Abstract
Curcumin-loaded bacterial cellulose films were developed in this study. Curcumin was absorbed into never-dried bacterial cellulose pellicles by 24-h immersion in solutions of curcumin in the range of 0.2–1.0 mg /mL. The curcumin-loaded bacterial cellulose pellicles were then air-dried and characterized. The mechanical properties of curcumin-loaded bacterial cellulose films, particularly the stretching properties, appeared to be lower than those of bacterial cellulose film. This was especially evident when the loading concentration of curcumin was higher than 0.4 mg/mL. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated an interaction between bacterial cellulose microfibrils and curcumin. Controlled release of curcumin was achieved in buffer solutions containing Tween 80 and methanol additives, at pH 5.5 and 7.4. Curcumin-loaded bacterial cellulose films prepared with curcumin solutions at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL displayed antifungal activities against Aspergillus niger. They also exhibited anticancer activity against A375 malignant melanoma cells. No significant cytotoxic effect was observed against normal dermal cells, specifically, human keratinocytes and human dermal fibroblasts.
Highlights
Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer in the world and has been used in various biomedical applications throughout the past decades
Curcumin was absorbed into Bacterial cellulose (BC) pellicles, after which the pellicles were air-dried to produce curcumin-loaded BC films (BCC)
Entrapment of curcumin is a result of the interaction between BC microfibrils and curcumin that occurs during air drying [33]
Summary
Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer in the world and has been used in various biomedical applications throughout the past decades. Dried BC could be a candidate polymer matrix film for the local slow release of active components. This is a promising method to overcome the problems of degradation of active components by enzymes or acids that commonly occur following oral administration or injection. It has been reported to kill tumor cells and inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, primarily through induction of apoptosis This activity has been observed against malignant cells including: breast [19,20], thyroid [21,22], colon [23], leukemia [24,25], prostate [26], lung [27], ovarian [28] and pancreatic cancer cells [29], as well as malignant melanoma cells [30]. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as the antifungal properties against Aspergillus niger, and the cytotoxic effects and anticancer properties against A375 malignant melanoma skin cancer cells
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