Patent Application
20120318677
The present invention relates to a surface treatment method for fluid dispenser devices.
Fluid dispenser devices are well known. They may comprise: one or more reservoirs; a dispenser member, such as a pump, a valve, or a piston that is movable in the reservoir; and a dispenser head that is provided with a dispenser orifice. The dispenser devices generally include component parts that are made out of various materials. Thus, the reservoir may be made out of plastics or synthetic material, out of glass, or out of metal. Various parts, such as pistons or gaskets, may be made out of flexible plastics materials such as elastomers. Other parts, e.g. crimping caps, springs, or valve-forming balls, are generally made out of metal. In particular in the pharmaceutical field, any risk of interaction between the fluid to be dispensed and the various materials may be harmful to said fluid. The interactions may include molecules of the materials leaching into the fluid. For example, the interactions may degrade certain active principles, such as hormones, peptides, or enzymes, in particular in nasal-spray devices.
All existing surface treatment methods present drawbacks. Thus, certain methods are suitable for use only on plane surfaces. Other methods impose a limited choice of substrate, e.g. gold. Polymerizing molecules by plasma is complex and costly, and the coating layer obtained is difficult to control and presents problems of aging. Likewise, polymerizing molecules by ultraviolet radiation is also complex and costly, and functions only with photosensitive molecules. The same applies for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) that is also complex and costly. Finally, electrografting methods are complex and require support surfaces that are conductive.
An object of the present invention is to propose a surface treatment method that avoids the above-mentioned drawbacks.
In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a surface treatment method that is effective, long-lasting, non-polluting, and simple to perform.
The present invention thus provides a treatment method for treating the surface of a fluid dispenser device, said method comprising the step of using chemical grafting to form a thin film on at least one support surface of at least one component part that is in contact with said fluid, said thin film preventing interactions between said fluid and said component part.
In an advantageous implementation, said grafting step comprises putting said surface that is in contact with the fluid into contact with a solution that includes at least one adhesive primer, said adhesive primer being a cleavable aryl salt, and at least one monomer or polymer selected from the group constituted by vinyl- or acrylic-terminated siloxanes and vinyl or acrylic monomers.
Advantageously, said chemical grafting creates covalent bonds between the molecules of said thin film and said support surface. This creates a strong and long-lasting connection.
Advantageously, said chemical grafting is performed in an aqueous medium. This makes it possible to use chemistry that is non-polluting or green and that does not present any risk to the environment.
In an implementation, the cleavable aryl salt is selected from the group constituted by: aryl diazonium salts; aryl ammonium salts; aryl phosphonium salts; aryl sulfonium salts; and aryl iodonium salts.
The cleavable aryl salts are selected from compounds of general formula ArN2+, X− in which Ar represents the aryl group and X− represents an anion. The aryl group in an organic compound is a functional group derived from an aromatic ring.
In an implementation, X− anions are selected from: inorganic anions such as halides, such as I—, Cl—, and Br—; halogenoborates such as tetrafluoroborate; and organic anions such as alcoholates, carboxylates, perchlorates, and sulfonates.
In an implementation, the aryl groups Ar are selected from possibly mono- or poly-substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic groups constituted by one or more aromatic rings of 3 to 8 carbons. The heteroatoms of the heteroaromatic compounds are selected from N, O, P, and S. The substituents may contain alkyl groups and one or more heteroatoms such as N, O, F, Cl, P, Si, Br, or S.
In an implementation, the aryl groups are selected from: aryl groups substituted by attractor groups such as NO2; COH; CN; CO2H; ketones; esters; amines; and halogens.
In an implementation, the aryl groups are selected from the group constituted by: phenyl and nitrophenyl groups.
In an implementation, the cleavable aryl salt is selected from the group constituted by: phenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate; 4-nitrophenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate; 4-bromophenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate; 4-aminophenyldiazonium chloride; 4-aminomethylphenyldiazonium chloride; 2-methyl-4-chlorophenyldiazonium chloride; 4-benzoylbenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate; 4-cyanophenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate; 4-carboxyphenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate; 4-acetamidophenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate; 4-phenylacetic acid diazonium tetrafluoroborate; 2-methyl-4-[(2-methylphenyl)diazenyl]benzenediazonium sulfate; 9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydro-1-anthracenediazonium chloride; 4-nitronaphtalenediazonium tetrafluoroborate; and naphtalenediazonium tetrafluoroborate.
