Biocompatible, biodegradable and thermo-sensitive chitosan-g-poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) nanocarrier for curcumin drug delivery

A nano formulation of curcumin loaded biodegradable thermoresponsive chitosan-g-poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) co-polymeric nanoparticles (TRC-NPs) (150 nm) were prepared by ionic cross-linking method and characterized. The in vitro drug release was prominent at above LCST. Cytocompatibility of TRC-NPs (100-1000 mu g/ml) on an array of cell line is proved by MTT assay. The drug loaded TRC-NPs showed specific toxicity on cancer cells. The cell uptake studies were confirmed by fluorescent microscopy. Flowcytometric analysis of curcumin loaded TRC-NPs showed increased apoptosis on PC3 cells. These results indicated that TRC-NPs could be a potential nanovehicle for curcumin drug delivery. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.