Ionic liquid-based catanionic vesicles: A de novo system to judiciously improve the solubility, stability and antimicrobial activity of curcumin

Abstract

Aqueous solubility and stability of curcumin could be ameliorated through its encapculation within the micellar and vesicular assemblies. This could protect curcumin from the attack of inactivating enzymes in the biological fluid and improve its medicinal and therapeutic effects. In our efforts to design surfactant based organized assemblies as drug carrier, herein, we had reported the formation of catanionic vesicles to encapsulate curcumin. The catanionic vesicles are formed through synergistic interaction between sodium butyrate (NaBut) and ester functionalized morpholinium and imidazolium-based surface active ionic liquids (SAILs). Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) were among the methods that were used to confirm the presence of curcumin within the bilayer of the vesicles. Loading capacity and stability of the curcumin within the micelles and vesicles were investigated. Results concludes that vesicles because of their higher hydrophobic character improve the encapsulation and inhibit the degradation of curcumin. The curcumin loaded catanionic vesicles were found effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and must be exploited for clinical applications. The newly fabricated system would pave the way for the stabilization of the curcumin and increased its application potential in the field of biotechnology and sustained drug delivery.