pH‐responsive polyurethane‐acrylate from palm olein and sunflower oil: Sustainable synthesis, enhanced lovastatin solubility, and potential drug carrier for targeted delivery

Abstract A pH responsive non‐isocyanate polyurethane‐acrylate (NIPUA) is synthesized through utilizing palm olein and sunflower oil as feedstock. The unsaturated acyl chains of both vegetable oils are converted into epoxy rings through epoxidation and subjected to carbonation with binary catalytic system under a solventless and mild condition to produce the cyclic carbonates. The cyclic carbonates were reacted with 1,4‐butanediamine and itaconic acid to produce the NIPUA. The intermediates and product were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. The NIPUA was incorporated with poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) to form a polymer carrier system loaded with a hydrophobic model drug, lovastatin (LOV). All NIPUA/PVP preformulations demonstrated pH responsiveness, with 1 to 2‐folds enhanced solubility at pH 7.4 compared to pH 2.0. NIPUA/PVP exhibited solubility enhancer effect by significantly enhanced solubility (2–4 times) compared to pure LOV, LOV‐loaded PVP, and Medostatin tablets at both pH levels. LOV‐loaded NIPUA/PVP exhibited lower enthalpy energy in DSC thermogram than LOV‐loaded PVP, indicating disruption of LOV's crystalline structure. In MTT assay, IC 50 values were 30.76 μg mL −1 for pure LOV and 273.53 μg mL −1 for NIPUA/PVP, demonstrating the potential of NIPUA as an environmentally friendly, pH responsive drug carrier for controlled release of poorly water‐soluble drugs.