Genipin-enriched chitosan-Zein nanoparticles for improved curcumin encapsulation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Polysaccharide-protein nanocomplexes are promising for encapsulating bioactive compounds.
• Chitosan (CS), genipin (GP), and zein are key components for developing advanced delivery systems.
• Curcumin's therapeutic potential is limited by its poor bioavailability and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize CS/GP/zein nanoparticles for curcumin encapsulation.
• To investigate the role of chemical cross-linkage and the amino group in CS on encapsulation efficiency.
• To evaluate the in vitro release profile and stability of curcumin within the nanoparticles.

Main Methods:

• Nanoparticle preparation using CS, GP, and zein with chemical cross-linkage.
• Characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Transmission electron microscopy.
• In vitro digestion studies to assess curcumin release kinetics.

Main Results:

• CS/GP/zein nanoparticles exhibited spherical morphology and effective cross-linkage.
• Encapsulation efficiency increased to 82.3% with an optimized CS/GP/zein ratio (20:1:100), compared to 38.4% for zein alone.
• Curcumin release was reduced to 57.1% after 2 hours and 12% after 6 hours of in vitro digestion, indicating enhanced stability.

Conclusions:

• CS/GP/zein nanoparticles offer superior encapsulation and controlled release of curcumin.
• The amino group in CS plays a crucial role in the nanoparticle's encapsulation efficiency.
• These nanocomplexes show significant potential for improving curcumin bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.