Electrosprayed curcumin‐zein@polycaprolactone‐mucilage capsules for an improved sustained release

Abstract

Nanocapsules of curcumin-zein as core and polycaprolactone-mucilage (PCL-MUC) as a shell were effectively made by using an electrospray process for drug delivery applications. Because of its anticancer and anti-inflammatory qualities, curcumin (Cur) was chosen as a model medicine, and its stability was improved by combining it with zein. The monodisperse and spherical shapes of CUR-ZEIN@PCL-MUC nanocapsules with an average diameter of 200 nm were obtained and validated by SEM and TEM images by altering spinning voltage, flow rates, polymeric concentrations, and drug content. FTIR was used to determine the chemical structure of the nanocapsules. In addition, the in vitro release was investigated, with samples exhibiting a burst release for the first 6 h followed by a sustained release for the next 24 h. The results show that adding opuntia mucilage and zein improved the curcumin release rate. Overall, 30% curcumin release was observed after 24 h, as described by the Ritger-Peppas model.