Lasers in Foams and Emulsions Studies

This chapter presents results regarding production of emulsions and foams and their interaction with laser beams. Foams and emulsions are considered mainly collection of bubbles, or drops of different kind with particular properties, respectively. Here, emulsions of oily vitamin A and water in which various surfactants were introduced are described outlining the conditions in which they have a longer time stability. Laser induced fluorescence emitted by microdroplets that contain emulsions of rhodamine 6G in water and oily vitamin A is shown and the spectral distribution of the fluorescence radiation is described evidencing the enhancement of fluorescence emitted by droplets with respect to bulk. Lasing conditions in droplets are discussed and the role of reflections on foam drop inner structural components is outlined. Foams based on water solutions of vancomycin, produced by droplets interaction with laser beams are described in correlation with biomedical applications. Foams of polidocanol in water produced by Tessari method are described and their use in varicose vein treatments is introduced outlining the role of their exposure in tissues to infrared Nd:YAG laser beams in connection with the more rapid positive treatment effects. Polidocanol foam stability function of several surfactants such as tween 80, glycerin and xanthan gum is presented and discussed.

Keywords: Aetoxisclerol, Colloids, Emulsion, Foam, Hanging droplet, Laser, Nanoparticle, Pendant droplet, Polidocanol, Rhodamine 6G, Sclerosing foam, Sclerotherapy, Sessile droplet, Suspended droplet, Tessari technique, Vancomycin, Varicose veins, Vitamin A.