Interaction of laser exposed medicine droplets with target surfaces under microgravity conditions (DropTES 2018)

abstract

The interaction of UV laser radiation with pendant medicine droplets and their wetting properties on target surfaces is proposed to be investigated under the aegis of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) within the DropTES Fellowship Programme. Experiments will be conducted in microgravity conditions at Bremen Drop Tower, sponsored by the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Space Administration.

Since microorganisms can evolve into more virulent forms under microgravity conditions, astronauts and spacecraft surfaces may require treatment and decontamination, respectively, against onboard pathogens.

The proposed experiment aims to bring a new insight on the behaviour of medicine droplets in reduced gravitational environment. A novel aspect of the project represents droplets real time exposure and modification by UV laser beam, leading to new photoproducts with antimicrobial properties. Thus obtained droplets will be then used to impregnate target surfaces, which might serve as unconventional tools in developing new drug delivery systems. Therefore, the evolution of wetting phenomena is the key feature of the proposed studies.

experiment year: 2018
number of drops: 4