Statistical Optimization of Production Conditions of Polycaprolactone-Chitosan-Curcumin Particles

Abstract

Curcumin is an herbal plant with great therapeutic applications. Although it is useful in treating several diseases, its low solubility in water and low bioavailability in living systems are limiting factors in using curcumin as a medicine. One way to overcome these shortcomings is the production of curcumin micro/nano particles. In this research, the particles of curcumin loaded with polycaprolactone (PCL)/chitosan were synthesized by the electrospray technique. To obtain the optimal conditions, statistical optimization was carried out through Response Surface Method (RSM). The effect of flow rate, polymer concentration and PCL weight percentage on solution properties, mean particle size and particle size distribution were investigated. According to experimental results, the optimal size (471 nm) and size distribution (103) of particles were found at the lowest level of polymer concentration (2%) and flow rate (0.25 ml/hr) and the highest level of PCL weight percentage (80%). Thus, the result of this study can be used to improve the quality of curcumin based medicine.

Keywords

• curcumin: electrospray: micro/nano particles: statistical optimization: design of experiment