Formulation of Green PGD Polymeric Nanoparticles of Curcumin: Physicochemical Characterization, Stability testing and Docking Study Targeting BTK

¹ Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Biotechnology Department, New Borg El-Arab City, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt
² PharmD Program, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), New Borg El-Arab City, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt
³ PharmD Program, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), New Borg El-Arab City, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt
⁴ PharmD Program, Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST), New Borg El-Arab City, 21934, Alexandria, Egypt
⁵ Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology, Biotechnology Program, Alexandria Governorate, New Borg Al Arab 21934, Egypt

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Polymers structured as nanoparticles for encapsulating the hydrophobic drugs is a strategy considered as a useful way to improve drug absorption and lower off-target activity. Curcumin is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties, but it is not clinically used much because it does not dissolve well in water (600 ng/mL), this hampers its targeted delivery and bioavailability. Formulating a green, non-toxic and biocompatible nanoparticle system to retain curcumin utilizing poly(glyceryl succinateadipate) polymer via a polycondensation process, tackled these challenges and made curcumin a powerful anti-inflammatory agent against many inflammatory diseases as arthritis. The formulation revealed a remarkable increment in solubility and stability in deionized water intended for intraarticular injection. Furthermore, the nanoparticle dimensions were optimized to enhance therapeutic penetration into intra-articular cells. This technology gives drugs the chance to stay in the body longer, release more efficiently, and spread out more evenly than the free drug. The accumulation of curcumin in deep synovial tissues facilitates its interaction with novel targets, such as Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK), suggesting a potential therapeutic role for curcumin as a BTK inhibitor. This study viewed a full physicochemical characterization for the produced formulation, tested its short-term stability by different concentrations of sodium sulphate, and did a molecular docking analysis to see how well it binds and how useful it is as a treatment.