N-trimethyl chitosan chloride-coated liposomes for the oral delivery of curcumin

Abstract

The aims of this study were to design the formulation of curcumin (CUR) liposomes coated with N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC) and to evaluate in vitro release characteristics and in vivo pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of TMC-coated CUR liposomes in rats. The structure of synthesized TMC was examined by infrared spectroscopy, with the presence of trimethyl groups, and by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, indicating the high degree of substitution quaternization (65.6%). Liposomes, composed of soybean phosphotidylcholine, cholestrol, and D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate, were prepared by a thin-film dispersion method. Characteristics of the CUR liposomes, including entrapment efficiency (86.67%), drug-loading efficiency (2.33%), morphology, particle size (221.4 nm for uncoated liposomes and 657.7 nm for TMC-coated liposomes), and zeta potential (-9.63 mV for uncoated liposomes and +15.64 mV for TMC-coated liposomes) were investigated. Uncoated CUR liposomes and TMC-coated CUR liposomes showed a similar in vitro release profile. Nearly 50% of CUR was released from liposomes, whereas 80% of CUR was released from CUR propylene glycol solution. CUR incorporated into TMC-coated liposomes exhibited different pharmacokinetic parameters and enhanced bioavailability (C(max) = 46.13 μg/L, t(1/2) = 12.05 hours, AUC = 416.58 μg/L·h), compared with CUR encapsulated by uncoated liposomes (C(max) = 32.12 μg/L, t(1/2) = 9.79 hours, AUC = 263.77 μg/L·h) and CUR suspension (C(max) = 35.46 μg/L, t(1/2) = 3.85 hours, AUC = 244.77 μg/L·h). In conclusion, oral delivery of coated CUR liposomes is a promising strategy for poorly water-soluble CUR.

Self-emulsifying drug delivery system and the applications in herbal drugs

“…By comparing the herbal drug-loaded systems, the SEDDS were considered to have remarkable advantages (the technology is simple and easy to direct production, higher drug loading, easy to storage in liquid and solid dosage forms) over the other formulations in deliverying herbal medicine. For example, the drug loading of curcumin in SMEDDS was 6.73 AE 0.92% , was higher than that in liposome (2.33%) (Chen et al, 2012a), triblock copolymeric micelles (6.4 AE 0.02 %) (Song et al, 2011) and gelatin microspheres (6.15 AE 0.44%) . As it described in Figure 2, SEDDS is an isotropic and thermodynamically stable solution consisting of oil, surfactant, cosurfactant and drug that can spontaneously form oil-in-water micro/nanoemulsion when mixed with water under gentle stirring.…”

Recent Developments in Delivery, Bioavailability, Absorption and Metabolism of Curcumin: the Golden Pigment from Golden Spice

“…Another study showed that curcumin incorporated into N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC)-coated liposomes exhibited different pharmacokinetic parameters and enhanced bioavailability, compared with curcumin encapsulated by uncoated liposomes and curcumin suspension. Uncoated curcumin liposomes and TMC-coated curcumin liposomes showed a similar in vitro release profile [62]. In order to facilitate the intracellular delivery of curcumin, a new type of liposomes-propylene glycol liposomes (PGL) were prepared.…”

Preparation and cytotoxicity of N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan/alginate beads containing gold nanoparticles

“…Due to, mucoadhesivity, biodegradability and good antimicrobial properties of TMC, many papers focusing on this polymer have been published in the recent scientific literature reporting its biomedical applications [6][7][8][9]. Sodium alginate (ALG) is an anionic polysaccharide obtained from marine algae.…”