In an implementation, the cleavable aryl salt is selected from the group constituted by: 4-nitrophenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate; 4-aminophenyldiazonium chloride; 2-methyl-4-chlorophenyldiazonium chloride; and 4-carboxyphenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate.
In an implementation, the cleavable aryl salt concentration lies in the range 5×10−3 molar (M) to 10−1 M.
In an implementation, the cleavable aryl salt concentration is about 5×10−2 M.
In an implementation, the cleavable aryl salt is prepared in situ.
Advantageously, said chemical-grafting step is initiated by chemically activating a diazonium salt so as to form an anchor layer for said thin film.
Advantageously, said chemical-grafting step is initiated by chemical activation.
In an implementation, said chemical activation is initiated by the presence of a reducing agent in the solution.
In an implementation, the solution comprises a reducing agent.
The term “reducing agent” means a compound that donates electrons during a redox reaction. In an aspect of the present invention, the reducing agent presents a redox potential difference relative to the redox potential of the cleavable aryl salt, that lies in the range 0.3 volts (V) to 3 V.
In an aspect of the invention, the reducing agent is selected from the group constituted by: reducing metals that are possibly finely divided, such as iron, zinc, or nickel; a metal salt that is possibly in the form of a metallocene; and an organic reducing agent such as hypophosphorus acid, or ascorbic acid.
In an implementation, the reducing agent concentration lies in the range 0.005 M to 2 M.
In an implementation, the reducing agent concentration is about 0.6 M.
In an implementation, said thin film has a thickness that is less than 1 micrometer (μm), and that lies in the range 10 angstroms (Å) to 2000 Å, advantageously lies in the range 10 Å to 800 Å, preferably lies in the range 400 Å to 1000 Å. No conventional coating technique makes it possible to obtain chemically-grafted layers that are as thin.
The term “vinyl- or acrylic-terminated siloxane” means a saturated silicon and oxygen hydride that is formed with straight or branched chains of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms and including terminating vinyl or acrylic motifs.
In an implementation, vinyl- or acrylic-terminated siloxanes are selected from the group constituted by: vinyl- or acrylic-terminated polyalkylsiloxanes such as vinyl- or acrylic-terminated polymethylsiloxane; vinyl- or acrylic-terminated polydimethylsiloxane such as polydimethylsiloxane-acrylate (PDMS-acrylate); vinyl- or acrylic-terminated polyarylsiloxanes such as vinyl- or acrylic-terminated polyphenylsiloxane such as polyvinylphenylsiloxane; and vinyl- or acrylic-terminated polyarylalkylsiloxanes such as vinyl- or acrylic-terminated polymethylphenylsiloxane.
In an implementation, the vinyl or acrylic monomer is selected from the group constituted by: vinyl acetate; acrylonitrile; methacrylonitrile; methyl methacrylate; ethyl methacrylate; butyl methacrylate; propyl methacrylate; hydroxyethyl methacrylate; hydroxpropyl methacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; and derivatives thereof; acrylamides such as aminoethyl methacrylamides, propyl, butyl, pentyl, and hexyl; cyanoacrylates; diacrylates; dimethacrylates; triacrylates; trimethacrylates; tetraacrylates; tetramethacrylates; styrene and its derivatives; parachlorostyrene; pentafluorostyrene; N-vinyl pyrrolidone; 4-vinyl pyridine; 2-vinyl pyridine; vinyl, acryloyl, and methacryloyl halides; divinylbenzene.
In an implementation, a potential difference is applied in said solution.
The term “potential difference” means the redox potential difference measured between two electrodes.
In an implementation, the potential difference is applied by a generator that is connected to two electrodes that are identical or different and that are dipped in the solution during the dipping step.
In an implementation, the electrodes are selected from: stainless steel; steel; nickel; platinum; gold; silver; zinc; iron; and copper; in pure form or in alloy form.
In an implementation, the electrodes are made of stainless steel.
In an implementation, the potential difference applied by a generator lies in the range 0.1 V to 2 V.
In an implementation, it is about 0.7 V.
