Interfacial properties of polymethyl alpha-cyanoacrylate and polybutyl alpha-cyanoacrylate.

Several physical properties of two polyalkyl alpha-cyanoacrylates relevant to their use in pharmaceutical dosage forms have been investigated. Formation of polymer films at several oil-water interfaces reveals films of diverse morphology. The retardation of solute transfer across an oil-water interface caused by the presence of polymer films formed in situ from the monomers has revealed that the methyl derivative forms the more effective barrier to the test solute, gentian violet. The emulsion-stabilizing properties of the methyl polymer have been studied, and the film-forming properties of the monomers spread from benzene onto water surfaces have been examined using a surface balance.