ABSTRACT
Preparation of folic acid (FA) conjugated (FA-CUR-GNPs) and non-conjugated (CUR-GNPs) gliadin nanoparticles of curcumin were successfully formulated by desolvation method for oral delivery of drug for targeting colon cancer cell. F1, F3, F5 (conjugated) and F2, F4, F6 (Non-conjugated) were formulated using various drug-polymer ratio (1:2). They were further characterized by FTIR, Mass spectroscopy, NMR, solubility studies, entrapment efficiency, TEM, particle size, surface charge, In-vitro release studies, In vivo toxicity studies and simultaneously evaluated. F3 (curcumin 10mg, gliadin 20mg and FA 5mg) and F4 (curcumin 10mg and gliadin 20 mg) were found as the optimized formulation among both the categories. For F3 and F4 formulations; average particle size (168.1 and 195.7nm), zeta potential (-16.5 and -24.4mV), cumulative % drug release (92.92 and 94%) and In vivo toxicity studies were conducted and compared with the control (phosphate-buffer saline, pH 6.8) reveals no toxicity. From the characterization and evaluation studies it was identified that F4 (FA-CUR-GNPs) had better solubility, In vitro release profile and no specified In-vivo toxicity than F3 (CUR-GNPs) formulation with nano-range particle size throughout the experiment. Improved bioavailability and increase targeting capacity toward colon cancer tumor cells were successfully achieved.