ENHANCEMENT OF CURCUMIN BIOAVAILABILITY USING A CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM BASED ON CHITOSAN AND GREEN IRON OXIDE NANOPARTICLES (Fe3O4)

Curcumin (Cur), extracted from turmeric rhizomes (Curcuma longa), exhibits antiparasitic properties, making it a promising candidate for schistosomiasis mansoni treatment due to its low cost and absence of side effects. However, its chemical instability and water insolubility limit its therapeutic application. Green iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-green NPs), synthesized following Green Chemistry principles, serve as biocompatible carriers with magnetic properties. When combined with chitosan (Chit), a biopolymer capable of encapsulating curcumin, they create a controlled release system to enhance curcumin’s stability and bioavailability. The objective of this study is to develop the Chit-Cur-Fe3O4-green controlled release system. Fe3O4-green NPs were synthesized using Fe2+ ions, potato peel, and sodium carbonate. The system was prepared by combining chitosan, Fe3O4-green NPs, curcumin, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N’-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC), and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Characterization included X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), fluorescence, thermal analysis and magnetic property. Controlled release was tested over 500 h in phosphatebuffered saline (PBS), with curcumin concentration determined by UV-Vis. Pharmacokinetics were analyzed using kinetics models. The system achieved 100% encapsulation efficiency and released 50% of curcumin over 400 h, reaching equilibrium at 370 mg L–1. The release followed a diffusion-controlled mechanism. The Chit-Cur-Fe3O4-green system enhanced curcumin’s bioavailability and stability, demonstrating potential for therapeutic applications.