Layer-by-layer engineered nanocapsules of curcumin with improved cell activity.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly is a versatile technique for fabricating multilayered nanomaterials.
• Calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO3 NPs) offer a biocompatible and biodegradable template for nanocarrier construction.
• Polyelectrolyte coatings enable controlled loading and release of therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize hollow nanocapsules using CaCO3 NPs and polyelectrolytes for drug delivery applications.
• To investigate the loading efficiency and release kinetics of curcumin from the nanocapsules.
• To evaluate the in vitro efficacy and safety of the curcumin-loaded nanocapsules.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of nanocapsules via electrostatic LbL assembly using CaCO3 NPs as sacrificial templates.
• Characterization of nanoparticle size, shape, and surface charge using techniques like zeta potential measurements.
• Assessment of curcumin loading and release profiles under varying pH conditions.
• In vitro cytotoxicity assays on human fibroblast cells and efficacy studies on Hela cancer cells.

Main Results:

• Hexagonal CaCO3 NPs (350-400 nm) were successfully coated with polyelectrolytes, forming hollow nanocapsules after core dissolution.
• Surface charge reversal confirmed successful polyelectrolyte adsorption.
• Curcumin release was pH-dependent, increasing in acidic environments, suitable for anti-cancer delivery.
• Curcumin-loaded nanocapsules demonstrated enhanced inhibition of Hela cancer cells and were non-toxic to human fibroblasts.

Conclusions:

• Polyelectrolyte-based hollow nanocapsules derived from CaCO3 NPs are effective drug delivery vehicles.
• The nanocarriers exhibit controlled drug release and enhanced anti-cancer activity.
• These nanocapsules represent a promising platform for targeted drug delivery with improved therapeutic outcomes.