COLLOIDAL SOLUTIONS

Department of Medical Chemistry

Pomeranian Medical University

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 COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM -chemicals which create the system.
They create different type of mixtures - which makes the system to
exists in various phases.

PHASE – part of the system is separated from other phases with

distinct border where sudden change in physico-chemical changes
takes place.
• Phase containing one component – pure substance
• Phase containing more than one component - solution

SOLUTION – mixture of two or more components dissolved in

solvent (solvent-subtance in quantitative excess over other
componet)

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 SYSTEMS
Systems can be divided due to:
1) number of components:
➢ one-component
➢ multicomponent
2) number of phases :
➢ single phase
➢ multiple phase

SYSTEMS:
HETEROGENOUS –multiplephase (seemingly single-phase),
heterogeneous; eg. water with ice (heterogeneous, two-phase, single-
component system ), water with mercury (heterogeneous, two-phase, two-
component system )
HOMOGENOUS –single-phase, homogeneous throughout the volume,
both chemically and physically; e.g. glucose solution (homogeneous
single phase, two components system)

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 Types of solutions depending on size of
dispersed phase in dispersive medium

TYPE OF SOLUTION DIAMETER OF PARTICLES OF

DISPERSED PHASE
True solution < 10-9 m (<1nm)
(homogeneous)
Colloidal
(heterogeneous) 10-9 - 10-7 m (1-100 nm)

Suspension > 10-7 m (>100 nm)

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 COLLOIDAL SOLUTIONS

COLLOIDAL SOLUTIONS – heterogenous dispersive system with

distinguished continuous scattering phase (solvent) and discontinuous
dispersed phase with particle diameter of 10-9 - 10-7 m (1 – 100 nm, up
to 500nm)

All living cells are sets of various colloidal systems.

Colloidal systems are widespread :

in animate nature (proteins, carbohydrates)

in inanimate nature (clay, fog, volcanic dust)

synthetic materials (soap, colorants, colloidal sulphur, metal oxides)

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 COLLOIDAL SOLUTIONS
COLLOIDAL SOLUTION – HETEROGENEOUS system -
with particle size of 10-9-10-7m in diameter (1 – 100 nm,
up to 500 nm)

10-9 m = 1 nm = 0.001 micron

10-7 m = 100 nm = 0.1 micron
10-6 m = 1000 nm = 1 micron 6
Properties of colloids (1):
1. They can be seen in ultra–microscope.
Attention: the difference between an ultra-microscope and ordinary one is
that in the former the light falls laterally on the liquid under study,
instead of “from below”. The ordinary microscope with x400
magnifications has limitations for particles below 1 micron, but it is still
able to show “general structures of colloid system”.
2. They are not dialyzed –> Colloidal particles will not be
separated by membranes (like bladder or parchment paper),
because they will not diffuse through a membrane.
3. They show permanent Brownian motions – mostly particles
smaller than 100nm are able to do strong Brownian motion.
4. They show Tyndall effect – visible light scattering by the
colloidal particles.
5. They may coagulate –> colloid particles become agglomerated.

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 Tyndall Effect

This is light scattering by colloidal solution (for

example by dust, fog, milk,etc.).
When light beam passes through the colloidal dispersion it
is scattered and therefore is visible.
When light beam passes through the solution, like water,
it is not scatter and therefore it cannot be seen.
Intensity of this phenomena is larger when difference
between light scattering of dispersive medium is larger
then light scattering of dispersed phase.

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 Solutions vs Colloids

The Tyndall Effect

True Solution e.g. water Colloidal mixture, e.g. milk

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The Tyndall Effect

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 CLASSIFICATION OF COLLOIDAL SYSTEMS
DEPENDING ON :
I. STATE OF DISPERSING AND DISPERSED PHASE

Disperssed Disperssing phase COLLOID EXAMPLE

phase

Gas Gas - -
Liquid Gas Aerosol liquid Fog, clouds, vapors
Solid Gas Aerosol solid Smoke, dust
Gas Liquid Foam Foam: soap, beer
Liquid Liquid Emulsion Creams, nail polish, milk,
mayonese, butter
Solid Liquid Zol Polymer solutions

Gas Solid Foam Pumice, styrofoam

Liquid Solid Emulsion solid Gels, opal
Solid Solid Zol solid Glass rubin, colour cristals

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 CLASSIFICATION OF COLLOIDAL SYSTEM :

II. Size of colloidal particles:

➢ monodispersive (particles of dispersed phase have the same
dimensions)
➢ polydispersive (particles of dispersed phase have different
dimensions)
III. Affinity of dispersed phase to dispersing medium :

•liophilic colloids – they have large affinity to solvent particles;

colloidal particles are surrounded by solvent particles

• liophobic colloids – they have small affinity to solvent and

adsorb on the surface of particles large quantities of one type
of ions
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 CLASSIFICATION OF COLLOIDAL SYSTEM
DEPENDS ON (cont.)

