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Electrospun curcumin-loaded fibers with potential biomedical applications
Xiao-Zhu Sun1, Gareth R Williams, Xiao-Xiao Hou
1College of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, PR China.
Carbohydrate Polymers
|April 3, 2013
Summary
Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers successfully incorporated curcumin or its β-cyclodextrin (CD) complex. The CD complex improved curcumin distribution and thermal stability, leading to faster drug release via diffusion.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a versatile biomaterial for drug delivery systems.
- Curcumin, a natural compound, possesses therapeutic properties but faces bioavailability challenges.
- β-cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion complexes can enhance curcumin's solubility and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare and characterize polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers loaded with curcumin or its β-cyclodextrin (CD) inclusion complex.
- To investigate the effect of curcumin and CD-curcumin complex loading on nanofiber properties.
- To evaluate the in vitro drug release behavior and thermal stability of the prepared nanofibers.
Main Methods:
- Electrospinning was employed to fabricate PVA nanofibers.
- X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) were used for material characterization.
- (1)H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed curcumin's structural integrity.
- Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) assessed thermal stability.
- In vitro dissolution tests evaluated drug release profiles.
Main Results:
- Uniform PVA nanofibers loaded with curcumin or CD-curcumin complex were successfully produced.
- Curcumin was observed as crystalline aggregates, whereas the CD-curcumin complex showed more homogeneous distribution within the fibers.
- Curcumin's chemical structure remained intact during electrospinning.
- Nanofiber encapsulation significantly enhanced the thermal stability of curcumin.
- Drug release from PVA/complex fibers was faster than from PVA/curcumin fibers, governed by a diffusion-controlled mechanism with two distinct release stages.
Conclusions:
- Electrospinning is an effective method for creating PVA nanofibers containing curcumin or its CD complex.
- The use of β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes improves curcumin dispersion and accelerates its release from PVA nanofibers.
- These findings suggest potential for PVA/curcumin-CD nanofibers as an advanced drug delivery system with enhanced stability and controlled release characteristics.
