Curcumin-loaded beta-glucan nanoparticles: preparation, physicochemical properties, and molecular modeling

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Poorly soluble drugs exhibit limited bioavailability.
• Beta-glucan (BG) possesses biocompatible properties suitable for drug carriers.
• Developing effective nanocarriers is crucial for improving drug delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate wet milling as a novel method for preparing beta-glucan nanoparticles (BG-NPs).
• To utilize BG-NPs as carriers for poorly soluble drugs, using curcumin (CC) as a model.
• To evaluate the drug loading, release, and bioavailability enhancement of CC-loaded BG-NPs (CC/BG-NPs).

Main Methods:

• A two-step process involving BG nanocarrier optimization and CC incorporation.
• Utilizing sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and acetic acid (CH3COOH) for BG structure modification.
• Characterization of BG-NPs and CC/BG-NPs using particle size analysis, FTIR, molecular docking, and simulations.

Main Results:

• Optimized BG-NPs averaged 408.8 nm; CC/BG-NPs were ~300 nm with 98% loading efficiency.
• CC/BG-NPs showed 84.3% drug release in 120 min, a 4-fold increase over raw CC.
• Confirmed hydrogen and hydrophobic interactions between CC and BG via spectroscopic and computational analyses.

Conclusions:

• Wet milling is a viable technique for producing uniform BG-NPs for drug delivery.
• The optimized CC/BG-NPs demonstrate enhanced dissolution and potential for improved bioavailability.
• BG-NPs show significant promise as carriers for poorly soluble drugs like curcumin.