Preparation, Characterization, and Antioxidant Properties of Self-Assembled Nanomicelles of Curcumin-Loaded Amphiphilic Modified Chitosan
Qizhou Chen,
Yuwei Jiang,
Linlan Yuan,
Lifen Liu,
Xufeng Zhu,
Rimeng Chen,
Zhuo Wang,
Kefeng Wu,
Hui Luo,
Qianqian Ouyang
Affiliations
Qizhou Chen
School of Ocean and Tropical Medicine, Research Center of Nano Technology and Application Engineering, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
Yuwei Jiang
School of Ocean and Tropical Medicine, Research Center of Nano Technology and Application Engineering, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
Linlan Yuan
School of Ocean and Tropical Medicine, Research Center of Nano Technology and Application Engineering, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
Lifen Liu
School of Ocean and Tropical Medicine, Research Center of Nano Technology and Application Engineering, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
Xufeng Zhu
School of Ocean and Tropical Medicine, Research Center of Nano Technology and Application Engineering, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
Rimeng Chen
Zhanjiang Institute for Drug Control, Zhanjiang 524023, China
Zhuo Wang
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Processing and Safety, College of Food Science and Technology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
Kefeng Wu
School of Ocean and Tropical Medicine, Research Center of Nano Technology and Application Engineering, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
Hui Luo
School of Ocean and Tropical Medicine, Research Center of Nano Technology and Application Engineering, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
Qianqian Ouyang
School of Ocean and Tropical Medicine, Research Center of Nano Technology and Application Engineering, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524023, China
Curcumin (Cur) is a phytochemical with various beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. However, its hydrophobicity, poor bioavailability, and stability limit its application in many biological approaches. In this study, a novel amphiphilic chitosan wall material was synthesized. The process was carried out via grafting chitosan with succinic anhydride (SA) as a hydrophilic group and deoxycholic acid (DA) as a hydrophobic group; 1H-NMR, FTIR, and XRD were employed to characterize the amphiphilic chitosan (CS—SA—DA). Using a low-cost, inorganic solvent-based procedure, CS—SA—DA was self-assembled to load Cur nanomicelles. This amphiphilic polymer formed self-assembled micelles with a core–shell structure and a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 0.093 mg·mL−1. Cur-loaded nanomicelles were prepared by self-assembly and characterized by the Nano Particle Size Potential Analyzer and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mean particle size of the spherical Cur-loaded micelles was 770 nm. The drug entrapment efficiency and loading capacities were up to 80.80 ± 0.99% and 19.02 ± 0.46%, respectively. The in vitro release profiles of curcumin from micelles showed a constant release of the active drug molecule. Cytotoxicity studies and toxicity tests for zebrafish exhibited the comparable efficacy and safety of this delivery system. Moreover, the results showed that the entrapment of curcumin in micelles improves its stability, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity.
