Curcumin loaded casein submicron-sized gels as drug delivery systems

Abstract

Abstract Hydrogels from natural polyelectrolytes possess many important features such as low toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability and hydrophilicity. These properties make them very suitable for applications such as immobilization and controlled release of drugs and other types of biologically active molecules. In the present study submicron-sized hydrogels made from casein by ionotropic gelation are investigated. For this purpose, two types of crosslinking agents are used at different pH conditions. In order to characterize these submicron gels, their sizes, chemical structures and thermal stability are examined by dynamic light scattering (DLS), FT-IR and Differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC) respectively. To prove their immobilization ability, active compound, namely curcumin, is immobilized in the hydrogel’s structures. DPPH assay is conducted to establish the antioxidant properties of the curcumin before and after the immobilization. The loading efficiency of the nanostructures together with the curcumin release kinetics are evaluated and modelled mathematically.