Kinetic Modeling and Optimization of the Release Mechanism of Curcumin from Folate Conjugated Hybrid BSA Nanocarrier

Nanocarriers have been explored widely for targeted and sustainable delivery of drugs and other bioactive molecules. Kinetic modeling on the drug release and optimization of the process parameters offers a fundamental explanation for the release mechanism along with an insight on the properties of the carrier. In the present work, a hybrid Bovine serum albumin- Calcium ferrite (BSA-CFNP) nanocarrier in conjugation with folic acid has been developed for the controlled release of curcumin, as a model anticancer drug. Super paramagnetic calcium ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel method. Curcumin was loaded onto the BSA and hybrid BSA-CFNP carriers by desolvation technique. Folic acid conjugation was performed, using EDC coupling reaction, to enable the receptor mediated endocytosis of the drug. The synthesized samples were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM techniques. Optimization of curcumin loading on the carrier was evaluated using Taguchi method, which provided a simpler yet effective route to study the influence of the process parameters under consideration. In-vitro stimuli responsive curcumin release studies were investigated. The amount of FA conjugated was also optimized. The drug release trends were studied at different simulated physiological environments. The drug release mechanism was evaluated by applying various kinetic models such as zero order, first order, Higuchi, Korsmeyer Peppas and Hixson Crowell. The controlling parameters and their effects on the release of curcumin from the devised system were elucidated from the best fit model.