CHITOSAN-GOLD NANOPARTICLES AS DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR CURCUMIN

The present study deals with investigating the effect of chitosan nano particles as carriers for an anticancer drug curcumin. The chitosan-curcumin nanocapsules were prepared in the presence and absence of gold nanoparticles via solvent evaporation method. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy was done to characterize the drug entrapped nanocapsules. The average diameter of gold nanoparticles was found to be in the range of 18-20 nm and size of the nanocapsules was found to be in the range of 200-250 nm. Fourier transform-infrared analysis revealed no possible interactions among the constituents with the chitosan nanoparticles. The controlled drug release of anticancer drug entrapped nanocapsules was carried out in 0.1M HCl and 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7). Experimental studies revealed that curcumin encapsulated chitosan with gold nanoparticles was controlled and steady when compared with curcumin encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles. Application of in vitro drug release date to various kinetic equations indicated higuchi matrix model indicating uniform distribution of curcumin in the nanocapsules.