Curcumin-loaded hybrid particles for drug delivery applications

Abstract

• A novel freeze-drying approach has been discussed for the preparation of collagen-lipid particles • Thermally stable, surfactant free hybrid biomaterial has been developed for drug delivery applications • Interaction of hydrogenated lecithin with collagen has been studied through turbidity assay The development of biopolymeric drug carriers is gaining interest due to their biocompatibility. Porous particles are the preferred drug-loading choice due to the high surface area. Lipids and collagen are widely explored biopolymers for various tissue engineering applications as drug carriers. In the present study, an attempt has been made to develop porous particles using collagen and lipid through a freeze-drying technique in cyclohexane and t-butyl alcohol. Porous particle formation has been confirmed using a Scanning Electron microscope (SEM) in three different solvent ratios (1:2, 2:1, 1:1). The particle size of the lipid-collagen particles was found to be 1032nm (1:1), 1612 nm (1:2), and 589 nm (2:1). The mean pore diameter of prepared particles in 1:2 and 2:1 solvent mixture found to be 3.64 and 3.97 nm respectively. Similarly, the lipid -collagen interaction has been ascertained through the TEM image. The influence of lipid on collagen has been studied using a fibrillogenesis assay and found that a higher incubation period influences the self-assembling process of the collagen. However, it aids in particle formation. Furthermore, a model drug curcumin has been loaded in the prepared particles and assessed for loading efficiency and release. From the drug release studies, it can be sustained drug release pattern acts as a prominent drug carrier for therapeutic applications prepared through the simple freeze-drying technique.