RESUMEN
Objective: The preparation process of curcumin-loaded TPGS/F127/P123 mixed micelles was optimized with uniform design method to improve the poor solubility of curcumin in water, aiming to increase entrapment efficiency (EE), drug-loading (DL), and reduce the precipitated drug (PD). Methods: Curcumin-loaded TPGS/F127/P123 mixed micelles were prepared by thin-film hydration method with modification. Before using the uniform design, a number of preliminary experiments were conducted to identify the controlled factors such as the amount of curcumin, the dosage of TPGS, and the ratio of F127/P123. The formulation was operated by uniform design of three factors and seven levels, and its results were fitted by polynomial linear equation, the response surface, and the contour line in order to choose and verify the optimal preparation process. Results: In the optimum formulation, the dosage of curcumin was 14.0 mg, TPGS 150.0 mg, and the ratio of F127/P123 was 68: 32. The solubility of optimum formulation was (3.47 ± 0.14) mg/mL, EE (87.15 ± 4.39)%, DL (4.70 ± 0.17)%, and PD (0.33 ± 0.12)% in 48 h. Conclusion: The solubility of curcumin in TPGS/F127/P123 mixed micelles was improved after the optimization of the uniform design method, and EE and DL were also improved.