Surface-functionalized curcumin-loaded polymeric nanocapsules could block apomorphine-induced behavioral changes in...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Surface functionalization of polymeric nanocapsules (NCs) is key to enhancing their properties.
• Curcumin (CUR) possesses pharmacological benefits but suffers from low bioavailability.
• Developing effective delivery systems for CUR is crucial for its therapeutic application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and optimize anionic and cationic nanocapsules (NCs) for curcumin (CUR) delivery.
• To evaluate the influence of polymer type, surfactant, and TPGS concentration on NC characteristics.
• To assess the biological activity of CUR-loaded NCs as a brain delivery system.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 2^3 factorial design to optimize nanocapsule formulation.
• Prepared anionic (poly-ɛ-caprolactone) and cationic (Eudragit® RS100) NCs with Span® surfactants and TPGS coating.
• Assessed the biological effects of CUR-loaded NCs in an apomorphine-induced stereotyped behavior model in rats.

Main Results:

• Polymer type and Span® significantly influenced NC characteristics, modulated by TPGS concentration.
• Both cationic and anionic CUR-loaded nanocapsules demonstrated efficacy in blocking apomorphine-induced behavioral changes.
• The factorial analysis provided insights into optimizing nanocapsule properties for enhanced delivery.

Conclusions:

• Curcumin-loaded, TPGS-coated nanocapsules represent a promising strategy for brain drug delivery.
• The developed nanocarriers show potential for improving curcumin's therapeutic efficacy.
• Surface functionalization and formulation optimization are critical for effective nanocapsule-based drug delivery.