such particles have been developed using LbL technology. Another strategy is the use of porous monoliths, which have also been surface-functionalized using LbL technology.

Partner

• Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
• Dr. Maisch HPLC GmbH, Ammerbuch, Germany

LbL coating of depth filters

Description
So-called depth filters are used for immobilization or separation of specific substances or for catalytic reactions during the passage of solutions.

It was investigated whether LbL technology can be used for the effective immobilization of biocatalysts or scavenger molecules.

Partner

• Sartorius AG, Göttingen, Germany

Reference

• Sarah Schreiber, Axel Thiefes, Ute Schuldt, Lars Dähne, Uwe T. Bornscheuer, Thomas Scheper, Sascha Beutel ”New Application of Depth Filters for the Immobilization of Candida Antarctica lipase B” Appl. Microbiol Biotechnol. (2016) doi: 10.1007/s00253-016-7764-5

Adsorber particles enzyme technology

Description
In order to separate and reuse expensive enzymes, these were to be applied to various particles.

This was carried out both electrostatically with the LbL coating and covalently.

For some enzymes in combination with specific adsorber materials from Süd-Chemie, high activities were found even after several cycles of catalysis and recovery.

For other enzymes, immobilization was only possible with a very high loss of activity.

Partner

• Süd-Chemie AG (now part of Clariant AG), München, Germany

Production of indicator capsules for the breaking strength of glass adhesive joints

Description
In today's glass construction technology, flexible silicone adhesives are used for most joining techniques. If these adhesive joints are mechanically overstressed, hairline cracks occur, which greatly reduce the durability of the structures.

In order to detect these hairline cracks from the outside, dyes dissolved in a solvent were enclosed in microcapsules with a defined breaking strength. In the dissolved state, the dyes showed no fluorescence, whereas after escaping from cracked capsules and evaporation of the solvent, the dried dye showed blue fluorescence under UV excitation.

Damage to the adhesive joint could therefore be easily detected using a UV lamp.

Partner

• Sika AG, Baar, Schwitzerland
• University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany
• Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e. V., Dresden, Germany
• Glasbau Pritz GmbH, Engelskirchen, Germany
• Verrotec GmbH, Mainz, Germany

Reference

• C Koch, A Müller, M Kahlmeyer, T Riske, I Melnyk, L Dähne, D Kaden, M Baitinger, A Fery and S Böhm, Mechanically induced dye-release from polyurea microcapsules in a rubbery adhesive, 2023 Smart Mater. Struct. 32 085024, doi: 10.1088/1361-665X/ace393