Experimental and Simulation Study of Curcumin Nanoemulsion Preparation Using Low Pressure Input in Microfluidic Technique
Zubaidah Ningsih1a, Sulastri1, Andri Saputra1, Ken Nahel Falsaveta1, Budi Kamulyan1, Agus Choiron2, Muhammad Syafa Adana2

1 Chemistry Depatment Faculty of Science, Universitas Brawijaya Malang Indonesia
2 Mechanical Engineering Department Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Brawijaya Malang Indonesia
a corresponding author : zubaidah[at]ub.ac.id

Abstract

Nanoemulsion is a system of colloidal particle which urges the rapid
development of delivery system for bioactive substance and drugs. Microfluidization is one of the methods that is often use in the formation of nanoemulsion. This study aims to compare two microfluidic design effectiveness in nanoemulsion production using low pressure input, 70 and 100 Psi. Two designs applied are Y-Z combination and multiple Y-Z combination. Nanoemulsion characteristics compared are particles size and polydispersity index which are measured using Particles Size Analyzer applying Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) Techique. The morphology of the system is observed using digital light microscope. Simulation of fluid pressure and flow rate inside microfluidic channel is conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamic applying Ansys software. After 1-hour microfluidization using multiple Y-Z combination design at 70 Psi pressure, particle size obtained was 144 nm with polydispersity index of 0,212. Meanwhile, using Y-Z combination design at 100 Psi pressure, particle size obtained after 1 hour process was 135 nm with polydispersity index of 0,227. Comparing these results, multiple Y-Z microfluidics design is capable of producing similar particle size and polydispersity index with Y-Z combination design using lower pressure. The modeling results show that the velocity is increasing while the pressure is decreasing from the inlet to the outlet. The velocity increase is 400% and 500% and the pressure decreases by 99% and 90% in the Y-Z combination and multiple Y-Z combination designs respectively. In the multiple Y-Z combination design, there are more turns and space for interaction between the nanoemulsion components, thus, it is possible to increase the probability of rearrangement of the nanoemulsion components. Hence, the particle size is smaller even though the initial pressure applied is lower.

Keywords: microfluidic, Y-Z design, simulation, fluid pressure, flow rate, nanoemulsion

Topic: Physical Chemistry