Novel star-type methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) copolymeric nanoparticles for controlled release of curcumin

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 1 - 12
• Main Authors: Feng, Runliang, Zhu, Wenxia, Song, Zhimei, Zhao, Liyan, Zhai, Guangxi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-06-2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical synthesis methods; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Dialysis; Ethanol; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Materials Science; Methods of nanofabrication; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optics; Others; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Raw materials; Research Paper; Solubility; Various methods and equipments; In vitro release; Curcumin; Star MPEG–PCL; Nanoparticle; Encapsulation; Drugs; Solubility; Polymerization; Polyethylene glycols; Ethylene oxide polymer; Hydrolysis; Nanoparticles; Copolymers; Star MPEG―PCL; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Alcoholic solution; Polycaprolactone; Nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-013-1748-5

To improve curcumin’s (CURs) water solubility and release property, a novel star methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(ε-caprolactone) (MPEG–PCL) copolymer was synthesized through O-alkylation, basic hydrolysis and ring-opening polymerization reaction with MPEG, epichlorohydrin, and ε-caprolactone as raw materials. The structure of the novel copolymer was characterized by
1
H NMR, FT-IR, and GPC. The results of FT-IR and differential scanning calorimeter of CUR-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) prepared by dialysis method showed that CUR was successfully encapsulated into the SMP12 copolymeric NPs with 98.2 % of entrapment efficiency, 10.91 % of drug loading, and 88.4 ± 11.2 nm of mean particle diameter in amorphous forms. The dissolubility of nanoparticulate CUR was increased by 1.38 × 10
5
times over CUR in water. The obtained blank copolymer showed no hemolysis. A sustained CUR release to a total of approximately 56.13 % was discovered from CUR-NPs in 40 % of ethanol saline solution within 72 h on the use of dialysis method. The release behavior fitted the ambiexponent and biphasic kinetics equation. In conclusion, the copolymeric NPs loading CUR might serve as a potential nanocarrier to improve the solubility and release property of CUR.