Fabrication of Gliadin-Carboxymethyl Chitosan Composite Nanoparticles to Improve the Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Curcumin

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Curcumin (Cur) possesses significant antioxidant properties but suffers from poor bioavailability.
• Developing effective delivery systems is crucial for enhancing curcumin's therapeutic potential.
• Composite nanoparticles offer a promising approach for encapsulating and delivering bioactive compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize curcumin-loaded gliadin-carboxymethyl chitosan composite nanoparticles (GCC NPs).
• To evaluate the physicochemical properties, colloidal stability, and antioxidant activity of the developed GCC NPs.
• To assess the potential of GCC NPs as a delivery platform for curcumin in food and pharmaceutical applications.

Main Methods:

• Antisolvent precipitation method was utilized for nanoparticle synthesis.
• Optimization of gliadin/carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) weight ratio to achieve desired particle size and surface charge.
• Characterization of particle size, surface charge, encapsulation efficiency, and colloidal stability under varying conditions.
• Evaluation of antioxidant activity using ABTS and DPPH assays.

Main Results:

• Optimized GCC NPs (gliadin/CMCS ratio 2:1) exhibited a minimum particle size of 184.13 ± 5.49 nm and a negative surface charge of -27.57 ± 1.07 mV.
• Encapsulation efficiency of curcumin was significantly improved from 77.46% to 93.88% with CMCS addition.
• GCC NPs demonstrated excellent colloidal stability across various pH values and salt concentrations.
• Encapsulated curcumin within GCC NPs showed markedly enhanced antioxidant activity, with SC50 values of 4.98 µg/mL (ABTS) and 9.86 µg/mL (DPPH).

Conclusions:

• Gliadin-carboxymethyl chitosan composite nanoparticles are effectively synthesized using antisolvent precipitation.
• The developed GCC NPs provide a stable and efficient platform for curcumin encapsulation, significantly improving its bioavailability and antioxidant capacity.
• GCC NPs represent a promising delivery system for curcumin in food and pharmaceutical preparations, enhancing its therapeutic efficacy.