PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY OF THE CONTROLLED DRUG RELEASE SYSTEM COMPOSED OF CURCUMIN ENCAPSULATED IN CHITOSAN AND CARRIED BY GREEN IRON OXIDE (Fe3O4) NANOPARTICLES

Problem: Curcumin comes from turmeric (Curcuma longa) and is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial and antiparasitic, has low cost and no side effects, making it a promising candidate for schistosomiasis mansoni treatment. However, curcumin is unstable and insoluble in water. Solution: A controlled drug release system can improve the properties of curcumin. Green iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄-green) are biocompatible and interact with magnetic fields and chitosan is a biopolymer and polysaccharide that can encapsulate curcumin, increasing its stability and solubility and improving the dispersion and oxidation of Fe₃O₄-green. Thus, this work aims to produce a curcumin release system encapsulated in chitosan and carried by Fe₃O₄-green; Methodology: Fe₃O₄-green was synthesized by Green Chemistry, with Fe⁺², English potato peel (Solanum tuberosum) and sodium carbonate. The system was produced from chitosan in acetic acid, Fe₃O₄-green, curcumin in acetone, EDC and NHS. The characterization techniques were: XRD, SEM, FTIR, TG, DLS, magnetic properties and AGREE. The controlled release was carried out over 400 h with 25 mg of the system and 2 mL of PBS, 1 mL aliquots were collected in 1h-1h and replaced with 1 mL of PBS and the concentration of curcumin released was determined by UV-Vis. Pharmacokinetics was performed with the models: zero and first order, Korsmeyer-Peppas and Hixson-Crowell. Results and discussion: The characterization techniques confirmed the production of the system. The system achieved 100% encapsulation efficiency and released 50% of curcumin over 400 h, reaching equilibrium at 370 mg L^-1, thus, Korsmeyer-Peppas was the model that best fit, characterized by diffusion. Conclusion: The system enhanced curcumin’s bioavailability and stability, demonstrating potential for therapeutic applications.