In an implementation, the potential difference is generated by a chemical cell.
The term “chemical cell” means a cell that is made up of two electrodes that are interconnected via an ionic bridge. In the present invention, the two electrodes are selected appropriately for the potential difference to lie in the range 0.1 V to 2.5 V.
In an implementation, the chemical cell is created between two different electrodes that are dipped in the solution.
In an implementation, the electrodes are selected from: nickel; zinc; iron; copper; and silver; in pure form or in alloy form.
In an implementation, the potential difference generated by the chemical cell lies in the range 0.1 V to 1.5 V.
In an implementation, the potential difference is about 0.7 V.
In an implementation, the electrodes are chemically isolated so as to avoid any contact between the substrate that is immersed in the bath of step b) and the electrodes that are also dipped in the bath of step b).
In a variant implementation, said component part, in particular a crimping cap, a spring, or a valve-forming ball, is made out of metal.
In a variant implementation, said component part, in particular a piston or a gasket, is made out of a flexible material such as an elastomer.
In a variant implementation, said component part is made out of a synthetic material such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
In a variant implementation, said component part, in particular a reservoir, is made out of glass.
Advantageously, the method further comprises the step of using chemical grafting to form at least one additional thin film on said support surface.
Advantageously, the method comprises the step of using chemical grafting to form a first additional thin film on said support surface, said first additional thin film preventing interactions between said support surface and said fluid.
Advantageously, the method comprises the step of using chemical grafting to form a second additional thin film on said support surface, said second additional thin film limiting friction between two component parts that move relative to each other while the fluid dispenser device is being actuated.
In a first variant, said at least one additional thin film is deposited on said support surface during at least one successive chemical-grafting step, each step being performed in a single-component bath.
In a second variant, said at least one additional thin film is deposited on said support surface simultaneously during a single chemical-grafting step in a multi-component bath.
Advantageously, said fluid is a pharmaceutical for spraying, in particular in nasal or oral manner.
More particularly, the present invention makes provision for using a method similar to the method described in document WO 2008/078052, which describes a method of preparing an organic film on the surface of a solid support under non-electrochemical conditions.
Surprisingly, that type of method turns out to be suitable for forming a thin film on surfaces for coming into contact with a pharmaceutical fluid in dispenser devices, so as to prevent interactions with said fluid. Such an application of that grafting method has not previously been envisaged.
To summarize, the method seeks to prepare a thin film, that may be made out of various materials, such as hard plastics, soft plastics, metal, or glass, on the surface of a support. The method mainly comprises putting said support surface into contact with a liquid solution. The liquid solution includes at least one solvent and at least one adhesive primer, enabling radical entities to be formed from the adhesive primer.
The “thin film” may be any polymeric film, in particular of organic nature, e.g. resulting from a plurality of units of organic chemical species, and bonded in covalent manner to the surface of the support on which the method is performed. In particular, it is a film that is bonded in covalent manner to the surface of a support, and that includes at least one layer of structural units of similar nature. Depending on the thickness of the film, its cohesion is provided by covalent bonds that develop between the various units.
The solvent used in the context of the method may be of protic or aprotic nature. It is preferable for the primer to be soluble in said solvent.
The term “protic solvent” means a solvent that includes at least one hydrogen atom that is capable of being released in the form of a proton. The protic solvent may be selected from the group constituted by: water; deionized water; optionally-acidified distilled water; acetic acid; hydroxylated solvents such as methanol and ethanol; liquid glycols of small molecular weight such as ethyleneglycol; and mixtures thereof. In a first variant, the protic solvent is constituted solely by a protic solvent or by a mixture of different protic solvents. In another variant, the protic solvent or the mixture of protic solvents may be mixed with at least one aprotic solvent, it being understood that the resulting mixture should present the characteristics of a protic solvent. Acidified water is the preferred protic solvent, and more particularly, acidified distilled water or acidified deionized water.
The term “aprotic solvent” means a solvent that is considered as not being protic. Under non-extreme conditions, such solvents are not suitable for releasing a proton or for accepting one. The aprotic solvent is advantageously selected from: dimethylformamide (DMF); acetone; and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
The term “adhesive primer” corresponds to any organic molecule that is suitable, under certain conditions, for chemisorbing onto the support surface by a radical reaction, such as radical chemical grafting. Such molecules include at least a functional group that is suitable for reacting with a radical, and also a reactive function that reacts with another radical after chemiabsorption. Thus, after grafting a first molecule to the surface of the support, the molecules are capable of forming a polymeric film, and then of reacting with other molecules that are present in its environment.
