Dr Arayik Hambardzumyan

Nationality
Armenia
Programme
LAVOISIER (ARD 2020)
Period
September, 2014 - August, 2015
September, 2015 - December, 2016
Award
LE STUDIUM Research Fellowship

From

Yerevan State University - AM

In residence at

Interfaces, Containment, Materials and Nanostructures (ICMN) - CNRS / University of Orléans - FR

Host scientist

Dr Marylène VAYER

PROJECT 1

The impact of adsorption layer structure and chemical composition on the stability of encapsulated product in emulsions

This research project deals with the improvement of emulsion performances and the introduction of green chemistry in the formulation of emulsions, which are an enormous field in cosmetics. Many cosmetic formulations are basically oil in water or water in oil emulsions. This proposal focuses on the essential questions in the field of cosmetic industry: the stability of emulsified systems against coalescence, the evaporation of perfume oil from colloidal multiphase mixtures and the antioxidant properties of adsorption layers.

The aim of this project is to study the evaporation rates of oil phases and the protection of products encapsulated in emulsions; they can be controlled by the structure and the chemical composition of the adsorption layers formed at liquid-liquid interfaces. An innovative character in this research project is the application of natural macromolecules (natural renewable carbon recourses) in the cosmetic formulations: The antioxidant properties of adsorption layers, formed by lignin and cellulose nanocrystals, will be test.

In order to characterize the efficacy of these interfacial layers, surface pressure-evaporation rate relations, measured at different temperatures, will be carried out by Langmuir monolayer technique. In addition, the evaporation process through the monitoring of lipid mesophase droplets evolution by small angle scattering techniques will be studied. The novelty in the combination of these two approaches is an important point in this project. This project will provide new data on the surface properties of natural macromolecules coming from plants and on their applications in the cosmetic industry.

Oxidative stability of a selected material in the encapsulating matrix is a critical factor for an optimal design of an encapsulation process for cosmetic industry. Free radicals such as hydroxyl, peroxyl and superoxyl radicals trigger oxidation of encapsulated materials. Prior studies showed that these radicals are generated either in the aqueous phase or at the oil-water interface due to presence of various factors, such as metal ions, light, and oxygen. These free radicals are transported across the oil-water interface and into the lipid phase, where they trigger oxidative reactions with encapsulated materials. These oxidation processes are propagated by subsequent generation of free radicals in the presence of oxygen. The physical state of adsorption layer and localization of encapsulated material within the layer can significantly influence the rate of these oxidation reactions by limiting the interaction of encapsulated material with free radicals and oxygen.

PROJECT 2

MONDEPAI - LAVOISIER PROGRAMME

The LAVOISIER MOINDEPAI project aims to modify polymers for fuel cell membranes strengthening to improve their mechanical properties. The idea proposed by Arayik Hambardzumyan is to use as reinforcement natural example of cellulose fibres. 

Events organised by this fellow