Application of β ‐CD/HA composite as a potential SD carrier to improve the dissolution of curcumin

Abstract

Curcumin is a natural active constituent with a great variety of beneficial biological and pharmacological activities, is a practically water-insoluble component. The scope of the present work was to prepare a solid dispersion (SD) formulation to enhance the dissolution rate of curcumin. The SD was prepared using curcumin and β-cyclodextrin (CD)/HA via a classical ethanol-based solvent evaporation method. The as-prepared β-CD/HA and SDs were selectively characterised by various analytical techniques including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, specific surface area/pore size analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography. According to the dissolution tests, it was confirmed that β-CD/HA–curcumin SD can significantly enhance the dissolution of curcumin. In addition, an increasing trend was seen between the β-CD weight ratio and the dissolution rate of curcumin, and β-CD/HA–curcumin (9:1) SD was shown to be the best formulation among all tested samples with over 90% curcumin dissolved in 180 min. Besides, β-CD/HA–curcumin (9:1) SD exhibited pH and medium-dependent curcumin release behaviours. The antioxidant activity of released curcumin showed no difference to original curcumin. These results clearly demonstrated β-CD/HA can be a promising SD carrier to improve the dissolution of curcumin.