High-Payload Buccal Delivery System of Amorphous Curcumin–Chitosan Nanoparticle Complex in Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and Starch Films

Abstract

Oral delivery of curcumin (CUR) has limited effectiveness due to CUR’s poor systemic bioavailability caused by its first-pass metabolism and low solubility. Buccal delivery of CUR nanoparticles can address the poor bioavailability issue by virtue of avoidance of first-pass metabolism and solubility enhancement afforded by CUR nanoparticles. Buccal film delivery of drug nanoparticles, nevertheless, has been limited to low drug payload. Herein, we evaluated the feasibilities of three mucoadhesive polysaccharides, i.e., hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), starch, and hydroxypropyl starch as buccal films of amorphous CUR–chitosan nanoplex at high CUR payload. Both HPMC and starch films could accommodate high CUR payload without adverse effects on the films’ characteristics. Starch films exhibited far superior CUR release profiles at high CUR payload as the faster disintegration time of starch films lowered the precipitation propensity of the highly supersaturated CUR concentration generated by the nanoplex. Compared to unmodified starch, hydroxypropyl starch films exhibited superior CUR release, with sustained release of nearly 100% of the CUR payload in 4 h. Hydroxypropyl starch films also exhibited good payload uniformity, minimal weight/thickness variations, high folding endurance, and good long-term storage stability. The present results established hydroxypropyl starch as the suitable mucoadhesive polysaccharide for high-payload buccal film applications.

Curcumin coated 3D biocomposite scaffolds based on chitosan and cellulose for diabetic wound healing

“…Methylcellulose biopolymer is hydrophilic, biodegradable and exhibit excellent film-making properties for wound dressing applications [ 17 ]. Methyl cellulose can form miscible blends with Chitosan and these are compatible with curcumin [ 18 ]. Curcumin (1,7-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dion) is an active component found in the creeping rootstalk of Curcuma longa [ 19 ].…”

Biopolymers in Drug and Gene Delivery Systems

“…The development of biopolymer composite films for drug delivery is the subject of three papers in the Special Issue [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Lim et al [ 7 ] evaluated the feasibility of using three mucoadhesive polysaccharides (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, starch, and hydroxypropyl starch) to develop curcumin-loaded buccal films delivered in the form of chitosan nanoparticles.…”

“…The development of biopolymer composite films for drug delivery is the subject of three papers in the Special Issue [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Lim et al [ 7 ] evaluated the feasibility of using three mucoadhesive polysaccharides (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, starch, and hydroxypropyl starch) to develop curcumin-loaded buccal films delivered in the form of chitosan nanoparticles. The results indicated that hydroxypropyl starch is the most suitable mucoadhesive polysaccharide for developing curcumin-loaded buccal films due to the superior curcumin release, good payload uniformity, minimal weight/thickness variations, high folding resistance, and good long-term storage stability of the composite films.…”