N,N-Dimethyl chitosan and N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles were successful obtained.
•
Curcumin was loaded into nanoparticles and release studies were performed in SGF and SIF.
•
Nanoparticles loaded with curcumin have greater biocompatibility on healthy VERO cells.
•
Loaded N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles has slight cytotoxicity on SiHa cancerous cells.
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) based on N,N-dimethyl chitosan (DMC) and N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC), physical crosslinked with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) were successful obtained, using water/benzyl alcohol emulsion system. NPs morphologies were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy. NPs were characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis, Zeta Potential, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Wide-angle X-ray Scattering. Curcumin (CUR) was loaded onto NPs and controlled release studies were evaluated in simulated intestinal fluid and in simulated gastric fluid. Cytotoxicity assays showed only loaded TMC/TPP particles containing CUR were slightly cytotoxic on human cervical tumor cells (SiHa cells), concerning unloaded TMC/TPP particles. Conversely, loaded NPs (TMC/TPP/CUR and DMC/TPP/CUR), especially TMC/TPP/CUR sample presented greater biocompatibility toward healthy VERO cells than unloaded NPs (TMC/TPP and DMC/TPP).
