Chitosan-alginate nanocapsules for encapsulation of turmeric oil

Turmeric oil is widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications because of its antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and insect-repellent properties. However, turmeric oil is volatile, insoluble in water and unstable in certain environments, which causes difficulties with formulation development and stability of new products. One approach to overcome these problems is to encapsulate turmeric oil in carriers formed from naturally occurring polysaccharides. Among such polysaccharides, chitosan and alginate have been widely used as particulate carriers for encapsulation and controlled release of bioactive compounds. The potential for size reduction of the carriers to the nanometer scale is of particular interest for delivery systems. In this review, we provide an overview of the versatile properties of turmeric oil and discuss the use of alginate and chitosan for capsule formation and encapsulation of turmeric oil in chitosan-alginate nanocapsules. We also discuss the in vitro skin permeation of turmeric oil from nanocapsules.