LAUSR

The knowledge of mass transport parameters in polymer/protein blend films is of substantial interest for the preparation of glucose biosensor test strips where drying and rehydration need to be controlled. In this study, the diffusion of water in bovine serum albumin (BSA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) films and blends of BSA with PVP and polyvinylalcohol is investigated and the applicability of predictive models for the diffusion coefficient in mixtures is explored. Water concentration profiles are measured with Raman spectroscopy during drying experiments under controlled conditions. Concentration-dependent diffusion coefficients of water in the films are then determined by fitting simulated drying curves to measured data. Comparison of the resulting diffusion coefficients in the blends with a predictive logarithmic model shows good agreement. The application of such predictive models could greatly facilitate the development of polymer/protein blends in the future. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45368.