pH-controlled release feature of chitosan assembled silica nanoparticles containing nano-formulated curcumin over in vitro gastric and physiological condition

Low water solubility leading to poor bioavailability has an impact on the decreasing of curcumin uptake in the body, resulting in a deficiency of its medicinal benefits. This study aims to overcome the limitations of curcumin by formulating a nano-emulsion called curcumin emulsion (CE). Furthermore, in order to improve the physi-cochemical properties and drug release features, the CE was encapsulated within chitosan-assembled mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Chi@SiO2@CE). This material was prepared using a one-pot method and was characterized by Attenuated-total reflectance (ATR-FTIR), Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), N2 adsorption-desorption, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Additionally, antioxidant activity and in vitro drug release were also conducted. The study demonstrated that CE has strong antioxidant activity (IC50 = 14.14 & mu;M) compared to curcumin alone. Additionally, the Chi@SiO2@CE exhibited pH-controlled release behavior, with less than 20% release of curcumin under an artificial gastric environment and 50% release under pH 7.4 conditions within 24 h. Therefore, this research suggest that Chi@SiO2@CE material has potential as a pH-responsive drug delivery material.