Curcumin-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle-Embedded Injectable Thermoresponsive Chitosan Hydrogel for Sustained Drug Delivery: Curcumin-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle

Mitra  Asadian; Ladan Rashidi; Fariba Ganji

doi:10.66224/BiotechIntellect.3.1.51

Authors

Mitra Asadian Department of Biomaterials, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Technologies, Tarbiat Modares University, 14115-336, Tehran, Iran

Ladan Rashidi Department of Food and Agricultural Products, Food Technology and Agricultural Products Research Center, Standard Research Institute (SRI), Karaj, I.R. IRAN, PO Box 31745-139, Karaj, Iran

Fariba Ganji Biomedical Engineering Group, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, PO Box 14115-143, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.66224/BiotechIntellect.3.1.51

Keywords:

Chitosan Injectable Hydrogel, Curcumin, Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles, Cell Uptake

Abstract

Background and Aim: Curcumin as natural bioactive compound with therapeutic potential; however, has limited clinical application due to poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, and rapid metabolism. This study aimed to develop an injectable thermoresponsive chitosan/β-glycerophosphate hydrogel incorporating curcumin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles to achieve sustained local delivery of curcumin.

Methods: MSNs were synthesized, loaded with curcumin, and dispersed into a chitosan/β-glycerophosphate solution to prepare an injectable in situ gelling hydrogel. The prepared formulations were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X-Ray Diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Curcumin loading capacity and entrapment efficiency were determined, while in vitro drug release was evaluated in simulated body fluid (pH 7.4). Biocompatibility was assessed on healthy primary human mammary fibroblasts, and cellular uptake was examined by transmission electron microscopy using Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 cells.

Results and Discussion: The loading capacity and entrapment efficiency of MSNs-curcumin were 20 wt% and 78 wt%, respectively. Characterization confirmed successful incorporation of curcumin into the MSNs and their uniform distribution within the hydrogel network. The chitosan/β-glycerophosphate/MSNs-curcumin hydrogel exhibited a prolonged curcumin release profile with minimal initial burst release under physiological conditions. MTT assay demonstrated that both MSNs-curcumin and chitosan/β-glycerophosphate/MSNs-curcumin maintained over 90% viability of HPHMF cells after 24 and 48 h, indicating good biocompatibility. Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed successful cellular internalization of MSNs-curcumin by Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 cells. These findings suggest that the developed injectable hydrogel is a promising platform for sustained localized delivery of curcumin and other hydrophobic therapeutic agents.

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Curcumin-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle-Embedded Injectable Thermoresponsive Chitosan Hydrogel for Sustained Drug Delivery