Polymer Chemistry in Sustained-Release Herbal Composites: Designing a Stable Euphorbia tithymaloides Topical System with Phospholipid and Polymer Matrices

Year : 2025 | Volume : 13 | Special Issue 06 | Page : 165 171
    By

    Amar Mohite,

  • Rohan Sharadanand Phatak,

  • Vyankatesh R. Dharanguttikar,

  • Swapnali Thorat,

  • Atul R. Chopade,

  • Jayant Rajaram Pawar,

  1. Research Associate, Department of Research, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Karad, Maharashtra, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Krishna Institute of Pharmacy, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Karad, Maharshtra, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Rajarambapu College of Pharmacy, Kasegaon, Taluka – Walwa, Sangli, Maharshtra, India
  4. Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Rajarambapu College of Pharmacy, Kasegaon, Taluka – Walwa, Sangli, Maharshtra, India
  5. Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Rajarambapu College of Pharmacy, Kasegaon, Taluka – Walwa, Sangli, Maharshtra, India
  6. Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Karad, Maharshtra, India

Abstract

Polymer chemistry enables the stabilization and sustained release of herbal actives, critical for topical therapeutic applications. This study explores a novel process for preparing a stable, sustained-release topical composition of Euphorbia tithymaloides, leveraging polymer-based systems. Ethanolic extract (50 mg) of the plant, rich in unstable sugar moieties (e.g., D-ribose) and sterols (e.g., stigmasterol), is encapsulated within a phospholipid matrix of phosphatidylcholine (50–100 mg) and cholesterol (50–100 mg). This lipid-polymer complex, formed via rotary evaporation at 45°C and hydrated with phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.4), yields a vesicular suspension with 0.2 µm particles after sonication. The suspension’s stability stems from phospholipid bilayer assembly, protecting labile phytocompounds from Lewis acid (dichloromethane) degradation. Integrated into a transdermal patch with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and ethyl cellulose (EC), plasticized by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and enhanced by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), the system achieves a 90-day shelf life and 89.40% drug release over 12 hours. Polymer-polymer interactions—PVA’s hydrophilic chains and EC’s hydrophobic backbone—modulate release kinetics, while PEG reduces matrix rigidity (Tg ~ -60°C). The patch (2×2 cm²) ensures uninterrupted drug-skin contact, ideal for chronic inflammation. FT-IR confirms no adverse drug-polymer interactions, and stability data (pH 5.4, 98.25% drug content at 90 days) validate the composite’s robustness. This work underscores polymer chemistry’s role in crafting herbal delivery systems, with potential for synthetic polymer enhancements (e.g., polycaprolactone) to further optimize performance.

Keywords: Polymer chemistry, phospholipid vesicles, transdermal patch, euphorbia tithymaloides, sustained release, polymer composites, stability.

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer & Composites (jopc)]

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How to cite this article:
Amar Mohite, Rohan Sharadanand Phatak, Vyankatesh R. Dharanguttikar, Swapnali Thorat, Atul R. Chopade, Jayant Rajaram Pawar. Polymer Chemistry in Sustained-Release Herbal Composites: Designing a Stable Euphorbia tithymaloides Topical System with Phospholipid and Polymer Matrices. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2025; 13(06):165-171.
How to cite this URL:
Amar Mohite, Rohan Sharadanand Phatak, Vyankatesh R. Dharanguttikar, Swapnali Thorat, Atul R. Chopade, Jayant Rajaram Pawar. Polymer Chemistry in Sustained-Release Herbal Composites: Designing a Stable Euphorbia tithymaloides Topical System with Phospholipid and Polymer Matrices. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2025; 13(06):165-171. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=225202


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Special Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 13
Special Issue 06
Received 12/03/2025
Accepted 16/04/2025
Published 30/08/2025
Publication Time 171 Days
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