The term “radical chemical grafting” refers, in particular, to the use of molecular entities that possess an unpaired electron in order to form bonds with a surface of the covalent-bond type, said molecular entities being generated independently of the support surface onto which they are to be grafted. Thus, the radical reaction leads to covalent bonds being formed between the support surface under consideration and the derivative of the grafted adhesive primer, and then between a grafted derivative and molecules that are present in its environment.
The term “derivative of the adhesive primer” means a chemical unit resulting from the adhesive primer, after said adhesive primer has reacted by radical chemical grafting, in particular with the surface of the support, or with another radical. To the person skilled in the art, it is clear that the function that is reactive with another radical after chemiabsorption of the derivative of the adhesive primer is different from the function involved in the covalent bonding, in particular with the surface of the support. Advantageously, the adhesive primer is a cleavable aryl salt selected from the group constituted by: aryl diazonium salts; aryl ammonium salts; aryl phosphonium salts; aryl sulfonium salts; and aryl iodonium salts.
As a variant to direct covalent bonds on the support surface, as obtained in an aqueous medium, it is also possible to use a method of impregnating a porous layer that has previously been grafted.
In an advantageous implementation of the invention, chemical grafting is used to form at least one additional thin film on a single support surface, so as to give at least one other property to the support surface. Thus, the fluid for dispensing may tend to stick to a surface with which it is in contact, and this may, in particular, have a harmful effect on the reproducibility of the dispensed dose. The invention advantageously makes provision for using chemical grafting to form a first additional thin film that prevents the fluid from sticking to the support surface. Advantageously, it is also possible to envisage using chemical grafting to apply a second additional thin film, so as to give a third property to the support surface. For example, in fluid dispenser devices, certain parts move relative to others, and jamming resulting from friction is likely to prevent the device from operating properly. The invention advantageously makes provision for using chemical grafting to form a second additional thin film that limits the amount of friction between two component parts that move relative to each other during actuation. The additional thin films may be applied during successive chemical-grafting steps. Each chemical-grafting step may then be performed in a single-component bath. It should be observed that the successive chemical-grafting steps may be performed in any order. In a variant, the additional thin films may alternatively be applied during a single chemical-grafting step that is thus performed in a multi-component bath. A combination of the two variants may also be envisaged.
The present invention applies to multidose devices, such as devices having a pump or a valve mounted on a reservoir, and that are actuated so as to dispense successive doses. It also applies to multidose devices that include a plurality of individual reservoirs, each containing a dose of fluid, such as pre-dosed powder inhalers. It also applies to uni-dose or bi-dose devices in which a piston moves directly in a reservoir on each actuation. In particular, the invention applies to nasal or oral spray devices, to opthalmic dispenser devices, and to needle devices of the syringe type.
The invention also provides the use of a grafting method of the invention in order to treat at least one surface of at least one component part of a fluid dispenser device that is in contact with said fluid, so as to prevent interactions between said fluid and said component part.
The following examples were performed in a glass vessel. Unless indicated to the contrary, they were performed under normal temperature and pressure conditions (about 23° C. under about 1 atmosphere (atm)) in ambient air. Unless mentioned to the contrary, the reagents used were obtained directly on the market without additional purification. The samples made of steel were subjected beforehand to an UV-ozone treatment for 10 minutes at ambient temperature.
The term “pump” means a fluid dispenser device that is actuated manually, and that includes a pump body in which one or more pistons slide.
Sodium dodecyl sulfate (0.283 grams (g), 0.5×10−3 moles (mol)) was dissolved in 33 milliliters (mL) of milliQ (mQ) water, then the butyl methacrylate (0.711 g, 5×10−3 mol) was added and made into emulsion under strong magnetic stirring.
4-aminobenzoic acid (0.686 g, 7.5×10−3 mol) was dissolved in a solution of hydrochloric acid (1.9 mL in 30 mL of mQ water) and of hypophosphorus acid (3.2 mL, 3.1×10−2 mol). That solution was added to the BUMA emulsion.
