Synthesis and characterization of a polyurethane carrier used for a prolonged transmembrane transfer of a chili pepper extract.
Purpose
Red chili peppers have been highly valued in gastronomy and traditional medicine since ancient times; it seems that it is not just an ingredient for food but also a good remedy for various medical conditions such as increased blood pressure and high levels of serum triglycerides and cholesterol, myocardial infarction, arthritis, and migraines. The objective of this study is the characterization of a new carrier used for encapsulated extract.


Methods
Chili pepper extract was obtained and was physically entrapped inside polyurethane microparticles in order to diminish the irritative potential of this extract. The particles were evaluated by Zetasizer measurements, small-angle neutron scattering and thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; the encapsulation efficacy and the drug release profile were assessed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Bioevaluations on mice skin were performed to predict the irritative potential of the samples.


Results
Two different types of samples were compared: hollow polyurethane microparticles vs polyurethane particles containing the natural extract. The sizes of the particles were very similar, but the sample containing the extract presents three particle populations (the polydispersity index increases from 0.3 to 0.6 from one sample to another). The zeta-potential measurements and SEM images indicate a medium tendency to form clusters, while the UV-Vis study revealed an almost 70% encapsulation efficacy.


Conclusion
The results suggest that encapsulation of a chili pepper extract inside polyurethane microparticles leads to a non-irritative product with a prolonged release: ~30% of encapsulated extract is released within the first 8 days and a maximum 45% is reached in 2 weeks.
['Borcan|Livia-Cristina|LC|', 'Dudas|Zoltan|Z|', 'Len|Adel|A|', 'Fuzi|Janos|J|', 'Borcan|Florin|F|', 'Tomescu|Mirela Cleopatra|MC|']
D000818:Animals D002138:Calibration D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning D002212:Capsicum D004337:Drug Carriers D005260:Female D008566:Membranes D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C D033363:Neutron Diffraction D010316:Particle Size D010936:Plant Extracts D011140:Polyurethanes D053838:Scattering, Small Angle D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
UV-Vis zeta-potential FTIR SANS corneometry drug delivery system erythema