Preparation of nano-composites based on curcumin/chitosan-PVA-alginate to improve stability, antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer activity of curcumin

Abstract

Curcumin (Cur) has been extensively used as an alternative therapeutic agent for various diseases, including cancer, because of its anti-cancer and antioxidant properties. In this study, we have synthesized nanocomposites from a combination of Chitosan (CS), sodium alginate (ALG), and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) for drug delivery. Then, Curcumin was encapsulated into the nanocomposites and characterized by FT-IR, FE-SEM, TEM, and XRD. The encapsulated Cur showed a desirable loading efficiency with the curcumin loading efficiency on all nanocarriers in the range of 59.00 to 93.00 %. and more stability with a slower and more controllable release rate with a gradually increase up to 58 %. in the release rate than free Cur. Further, the encapsulated Cur showed a higher antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity than free Cur. According to the results, the maximum inhibition for the albumin denaturation (83.59 %), maximum antioxidant activity (85.79 %) and the highest TPC content of 23.68 mg GAE/100 g was found in Cur/Cs-ALG-PVA. Besides, Cur-loaded nanocomposites indicated specific toxicity to cancer cells and also Cur/Cs-ALG-PVA nanocomposite has a greater anti-cancer effect than the other nanocomplexes and cell viability decreased to 25 %, raising the probability of curing gastric cancer cells (AGS). So, it is concluded that the simultaneous use of three biopolymers CS and ALG and PVA, would be synergistically enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of Curcumin. In conclusion, the novel nanocomposite of Cur/ CS-ALG-PVA provides an efficient strategy and a promising candidate for biomedical applications and drug delivery systems to treat various diseases especially inflammatory diseases and cancer.