PH-controlled release feature of chitosan assembled silica nanoparticles containing nano-formulated curcumin over in vitro gastric and physiological condition

Abstract

Low water solubility leading to poor bioavailability has an impact on the decreasing of curcumin uptake in the body, resulting in a deficiency of its medicinal benefits. This study aims to overcome the limitations of curcumin by formulating a nano-emulsion called curcumin emulsion (CE). Furthermore, in order to improve the physicochemical properties and drug release features, the CE was encapsulated within chitosan-assembled mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Chi@SiO2@CE). This material was prepared using a one-pot method and was characterized by Attenuated-total reflectance (ATR-FTIR), Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), N2 adsorption-desorption, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Additionally, antioxidant activity and in vitro drug release were also conducted. The study demonstrated that CE has strong antioxidant activity (IC50 = 14.14 μM) compared to curcumin alone. Additionally, the Chi@SiO2@CE exhibited pH-controlled release behavior, with less than 20% release of curcumin under an artificial gastric environment and 50% release under pH 7.4 conditions within 24 h. Therefore, this research suggest that Chi@SiO2@CE material has potential as a pH-responsive drug delivery material.