The role of the lecithin addition in the properties and cytotoxic activity of chitosan and chondroitin sulfate nanoparticles containing curcumin

Publication date: Available online 21 September 2019Source: Carbohydrate PolymersAuthor(s): Katiúscia Vieira Jardim, Joseilma Luciana Neves Siqueira, Sônia Nair Báo, Marcelo Henrique Sousa, Alexandre Luis ParizeAbstractSurfactants have been used as a tool to improve the properties of polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) and to increase the rate of hydrophobic drug release by means of these nanoparticles. In this context, this study evaluated the effect of lecithin on the characteristics of chitosan (CHI) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) nanoparticles, when applied in curcumin (Curc) release. CHI/CS NPs and CHI/CS/Lecithin NPs were prepared by the ionic gelation method, both as standards and containing curcumin. Simultaneous conductimetric and potentiometric titrations were employed to optimize the interaction between the polymers. NPs with hydrodynamic diameter of ˜130 nm and zeta potential of +60 mV were obtained and characterized by HRTEM; their pore size and surface area were also analyzed by BET method, DLS, FTIR, XPS, and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques to assess morphological and surface properties, stability and interaction between polymers and to quantify the loading of drugs. The final characteristics of NPs were directly influenced by lecithin addition, exhibiting enhanced encapsulation efficiency of curcumin (131.8 μg curcumin per mg CHI/CS/Lecithin/Curc NPs). The release of curcumin occurred gradually through a two-stage process: diffusion-controlled dissolut...
Source: Carbohydrate Polymers - Category: Biomedical Science Source Type: research