Synthesis and preliminary characterization of polyurethane nanoparticles with ginger extract as a possible cardiovascular protector

Figures & data

Table 1 The main characteristics of the reagents

Chemical name, abbreviation	CAS no.	Aspect	Molar mass (g/mol) and density (g/cm^3)	Melting/boiling point, °C	Manufacturer
1,4-butanediol, 1,4-BD	110-63-4	Colorless viscous liquid	90.12 1.017	16 230	Carl Roth GmbH (Germany)
Lysine-diisocyanate, LDI	45172-15-4	Yellow viscous liquid	226.23 1.128	−305	Hangzhou ImagineChem Co. Ltd (China)
Polyethylene glycol, PEG	25322-68-3	Colorless viscous liquid	190-210 1.124	−50 >150	Merck (Germany)
Polycaprolactone diol, PCL	36890-68-3	Paste	~530 1.073	36-48-	Merck (Germany)
Tween^® 20	9005-64-5	Yellowish viscous liquid	~1,228 1.095	≥100	Merck (Germany)
Dimethyl-sulfoxide, DMSO	67-68-5	Colorless liquid	78.13 1.10	16 189	Fluka (Germany)
Acetone	67-64-1	Colorless liquid	58.08 0.791	−95 56	Chimopar SA (Romania)
Ethanol	64-17-5	Colorless liquid	46.07 0.789	−114 78	Chimopar SA (Romania)

Note: Information was collected from the providers’ papers.

Figure 1 The chemical reaction used for the synthesis of polyurethane particles.

Table 2 The raw materials for PU nanoparticle synthesis

Sample code	Aqueous phase			Organic phase	Ginger extract, mL
BD, mL	PEG/PCL, mL	Tween^®20, mL	LDI, mL
PU_0	0.6	0.2+1.0 0.6+0.6 1.0+0.2	1.2	2.0	–
PU_1	0.6	0.2+1.0 0.6+0.6 1.0+0.2	1.2	2.0	1.8

Abbreviations: PU, polyurethane; BD, 1,4-butanediol; PEG, polyethylene glycol; PCL, polycaprolactone diol; LDI, lysine diisocyanate; PU_0, polyurethane sample without ginger extract; PU_1, polyurethane sample with ginger extract.

Table 3 pH and solubility of samples in different solvents

Parameter vs sample	PU_0	PU_1
pH	6.09±0.19	6.02±0.27
Solubility in water, mg/mL	0.83	0.87
Solubility in ethanol, mg/mL	0.91	0.92
Solubility in acetone, mg/mL	1.09	1.13
Solubility in DMSO, mg/mL	1.05	1.05

Abbreviations: DMSO, dimethyl-sulfoxide; PU, polyurethane; PU_0, polyurethane sample without ginger extract; PU_1, polyurethane sample with ginger extract.

Figure 2 MALDI-TOF spectra of polyurethane particles.

Figure 3 UV-Vis spectra of polyurethane particles vs ginger extract.

Figure 4 DSC thermograms of polyurethane samples.

Abbreviations: DSC, differential scanning calorimetry; PU, polyurethane; PU_0, polyurethane sample without ginger extract; PU_1, polyurethane sample with ginger extract; Lab, laboratory; UMFT, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara; exo, exoterm.

Table 4 Zetasizer characterization of synthesized samples

Sample code	Average size, nm	PDI	Zeta potential, mV
PU_0	88±12	0.4	+25.7±3.5
PU_1	90±9	0.7	+27.8±4.1

Abbreviations: PDI, polydispersity index; PU, polyurethane; PU_0, polyurethane sample without ginger extract; PU_1, polyurethane sample with ginger extract.

Figure 5 The evolution of ginger extract amount passed through a membrane.

Figure 6 Evolution of TWL during the experiment.

Figure 7 Evolution of melanin during the experiment.

Figure 8 Evolution of erythema during the experiment.