IV. Quality of dispersed phase:

Emulsions – the dispersed phase is of nonpolar character

(e.g. lipids) and does not have affinity to dispersion medium
(e.g. water).
Emulsions have hydrophobic character and are also called
suspensions or irreversible colloids.
• In living organisms example of emulssions are lipids.
Small particles of lipids can be dispersed in water thanks to the
compounds called emulsifiers.
Emulsifier – this is compund which can be „dissolved” in both –
dispersed phase and dispersion medium.
For example, consumed fats are emulsified by bile acids contained in
bile.
They have ability to decrease surface tension, like soap in water. 13
AgI micelle structure precipitated with excess
of KI

nucleus
DIFFUSION LAYER

Nucleus of colloidal molecule

+adsorbtion layer

core
micelle 14
 COLLOIDS STRUCTURE

Hydrophobic micell are mostly built by oxides,

sulphates, hydroxides of heavy metals

Hydrophilic colloids are built usually by large

molecules such as : proteins.
Their stability is due to the presence of water
molecules adsorbed on their surface.

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 Coagulation (1)
COAGULATION – it is an ability of colloid particles to combine
with each other and form larger structures called agregates.
After reaching appropriate size they loose ability „to flow” and
they sediment on the bottom.

Coagulation can be caused by:

1. radioactivity– beta ray
2. heating – coagulation of protein (egg)
3. evaporation or freezing of dispersive medium
4. dehydration, for example by using acetone, alcohol
5. addition of electrolite to colloid

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 Coagulation (2)

Peptization – process opposite to coagulation – breaking

coagulate and return from coagulate to colloid.

SOL coagulation GEL

peptization

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 Coagulation (3)

Hydrophilic colloid (reversible) – takes place when water coat

has been removed

Hydrophobic colloids (irreversible) – takes palce when electrical

charge present on the surface becomes neutralized.

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 COLLOIDS
HYDROPHOBIC HYDROPHILIC

Strongly hydrated salts

Salts with
multivalance cations

coagulate
Water particles

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 Coagulation (4)

Conditions for salting out of protein

• Proteins are easiest to be salted out in their isoelectric point

(pI) because they do not posses any electrical charge, they attract
themselves strongly and create aggregates, which leads to
precipitation (lack of electrical charge helps molecules to
aggregate, which allows them to precipitate from solution).

• In pH different from pI, protein due to presence of the surface

charge can exist in solution despite not having water coat
( they behave similar as hydrophobic colloids)

• Addition of small amount of neutralizing electrical charge ions

leads to protein precipitation. Such protein does not posses either
electrical charge or water coat.

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 Conditions for salting out protein from solution

Protein ion Protein cation

Protein in pI

Base addition Acid addition

pH increase pH decrease
dyhadration

Charge lost due to charge lost due

cation addition to anion addition

precipitate
Protein cation
Protein anion
suspenoid
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 Salting out of proteins
• Proteins are easy to salt-out in isoelectric point (pI)
and in this state they easily sediment as larger aggregates.

[Isoelctric point it is pH at which proteins have no electrical charge].

• In pH different than pI protein

can exist in solution despite having
no hydrophilic coat.

http://elte.prompt.hu/sites/default/files/tananyagok/IntroductionToPracticalBiochemistry/ch05s04. 22
html
 PROTECTIVE ROLE OF HYDRPHILIC COLLOIDS
ON HYDROPHOBIC COLLOIDS
Hydrophilic colloids show higher stability than hydrophobic colloids,
because of two stabilizing factors:
• hydration layer
• sometimes - particles have the same charge (which can be result of
dissotiation of acidic or basic groups being present in colloidal particle)

Hydrophilic colloids are acting protective on hydrophobic colloids – addition of

hydrophilic colloid to hydrophobic is causing creation of stable system from
which it is difficult to precipitae suspended particles (e.g. small amount of
protein added to colloidal gold suspension protects it from coagulation).

