Curcumin-loaded zein and shellac composite nanoparticles for ulcerative colitis treatment

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Curcumin (Cur) possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties but suffers from poor bioavailability.
• Developing effective delivery systems is crucial for harnessing Cur's therapeutic potential, particularly in food applications and treating inflammatory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize curcumin-loaded zein + shellac (Z+S) hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) using microfluidic technology.
• To evaluate the physicochemical properties, stability, biocompatibility, and therapeutic efficacy of these NPs for food applications and enteritis treatment.

Main Methods:

• Utilized microfluidic technology for the fabrication of Z+S hybrid NPs encapsulating curcumin.
• Investigated the impact of shellac proportion and curcumin concentration on particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and encapsulation efficiency (EE).
• Assessed colloidal stability via Zeta potential, biocompatibility with normal cells, free radical scavenging activity, and in vivo efficacy in a dextran sulfate sodium-induced enteritis model.

Main Results:

• Microfluidics enabled the formation of stable Z+S hybrid NPs with tunable particle size and PDI.
• Increased shellac proportion decreased particle size and PDI, while increasing encapsulation efficiency (EE) of curcumin.
• Curcumin-loaded NPs demonstrated excellent colloidal stability (Zeta potential < -20 mV), good biocompatibility, and effective free radical scavenging.
• In vivo studies confirmed the NPs' ability to alleviate dextran sulfate sodium-induced enteritis, showing promise for ulcerative colitis treatment.

Conclusions:

• Microfluidic-generated Z+S hybrid NPs offer a stable and effective platform for curcumin delivery.
• These NPs enhance curcumin bioavailability and demonstrate significant therapeutic potential for enteritis and ulcerative colitis.
• The developed system represents a promising strategy for functional foods and therapeutic applications.