Microcrystalline cellulose suspensions: effects on the surface tension at the air-water boundary

In the light of the recent clinical employment of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as a pharmaceutical device, in the present work the changes in surface tension caused by the addition of MCC powders to aqueous solutions have been studied. Further, analyses to give a preliminary characterization the soluble solute, considered the responsible of the surface tension changes, have also been performed. The Wilhelmy plate technique has been employed for the surface tension determinations, while for the characterization of the solute polymerization degree, elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and conductivity measurements have been performed. The obtained results are preliminary discussed in the light of the clinical evidence. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.