Protective role of colloid can be determined quantitatively by providing gold

number
( gold number it is the smallest amount of miligrams of protective colloid in
respect to pure substance which is able to protect 10cm3 0,1% of
formaldehyde gold zol, against color change from red to purple after addition
of 1cm3 10% NaCl ) 23
 Colloids in fluid therapy (1)

Fluid therapy (1):

treatment consisting of fluid intake (usually intravenous, intraarterial or

subcutaneous)

often used in hospital as well as emergency

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 Colloids in fluid therapy (2)
Fluid therapy (2):

compensating fluid deficiency is one of the most urgent tasks in the

treatment of critically ill patients with hypovolemia
✓ hypovolemia
-a decrease in intravascular volume, resulting in insufficient functioning of the
normal mechanisms to hold fluid in the vascular bed
- may exists as a reduced, normal or increased extracellular volume

- large hypovolemia leads to hypovolemic shock

Keeping adequate fluid therapy contributes to the reduction of organ

disfunction and shortens hospitalization time.

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 Colloids in fluid therapy (3)

Basic conditions requiring fluid therapy :

all forms of shock (usually hypovolemic shock, but also anaphylactic

shock, septic, neurogenic)

dehydration due to increased fluid loss (diarrhea, vomiting)

burns (increase in vascular permeability in case of burns results in

the loss of fluid)

other fluid deficiency states

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 Colloids in fluid therapy (4)

The objectives of conducting fluid therapy :

replenishment of electrolytes and nutrients

replenishing fluids (ex. blood lost as a result of hemorrhage)

supply of drugs in combination with liquid (when the medication

should be administered for several minutes or at high dilution)

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 Colloids in fluid therapy (5)
Fluids used for fluid therapy :

Crystalloids (aqueous solutions of electrolytes or glucose, such as

0.9% NaCl, 5% glucose solution, Ringer's solution, polyelectrolitic
isotonic fluid "PWE")
- used for blood loss up to 15% of body weight

- indicated in case of patients who have deficiency of fluid in the

interstitial space or patients with deficiency of electrolytes (burned and
dehydrated)

Colloidal solutions (natural and synthetic )

- used for blood loss exceeding 15% of body weight
-indicated in situations when supply of crystalloid is insufficient or there
are contraindications for their use (eg. risk of pulmonary edema)
- it is estimated that administration of 1 liter of colloidal solution
corresponds to the administration of 4 liters of crystalloid
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 Colloids in fluid therapy (5) cont.

Blood and blood-related products :

- packed red cells, (RBC, pRBC, PRBC),

- fresh frozen plasma (FFP),

- blood plates concentrate

http://reference.medscape.com/drug/ffp-octaplas-fresh-frozen-plasma-999499

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 Colloids in fluid therapy (6)

Colloidal solutions

natural synthetic

gelatines
- made of collagen obtained
Hydroxyethyl starch (HAES/HES)
from tendons, skin and bones -Synthesized from amylopectine
- Small molecular weight - 35 kDa -- HES: Plasmasteril (6% HES 450/0.7) and 3%,
6%, 10% solutions HES:,
(fast urinary excretion ) HES 200/0.5, HES 200/0.5, HES 130/0.4
- preferred:
- short-term volume effect ✓show beneficial rheological effect and inhibition of
- minimal effect on hemostasis blood platelets aggregation
Human albumin ✓ does not accumulate in plasma and tissues and does
- has an effect for 24–36 h, not affect hemostasis and renal function
- reraly causes allergic reaction
- big quantities may cause coagulopathy
dextran
- used in:
- polymers consisting of 200-450 glucose molecules
✓ severe protein deficiency states , - have been used in the clinic :
✓extensive burns, ✓ 6% i 10% dextran solution 40 (T1/2= 2-3 h)
✓ brain edema ✓ 6% dextran solution 70 (T1/2= 6-8h)
- used for supplementing intracellular volume, improving
✓ ascites
reological properties of blood, and in anticoagulant therapy
•expensive
- among colloids – the most often cause of anaphylactic
reactions
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 Colloids in fluid therapy (7)

Colloidal solutions - advantages :

allow for faster replenishment of intravascular fluid (hemorrhage,

shock)

compared to crystalloids provide faster, stronger and longer-lasting

volume effect
- increase oncotic pressure, which leads to the movement of water into the vessel

- remain for a long time in the intravascular compartment (2-12 hours)

- after administration of colloids an increase in intravascular volume is observed –

from 100 % to up to 400%

have a positive impact on hemodynamics, organ perfusion and oxygen

supply

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 Colloids in fluid therapy (8)

Colloidal solutions -disadvantages :

can cause allergic reactions

after the administration of large amounts, they may cause:

- dilution effect of blood components: proteins, coagulation factors
- decrease in hematocrit level

price

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 Colloids in fluid therapy (9)

Ideal colloidal solution:

should not accumulate in the plasma and tissues,

but readily undergo elimination from the body
HES 130/0,4

should not affect hemostasis and renal function

should be suspended in crystaloid solution to avoid dehydration of

extracellular space and impairment of kidney functions

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The End

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