New nanogels (NGs) with tailored properties were obtained using a mini-emulsion technique, from poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) self-crosslinking macromers of various molecular weight. By modifying synthesis parameters (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, emulsifier and the ratio of organic-aqueous medium), optimum recipes of NGs were selected. Therefore, the molecular weight distribution and the functionalization degree of the PEGDA2000 macromer were assessed by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), respectively. Furthermore, the PEGDA-NGs were investigated by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for size distributions and morphology. DLS and TEM results confirm that these new PEGDA-NGs hold potential for biomedical applications.

Hypericum perforatum L., traditionally called St. John�s Wort has been used for decades as a phyto-therapeutic herb due to antidepressant, antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. As a result, the presented study evaluates the influence of the harvesting season for the Hypericum perforatum L. plant material, which is crucial for obtaining significant amounts of active principles.

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St. John s Wort (SJW) or Hypericum perforatum L. is a therapeutic plant highly used in pharmacology. Recent in vivo anti-cancer action of naphtodianthrones (NTs) has extended the research related to enrichment methodologies of SJW phyto-extracts. Therefore, the presented study pursuits the optimization of single-step extraction methodologies to obtain NTs-rich extracts from SJW.