Coaxial Electrospray of Curcumin-Loaded Microparticles for Sustained Drug Release

PLoS One. 2015 Jul 24;10(7):e0132609. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132609. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Curcumin exhibits superior anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and analgesic activities without significant side effects. However, clinical dissemination of this natural medicine is limited by its low solubility and poor bio-availability. To overcome this limitation, we propose to encapsulate curcumin in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MPs) by an improved coaxial electrospray (CES) process. This process is able to generate a stable cone-jet mode in a wide range of operation parameters in order to produce curcumin-loaded PLGA MPs with a clear core-shell structure and a designated size of several micrometers. In order to optimize the process outcome, the effects of primary operation parameters such as the applied electric voltages and the liquid flow rates are studied systemically. In vitro drug release experiments are also carried out for the CES-produced MPs in comparison with those by a single axial electrospray process. Our experimental results show that the CES process can be effectively controlled to encapsulate drugs of low aqueous solubility for high encapsulation efficiency and optimal drug release profiles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell-Derived Microparticles / chemistry*
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / instrumentation*
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / methods
  • Curcumin / chemistry
  • Curcumin / pharmacokinetics*
  • Delayed-Action Preparations / chemistry
  • Drug Liberation
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry
  • Particle Size
  • Polyglycolic Acid / chemistry
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer

Substances

  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid
  • Curcumin

Grants and funding

This work is partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11472270, 81327803) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.