Characterization and anti-proliferative activity of curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles in cervical cancer

In the present study the chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs) and curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CLCsNPs) were synthesized by tripolyphosphate (TPP) cross-linking method. The nanoparticles were prepared within a zone of appropriate chitosan and TPP concentrations. The average size of CsNPs and CLCsNPs were approximately 189 ± 11.8 nm and 197 ± 16.8 nm, exhibited a zeta potential of +76 ± 5.6 mV and +71 ± 6.4 mV respectively and drug entrapment efficiency was ≈85%. The CLCsNPs and CsNPs were further characterized by different physicochemical methods like transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), HPLC, MALDI-TOF, FT-IR, XRD and UV–vis Spectroscopy. In vitro studies revealed a fast release of ≈35% at pH 5 and ≈25% at pH 7.4 of the drug during the first 3 h, followed by controlled release of curcumin over a period of 120 h and sustained anti-proliferative activity of the drug in a dose and time dependent manner of CLCsNPs and combination with methyl jasmonate. The higher cytotoxicity effect of CLCsNPs may be due to their higher cellular uptake as compared to curcumin. Chitosan nanoparticles were not only stable but also a nontoxic. Our data suggested that curcumin loaded nanoformulations, therefore, might be promising candidates in cancer therapy.