Antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-cancer activities of β-and γ-CDs/curcumin loaded in chitosan nanoparticles

Curcumin, as a naturally occurring polyphenol, has been extensively used as anticancer and antioxidant agent due to its ability to protect cells from oxidative damage. In the present study, we have prepared highly soluble CUR-β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) hollow spheres. UV-Vis method was employed to approve the successful formation of the inclusion complex where the aromatic ring of CUR has been encapsulated by the hydrophobic cavity of CDs. CUR-CDs were then encapsulated into positively charged biodegradable chitosan (CUR-CDs-CS) nanoparticles. The CUR-CD-CS were characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR, ¹HNMR, XRD, SEM analysis. Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated by measuring the zone of inhibition scale and MIC value which was recorded as 32 μg/mL and 64 μg/mL for both Gram positive S. aureus and Gram negative E. coli bacteria respectively. We tested the efficacy of these CUR-CD-CS nanoparticles in A549 cell lines using MTT assay and investigated its cellular uptake mechanism. Our results demonstrated that CUR-CD-CS nanoparticles showed superior in vitro release performance and higher cytotoxicity in A549 cell line among all tested formulations. Antioxidant activity and release behavior of the curcumin-loaded CDs-CS was investigated. The IC₅₀ value for CUR/CD-CS was estimated based on their inhibition percent-concentration curves using DPPH assay.