Binding studies of curcumin to polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel and its delivery to liposomes

• Published in: Current science (Bangalore) Vol. 95; no. 10; pp. 1426 - 1432
• Main Authors: Shah, C. P., Mishra, B., Kumar, M., Priyadarsini, K. I., Bajaj, P. N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Current Science Association 25-11-2008
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Alcohols; Binding sites; Cumin; Curcuma longa; Fluorescence; Gels; Hydrogels; Iodides; Liposomes; Polymers
• ISSN: 0011-3891

Binding of curcumin, an antioxidant and anti-tumour agent from turmeric, with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been characterized by monitoring changes in the absorption and the fluorescence spectra. The product of the number of binding sites in PVA and the binding constant (K) was determined to be 2.4 x 10⁵ and 1.9 x 10⁵ M⁻¹ by optical absorption and fluorescence techniques respectively. The hydrogel of PVA, produced by γ-irradiation of aqueous solution, also could be loaded with curcumin to a maximum extent of 215 nmol/g. The binding constant of curcumin to PVA hydrogel and the number of binding sites were determined to be 2.6 x 10⁴ M⁻¹ and 2.5 respectively. Studies on the release of curcumin in liposomes indicated that hydrogel could be used as an effective vehicle for transferring curcumin to model lipid membranes, liposomes.