Aim: The present study was undertaken to develop a Curcumin nanoparticle system with chitosan as a hydrophilic carrier. In addition, the anti-diabetic potential of curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles were assessed in comparison to those of free curcumin by examining the anti-hyperglycemic efficacy using in vitro assays.
Methods: Curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared and characterized for particle size by transmission electron microscopy, FT-IR, differential scanning calorimetry and therapeutic effects of curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles were evaluated by measuring the level of GLUT-4 present at the plasma membrane in L6myc myotubes followed by western blotting. Additionally, anti-inflammatory potential of curcumin loaded chitosan nanoparticles were assessed by enzyme immunoassay using appropriate ELISA kits.
Key findings: Transmission electron microscopy revealed an average nanocurcumin particle size of 74 nm. Under in vitro conditions, treatment with chitosan-nanocurcumin (CS-NC) caused a substantial increase in the GLUT-4 translocation to the cell surface in L6 skeletal muscle cells and the effect was associated with increased phosphorylation of AKT (Ser-473) and its downstream target GSK-3β (Ser-9).
Significance: The therapeutic potential of nanocurcumin is prominent than that of curcumin alone. Nanocurcumin could improve the solubility of curcumin and may prolong its retention in the systemic circulation.
Keywords: Chitosan-nanocurcumin; GLUT-4 translocation; Glycogen synthase kinase; Hyperglycemia; Interleukin; Skeletal muscle.
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