Encapsulation in lysozyme/A. Sphaerocephala Krasch polysaccharide nanoparticles increases stability and bioefficacy of curcumin

Abstract

A facile approach to fabricate nanoparticles (NPs) via self-assembly of lysozyme (Ly) and purified Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch seed polysaccharide (ASKP-3) was developed for the first time to encapsulate and protect curcumin. The nanoparticle size and morphology were characterized. The results showed that Ly/ASKP-3 NPs were spherical with narrow particle size distribution. Curcumin-loaded NPs greatly increased curcumin stability in phosphate buffer at physiological pH. The cancer cell viability assay indicated that encapsulated curcumin exhibited higher antitumor potential than free curcumin. Curcumin-loaded NPs was effectively endocytosed by HepG2 cells, resulting in enhanced apoptosis in cancer cells as compared to free curcumin. Furthermore, the curcumin-loaded NPs significantly increased the serum level of curcumin in mice after oral administration. Overall, our results demonstrated that nanosized proteins/polysaccharides complex could be used to protect labile lipophilic compounds such as curcumin to enhance their bioavailability in vivo, supporting potential application of curcumin-loaded proteins/polysaccharides complex in functional foods.

Keywords

• A. sphaerocephala Krasch polysaccharide
• Lysozyme
• Nanoparticles
• Curcumin
• Stability
• Bioavailability