Curcumin Encapsulation in Submicrometer Spray-Dried Chitosan/Tween 20 Particles

• Published in: Biomacromolecules Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 2309 - 2314
• Main Authors: O’Toole, Martin G, Henderson, Richard M, Soucy, Patricia A, Fasciotto, Brigitte H, Hoblitzell, Patrick J, Keynton, Robert S, Ehringer, William D, Gobin, Andrea S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 13.08.2012
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Chitosan - chemistry; Curcumin - chemistry; Detergents - chemistry; Drug Compounding; Exact sciences and technology; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nanocapsules - chemistry; Nanocapsules - ultrastructure; Natural polymers; Particle Size; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polysorbates - chemistry; Solubility; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; Starch and polysaccharides; Control release polymer; Non ionic surfactant; Spray drying; Surfactant polymer; Experimental study; Optimization; Operating conditions; Submicron particle; Ethylene oxide polymer; Oside polymer; Curcumin; Microencapsulation; Chitosan; Kinetics; Manufacturing; Release
• ISSN: 1525-7797; 1526-4602
• DOI: 10.1021/bm300564v

Optimal curcumin delivery for medicinal applications requires a drug delivery system that both solubilizes curcumin and prevents degradation. To achieve this, curcumin has been encapsulated in submicrometer chitosan/Tween 20 particles via a benchtop spray-drying process. Spray-drying parameters have been optimized using a Taguchi statistical approach to minimize particle size and to favor spheroid particles with smooth surfaces, as evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging. Nearly spherical particles with 285 ± 30 nm diameter and 1.21 axial ratio were achieved. Inclusion of curcumin in the spray-drying solution results in complete encapsulation of curcumin within the chitosan/Tween 20 particles. Release studies confirm that curcumin can be released completely from the particles over a 2 h period.