Microfluidic manufacturing of different niosomes nanoparticles for curcumin encapsulation: physical characteristics, encapsulation efficacy, and drug release

Curcumin is a natural chemical compound found in Curcuma longa which has been used in several therapeutic applications such as an antitumor and anti-inflammation agent. However, curcumin has very limited water solubility and rapid in vivo degradation which limits its clinical application. To overcome these limitations, niosome nanoparticles were prepared by microfluidic mixing for curcumin encapsulation. Niosome nanoparticles are lipid-based, and composed of non-ionic surfactants with cholesterol orientated into a membrane bilayer structure. Two different non-ionic surfactants were used and the mixing parameters were varied to optimise the characteristics of the prepared niosomes. The prepared niosomes had an average particle size ranging from 70-230 nm depending on the type of non-ionic surfactant used and the mixing parameter. Moreover, all the prepared niosomes were monodisperse with an average polydispersity index ranging from 0.07-0.3. All the prepared niosomes were spherical in shape as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. Curcumin was encapsulated with a maximum encapsulation efficiency around 60% using Tween 85 as the non-ionic surfactant. Niosomes prepared by microfluidic mixing provided controlled release of curcumin, as indicated by the release profile of curcumin overtime, thereby improving its therapeutic capability. These results demonstrate that niosomes prepared by microfluidic mixing to encapsulate curcumin is a promising delivery system to reach target cells.