A novel carrier delivery system for curcumin based on porous silicon (pSi) has been developed. The pSi film was prepared by electrochemical etching method and the microparticles of pSi were obtained by ultrasonication. The pSi film and particles of pSi were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Sodium nitrite can induce curcumin into pSi and improve the drug loading (DL) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) of curcumin in double-distilled water loading buffer solution. Curcumin on the pSi surface was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-spectroscopy. The optimal loading conditions of curcumin in pSi are investigated. The curcumin in pSi keeps more than 95% bioactivity for 3 h and good repeatability. The cumulative release ratio of curcumin from PSi can reach 35% after 10 h. The in vitro cytotoxicity of curcumin loaded pSi was evaluated with HT-29 and NCM460 cell lines. The pSi delivery carrier can provide a controlled release and efficacy system for curcumin.
Keywords: curcumin; cytotoxicity evaluation; encapsulation; porous silicon; release.