A new method for pH triggered curcumin release by applying poly(L-lysine) mediated nanoparticle-congregation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Curcumin, a natural compound, has limited bioavailability due to poor water solubility.
• Developing effective delivery systems is crucial for harnessing curcumin's therapeutic potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, efficient, and simple method for encapsulating curcumin into microcapsules.
• To characterize the physicochemical properties and drug release behavior of the microencapsulated curcumin (Micro-curcumin).

Main Methods:

• Synthesized microcapsules containing self-assembled nanoparticles using poly(L-lysine), trisodium citrate, and silica sol.
• Characterized particle size, structure, and curcumin distribution using microscopy.
• Evaluated encapsulation efficiency, stability, and pH-triggered curcumin release kinetics.

Main Results:

• Achieved 57.34% encapsulation efficiency with microcapsule sizes ranging from 0.7-3 μm.
• Microcapsule structure varied with solvent (spherical in acetone, bowl-shaped in water).
• Curcumin release was pH-dependent, with maximum release in acidic conditions; drug release efficiency was 61.44% following the Higuchi model.

Conclusions:

• The novel microencapsulation method is simple, fast, and effective for poorly water-soluble curcumin.
• Micro-curcumin retains curcumin's scavenging activity, indicating its potential as a drug delivery vehicle.
• Poly(L-lysine) enhances stability and prevents metabolic degradation, offering a non-toxic delivery system.