Effect of the Carrier on the Coprecipitation of Curcumin through Supercritical-Assisted Atomization

Abstract

In this paper, composite systems containing curcumin (CUR) were prepared through supercritical-assisted atomization (SAA), using different carriers. Curcumin is particularly interesting in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields for its antioxidant, antitumoral, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its therapeutic effect on human health is restricted by its poor water solubility and low dissolution rate, limiting its absorption after its oral administration. To increase the dissolution rate and then the bioavailability of the active compound, CUR was coprecipitated with polymeric, i.e., polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and dextran (DXT), and not polymeric, i.e., hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD), carriers. The effects of some operating parameters, namely the concentration of solutes in solution and the active compound/carrier ratio, on the morphology and the particle size distribution of the powders were investigated. Submicrometric particles were produced with all the carriers. Under the best operating conditions, the mean diameters ± standard deviation were equal to 0.69 ± 0.20 μm, 0.40 ± 0.13 μm, and 0.81 ± 0.25 μm for PVP/CUR, DXT/CUR, and HP-β-CD/CUR, respectively. CUR dissolution rates from coprecipitated particles were significantly increased in the case of all the carriers. Therefore, the results are exciting from a pharmaceutical and nutraceutical point of view, to produce supplements containing curcumin, but assuring a high dissolution rate and bioavailability and, consequently, a more effective therapeutic effect.

Production of carrier/antioxidant particles by Supercritical Assisted Atomization as an adjuvant treatment of the CoVID-19 pathology

“…Some operating conditions have been fixed, considering that they have been optimized in previous studies [27] , [30] ; for PVP, both the temperatures in the saturator and in the precipitation vessel were fixed at 80 °C, whereas the pressure was set at 9.0 MPa; for HP-β-CD, the temperature and the pressure in the saturator were fixed at 80°C and 9.0 MPa, and the temperature in the precipitation chamber at 90°C. According to previous literature studies, for both the carriers, the CO 2 flow rate was set at 5.4 g/min, and the solvent flow rate at 3 g/min to obtain a GLR (gas-to-liquid ratio) equal to 1.8, which is an optimal value for SAA micronization [27] . Before carrying out the coprecipitation experiments, the pure compounds were processed to underline the importance of using a carrier.…”

“…Supercritical assisted atomization (SAA) has been frequently and efficiently used to obtain coprecipitated microparticles constituted by a carrier (which can be polymeric or not) in which the API is uniformly dispersed [27] , [28] , [29] .…”

Drug Delivery Strategies for Curcumin and Other Natural Nrf2 Modulators of Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases

“…Another advantage of solid dispersions is the possibility for their fabrication using novel techniques such as the supercritical antisolvent process [85] or supercritical-assisted atomisation. These have recently been reported as methods for the preparation of solid dispersions with natural Nrf2 modulators [86].…”

Immediate Release Formulation of Inhaled Beclomethasone Dipropionate-Hydroxypropyl-Beta-Cyclodextrin Composite Particles Produced Using Supercritical Assisted Atomization

“…Supercritical assisted atomization (SAA) has been proposed as an alternative to the abovementioned conventional process for micronization owing to its many advantages, including high yield [ 13 ], continuous scalability [ 14 ], and processing of thermosensitive proteins or low melting materials [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Recently, HP-β-CD has been used as a carrier or excipient in drug coprecipitates produced using SAA, including curcumin/HP-β-CD and propolis/HP-β-CD composites [ 18 , 19 ]. However, the formulation of BDP/HP-β-CD composite for pulmonary delivery has not yet been explored.…”