To that emulsion there were added a solution of NaNO2 (0.328 g, 4.8×10−3 mol) in 30 mL of mQ water, then the 316L stainless-steel ball and spring samples of the pump.
After 30 minutes of reaction, the samples were removed, then rinsed successively in an aqueous solution of Palmolive washing-up liquid at 10% under magnetic stirring at 40° C., applying a jet of this solution at 10%, mQ water bath, then dried under nitrogen.
Analysis by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) (Hyperion) of a ball confirmed the grafting. The specific bands at 1716 per centimeter (cm−1) of a BUMA film were present.
The effectiveness of the grafting on the samples was verified by a passivation test. To do that, 100 g of sample were mineralized in a solution of hydrochloric acid at 0.1 M for 15 hours (h) at 40° C. 2 mL of that solution was taken. The pH was adjust to 3.5 by means of a solution of sodium acetate at 250 grams per liter (g/L). 1 mL of a solution of 1,10-phenanthroline was added to verify the presence of iron ions (red in color).
Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (0.849 g, 1.5×10−2 mol) was dissolved in 100 mL of mQ water. Vinyl-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (3 g at 10 g/L) was added, then the mixture was stirred magnetically so as to form an emulsion.
4-aminobenzoic acid (2.058 g, 2.25×10−2 mol) was dissolved in a solution of hydrochloric acid (5.8 mL in 90 mL of mQ water) and of hypophosphorus acid (9.7 mL, 50%). That solution was added to the PDMS emulsion.
To that solution there were added 90 mL of an aqueous solution of NaNO2 (0.984 g, 1.44×10−2 mol), and then the 316L stainless-steel balls and springs.
After 30 minutes of reaction, the samples were removed, then rinsed successively in a solution of Palmolive washing-up liquid at 10% under ultrasound stirring at 40° C., applying a jet of this solution at 10%, water bath, then dried under nitrogen.
The treated samples also successfully passed the passivation test, and the results obtained are summarized in the following table:
The strips were washed in ethanol, under ultrasound (power at 100 watts (W), temperature at 40° C.) for 5 minutes.
The biphasic solution was prepared in two stages. The following were added to a beaker (1), in order and under magnetic stirring (at 300 revolutions per minute (rpm)): PDMS-acrylate (1 g/L); Brij® 35 in solution in water at 8.5% by weight (% wt) (4.37 g/L); and 33 mL of deionized (DI) water. Emulsification then took place under ultrasound at 40° C. and at a power of 200 W (100%) for 15 minutes.
The following were added to a beaker (2), under magnetic stirring (at 300 rpm): nitrobenzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate (0.05 mol/L); 130 mL of DI water; and hydrochloric acid (0.23 mol/L).
The content of beaker (2) was poured into the emulsion of beaker (1). The stainless-steel strips (×2); a winding of galvanized steel wire (ten turns, i.e. a length of about 25 centimeters (cm) to 30 cm); and a winding of Ni wire (ten turns, i.e. a length of about 25 cm to 30 cm); were placed in beaker (1). The two wires were connected to a potentiostat and an ammeter was connected in series. The potentiostat imposed a constant potential difference of 0.5 V and the current over time was measured by the ammeter.
Finally, once the assembly was ready, hypophosphorus acid (0.7 mol/L) was added last, thereby marking the start of the reaction. After 30 minutes of reaction at ambient temperature, the stainless-steel strips were removed, then rinsed successively in water (a cascade), then in ethanol (a cascade), and finally in isopropanol, in a soxhlet extractor for 16 h.
The use of a soxhlet extractor made it possible to confirm the chemical grafting of acrylic-PDMS on the surface of the stainless-steel strip.
Analysis by IR spectroscopy was performed that made it possible to confirm the grafting of acrylic-PDMS by the presence of the characteristic band at 1260 cm−1 corresponding to the vibration of the Si—CH3 bond.
The stainless-steel strips also successfully passed the passivation test.
Various modifications may also be envisaged by a person skilled in the art, without going beyond the ambit of the present invention, as defined by the accompanying claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0959512 | Dec 2009 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2010/052880 | 12/22/2010 | WO | 00 | 8/24/2012 |
