CURCUMIN-LOADED LIPID-DEXTRAN SULFATE NANOPARTICLES: PREPARATION AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION

Curcumin (CUR) is a polyphenol compound presenting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties1. The very low solubility of this drug in aqueous media requires the construction of a delivery system for medical applications. In this context, this work aimed to develop a CUR nanocarrier based on lipid nanoparticle systems². The organic phase was prepared by dissolving DSPC, DSPE-PEG, and cholesterol in ethanol, where CUR was added. In order to obtain a complex, a dextran sulfate solution was used as the aqueous phase. DOTAP was used as cationic lipid and was added in the organic or aqueous phase. Also, two total lipid concentrations were tested (55 or 110 mM). The aqueous to organic phase ratio was kept at 3:1 (v/v). The organic phase was added to the aqueous phase at a flow rate of 200 µL/min to form the nanoparticles, and following the ethanol was removed by dialysis. DLS measurements showed the formation of monodispersed lipid nanoparticles displaying sizes ranging from 100 to 150 nm and zeta potential values ranging from +20 to +30 mV. TEM images showed uniform spherical particles with sizes similar to those obtained by DLS. The CUR content obtained by UV-Vis spectroscopy varied from 1.4 to 1.7 µM, indicating that the lipid nanoparticle may be useful for carrying this lipophilic drug.