In-situ implant containing PCL-curcumin nanoparticles developed using design of experiments.

AbstractContext: Polymeric delivery system is useful in reducing pharmacokinetic limitations viz., poor absorption and rapid elimination associated with clinical use of curcumin. Design of experiment is a precise and cost effective tool useful in analyzing the effect of independent variables and their interaction on the product attributes.Objective: To evaluate the effect of process variables involved in preparation of curcumin-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles (CPN).Materials and methods: In the present experiment, CPNs were prepared by emulsification solvent evaporation technique. The effect of independent variables on the dependent variable was analyzed using design of experiments. Anticancer activity of CPN was studied using Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) model. In-situ implant was developed using PLGA as polymer.Results and discussion: The effect of independent variables was studied in two stages. First, the effect of drug–polymer ratio, homogenization speed and surfactant concentration on...