Eggshell Membrane Based Turmeric Extract Loaded Orally Disintegrating Films

Abstract

Background: The increasing interest in using natural bioactive compounds as new drug candidates due to their low solubility led to designing and developing novel drug delivery systems. Out of those, orally disintegrating films (ODFs) are a very eminent drug delivery system among pediatrics and geriatrics.

Objective: In our study, the solvent casting method was used to prepare eggshell membrane-based and turmeric extract loaded orally disintegrating films.

Methods: Characterization of the prepared films was done with FTIR, AFM, and SEM analysis. The release profile of the turmeric extract was determined and fitted to the mathematical models.

Results: AFM results showed that the best interaction between components was achieved in Film 2. The highest cumulative release percentage was obtained for the film with 7.5% (w/w) turmeric extract (Film-2) as 41.98%, based on the HPLC measurements. The Higuchi model was the best-- fitted model for Film 2.

Conclusion: In this study, SEP and CMCH were used for the first time as biopolymers to prepare the orally disintegrating film. Turmeric extract was successfully integrated into films prepared from SEP and CMCH.

Keywords: Orally disintegrating films; biopolymers; curcuminoids; eggshell membrane; plant-based bioactive compounds; turmeric extract.