Formulation design, preparation and characterization of drug carrier polysaccharide nanocomposite containing Curcumin

In this research, with the aim of improve the loading efficiency and particle size Chitosan (CS)-Montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposite were prepared using a ionic gelatinization method for controlled delivery of curcumin. Different formulation and processing variables (Cs concentration, MMT percentage, surfactant concentration, drug amount and sonication time) were used to determine the optimal formulation. Polysaccharide concentration, surfactant concentration and sonication time had higher effect on particle size. MMT addition significantly enhanced the entrapment efficiency of Curcumin and the optimal value for MMT was 3 w%. Also, the increase in drug amount (mg/ml) resulted in the increase in entrapment efficiency. Physicochemical characteristics of optimal formulation were determined in terms of entrapment efficiency, release profile, Size, Zeta potential, surface morphology and FTIR spectra. Formulation 2A with a particle size of 23.8-31.3 nm, a loading efficiency of 93.71% and a Zeta potential of -73.38 ± 0.88 m were selected as the optimal formulation. SEM and FTIR studies revealed spherical morphology and lack of chemical interaction between nanosystem and drug. The in vitro release study showed that Curcumin had a slow and sustained release profile at basic pH 7.4, which significantly increased at acidic pH of 4.5. The maximum release of the drug from nanocomposite was 80% at 37°C, pH 4.5 after 24 hours.