Drug carrier systems made from self-assembled glyco-nanoparticles of maltoheptaose-b-polyisoprene enhanced the distribution and activity of curcumin against cancer cells

Controlled self-assembly of polymeric systems behave according to their composition and physical-chemical properties. Inclusion of a guest molecule may influence interactions and response to the media and to other surfaces and bodies, for example, cells. Hence, loading the polymeric system with curcumin (CUR), a natural and anticancer drug, confer interesting features to the carrier material. Micelle formation was achieved, in aqueous solution of carbohydrate-based block copolymer consisting in maltoheptaose-block-polyisoprene (MH-b-PI3.8kDa), by adding a large amount of water (a selective solvent for maltoheptaose, MH) into a solution of well-dissolved MH-b-PI3.8kDa (THF/H2O 9:1 (% w/w)]. Morphology and size (ca. 89 nm) of these glyco-nanoparticles were characterized using light scattering (static and dynamic modes – SLS and DLS) complemented by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The lyophilization efficiency was confirmed by measuring the relation between final and initial diameters (Sf/Si). CUR was successfully loaded into the nanoparticles with an entrapment efficiency of ca. 70%. CUR-charged nanoparticles showed stability into simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. Such micelles served as drug delivery system to carry CUR and presented a great role in wiping out unhealthy cells from many sorts.