Multilayered Curcumin-Loaded Hydrogel Microcarriers with Antimicrobial Function

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Multifunctional microcarriers are crucial for combining diverse functionalities in a single system.
• Hydrogel microcarriers offer versatile platforms for drug delivery and therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel multilayered hydrogel microcarriers loaded with curcumin (CUR).
• To impart antimicrobial properties using alkylene quaternary ammonium salt functionalised polyelectrolytes (A-QAS-PEs).
• To evaluate the drug release kinetics and antimicrobial efficacy of the developed microcarriers.

Main Methods:

• Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly for microcarrier fabrication.
• Synthesis and characterization of A-QAS-PEs using NMR and FTIR.
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for particle size analysis.
• Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) for viscoelastic properties.
• Agar diffusion assay for antimicrobial activity testing.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized and characterized CUR-loaded hydrogel microcarriers with A-QAS-PEs.
• Demonstrated controlled release of CUR using a hybrid kinetic model.
• Achieved significant increase in antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens.

Conclusions:

• The developed multilayered hydrogel microcarriers exhibit promising multifunctional properties.
• The incorporation of A-QAS-PEs enhances the antimicrobial efficacy of CUR-loaded microcarriers.
• These microcarriers represent a potential platform for combined chemotherapy and antimicrobial therapy.