title: Influence of emulsifiers on the characteristics of polyurethane structures used as drug carrier.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Emulsifiers have a significant role in the emulsion polymerization by reducing the interfacial tension thus increasing the stability of colloidal dispersions of polymer nanostructures. This study evaluates the impact of four emulsifiers on the characteristics of polyurethane hollow structures used as drug delivery system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Polyurethane (PU) structures with high stability and sizes ranging from nano- to micro-scale were obtained by interfacial polyaddition combined with spontaneous emulsification. The pH of PU aqueous solutions (0.1% w/w) was slightly acidic, which is acceptable for products intended to be used on human skin. Agglomerated structures with irregular shapes were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The synthesized structures have melting points between 245-265°C and reveal promising results in different evaluations (TEWL, mexametry) on murine skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study hollow PU structures of reduced noxiousness were synthesized, their size and stability being influenced by emulsifiers. Such structures could be used in the pharmaceutical field as future drug delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, "Victor Babes", University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2nd E, Murgu Sq, Timisoara 300041, Romania. ionescu.daniela@umft.ro.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heghes
authors.forename: Codruta M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Soica
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ardelean
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ambrus
authors.forename: Danina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muntean
authors.forename: Atena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galuscan
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dragos
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ionescu
authors.forename: Florin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borcan