Abstract

DEVELOPMENT OF CURCUMIN LOADED ALGINATE-CHITOSAN NANOPARTICLES TO MODULATE PHARMACOKINETIC PROFILE IN ALBINO RATS

*Babitha V., Shafura S., Vinay Kumar G. V., Jayanthi C. and Hanumanthachar K. Joshi

ABSTRACT

Curcumin loaded alginate – Chitosan nanoparticles prepared by polyelectrolyte complexation and ionotropic gelation method, successfully entrapped curcumin, exhibiting higher encapsulation efficiency of 74% to 94%. Nano particles produced were in the size range 191-298 nm and the Zeta potential found to be in the range of 23-31 mV. Formulations exhibited low dissolution in Simulated Gastric fluid (SGF) & Simulated Intestinal fluid (SIF). SEM image of optimized formulation F5 exhibited spherical, discrete and homogeneous. Nano particles could be transformed into easily redispersible powder form either by freeze drying / vacuum concentration or spray drying for application in nutraceuticals and controlled drug delivery systems. In rats the oral bioavailability (AUC) of curcumin increased after the consumption of curcumin nanosuspension compared to curcumin plain suspension. Maximum plasma concentration Cmax - 625±126 ng/ml was observed at tmax – 2 hours for nanosuspension, whereas Cmax-85.7 ± 15.9 ng/ml at tmax – 4 hours for suspension. Elimination rate constant and t1/2 found to be similar for both curcumin plain suspension and curcumin nanosuspension which signified unaltered elimination profiles irrespective of formulation design. Both curcumin suspension and curcumin nanosuspension were safe and well tolerated in rats and may thus be useful in the prevention or treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

Keywords: Curcumin, Sodium Alginate, chitosan, Nano particles, Ionotropic gelation, Polysorbate 80, pharmacokinetics.