Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology

The aim of the present study is to prepare and optimize polymeric nanoparticles for site specific delivery of curcumin in colon cancer. The nanoparticles were formulated by nanoprecipitation method employing eudragit S100, a pH sensitive polymer for site specific delivery. The Box-Behnken experimental design (BBD) was applied for optimization and validation of formulation. The optimized formulation was characterized for surface morphology, particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release of drug and stability. The results of characterization revealed smooth surface of nanoparticles and particle size was obtained to be 122.38±0.75nm. The value of polydispersity index, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency were found to be 0.298 and -38.79±0.05mV and 61.73±0.06, respectively. The in vitro drug release profile showed minimal drug release at pH 1.2 and pH 6.8 whereas higher and sustained drug release was found at pH 7.4, corresponding to pH of colon. The nanoparticles were found to be stable at refrigerated conditions. The results of the study suggest that hydrophobic herbal molecule like curcumin, with evident anti-cancer activity in colon cancer, can be successfully encapsulated in nano-particluate system for improving therapeutic efficiency and site specific delivery to colon.