Curcumin enriched nanoformulation: Characterization, solubility, stability and associated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tyrosinase properties

Abstract

curcumin (CUR), a natural bioactive, chiefly present in Curcuma longa L. rhizomes, exerts therapeutic potential for numerous chronic disorders by virtue of its profound anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tyrosinase action. Nonetheless, its therapeutic utility is hinders owing to its poor solubility, stability issues, fast metabolism, poor absorption and bioavailability issues. Polymer based nano systems have fascinated scientific community over the past few decades. As a potential polymer system, β-cyclodextrin nanosponges demonstrated the potential to entrap bioactives and aid in their solubility, stability and bioavailability. Hence, the current research work is aimed to formulate, characterize curcumin enriched nanosponges (CUR-NSs) and evaluate the anti-oxidant, anti-tyrosinase and anti-inflammatory activities. Initially, curcumin enriched nanosponges were fabricated by varying polymer: cross-linker ratios resulting in expectable entrapment, size and release profile. Besides successful characterization, solubility and photostability of CURNS4 were found enhanced in comparison to pure bioactive. Further, findings of anti-oxidant, anti-tyrosinase and anti-inflammatory activities were found promising for CUR nanosponges. In vitro release of CUR was found enhanced in CURNS4 compared to pure bioactive. Hence, findings of this research work highlight the significance of CUR enriched nanosponges to appraise its effectiveness