Optimization and Characterization of Curcumin-Loaded Liposomes: Enhancing Bioavailability through Ethanol Injection Method

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077 China

^* Corresponding author: jiayi.ma@connect.polyu.hk

Abstract

Curcumin, extracted from ginger, is renowned for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer. However, its instability and susceptibility to environmental factors lead to low bioavailability, hindering its use as an ideal oral preparation. To overcome this, this study explores the encapsulation of curcumin in liposomes to enhance its bioavailability, providing a viable drug carrier for clinical applications. Liposomes, due to their distinctive structure-activity relationship, facilitate increase their absorption and utilization in the body. This study utilized the ethanol injection method to prepare curcumin, with a focus on optimizing encapsulation efficiency, particle size, and polydispersion index intending to ascertain the most favorable preparation conditions. Extensive testing determined the optimal component content in curcumin liposomes and control tests were conducted in diverse environments to refine the data on curcumin. The optimal preparation process identified involves a cholesterol to lecithin ratio of 1:3, a curcumin to lecithin ratio of 1:12, a phosphate-buffered paline concentration of 0.2mol/L, a pH of 6.5, an addition amount of 30ml, and a water bath temperature of 45 ℃. Under these conditions, we achieved an optimal encapsulation efficiency of 77.58%, a particle size of 153.9nm, a polydispersion index of 0.180, and a Zeta potential of -11.3mV.