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Updated: May 28, 2026
09:03
Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles
Published on: October 8, 2016
From Solid Dispersions to Enzyme-Responsive Nanocarriers: Whey Protein Isolate Nanoparticles for Enhanced Curcumin
Marwa Megahed1, Jaina Patel2, Mohammad Najlah3
1Health, Education and Society, Knowledge Exchange and Research Institute (HES KERI) and School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, UK.
Pharmaceutics
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Whey protein isolate nanoparticles were developed to improve curcumin
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Curcumin (CUR) is a potent anticancer agent with poor aqueous solubility, limiting its clinical use.
- Developing effective delivery systems is crucial for enhancing CUR's therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop enzyme-responsive whey protein isolate (WPI) nanoparticles for targeted curcumin delivery.
- To overcome curcumin's poor solubility and achieve controlled release.
Main Methods:
- Curcumin was formulated into a solid dispersion with WPI using freeze-drying, significantly enhancing solubility.
- Nanoparticles were generated from the CUR-WPI solid dispersion via thermal gelation, avoiding organic solvents.
- Characterization included Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- The developed nanoparticles showed a high drug loading efficiency of 85%.
- Minimal CUR release occurred in physiological buffer (pH 7.4) over 24 hours.
- Trypsin exposure triggered rapid nanoparticle degradation, releasing 95% of CUR within 3 hours.
Conclusions:
- WPI-based nanoparticles from solid dispersions offer a promising platform for solubility enhancement of hydrophobic drugs.
- These nanoparticles enable biocompatible and protease-triggered delivery of anticancer agents.
- This approach holds potential for targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy.
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