Curcumin loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanofiber for the treatment of carcinoma

• Synthesis of low molecular weight PLGA copolymers with different ratio.
• First report on curcumin loaded PLGA nanofibers for the treatment of carcinoma.
• Higher drug loading efficiency due to larger surface area to volume ratio.
• Enhanced hydrophilicity and bioavailability due to increase in GA content.
• Controlled curcumin release resulting in gradual cell death.

Poly (dl-lactic-co-glycolic) acid [PLGA] copolymers with different ratios (78/22, 68/32 and 61/39) and molecular weight (15,400, 11,000 and 10,000 Da) were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, GPC and TGA-DTA studies. Curcumin loaded PLGA with the size of 100–300 nm were obtained by electrospinning in which no visible aggregation observed on the surface. The diameter of CPNF (61/39) nanofiber obtained from the topographical imaging by AFM is 160 ± 10 nm. The water contact angle measurements indicate that an increase in GA content results in increase in the hydrophilicity of the PLGA copolymer. The in vitro release profile and release kinetics from the CPNF demonstrated a sustained release of curcumin from CPNF. The release profile follows Korsmeyer–Peppas model suggesting a combination of surface drug dissolution and non-Fickian diffusion as a major drug release mechanism. The effect of CPNF on cell viability was assessed by the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay to examine the cytotoxic effect of released curcumin on A431 cells in vitro.

The curcumin loaded PLGA nanofibers (CPNF) were prepared by electrospun method. It is a platform for controlled drug delivery of curcumin for skin cancer studies. The CPNF is a capable of delivering curcumin in a controlled manner.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide