Fabrication and characterisation of curcumin loaded pH dependent sodium alginate-g-poly(acryloyl phenylalanine)-cl-ethylene glycol vinyl ether-co- hydroxyethyl acrylate hydrogels and their in-vitro, in-vivo and toxicological evaluation studies

Abstract pH responsive interpenetrating polymeric network hydrogels (IPN-hydrogels) composed of sodium alginate-g-poly( N -acryloyl- l -phenylalanine) (NaAlg- g -PAPA), ethylene glycol vinyl ether (EGVE) and, hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) were designed through a free radical polymerization reaction. A hydrophobic drug curcumin (phytopolyphenol) successfully loaded into these hydrogels by in-situ method. The formation of NaAlg- g -PAPA- cl -(PEGVE- co -HEA) [SAEH] hydrogels, its chemical interaction with the curcumin and surface morphology were investigated by the FTIR, XRD, TGA, DSC and SEM techniques. The maximum percentage encapsulation efficiency of curcumin (CUR) in sodium alginate hydrogel (SAEH) has found as 75%. The in-vitro drug delivery profile was studied both in pH 1.2 (stimulated gastric fluid) and pH 7.4 (intestinal condition) dissolution mediums at 37 °C. Antiproliferative activity In-vitro studies were conducted against the MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cells. It is revealed that significant superior action of curcumin loaded formulation on cancer cell death compared to free curcumin. In addition, In-vivo studies were conducted for CUR-SAEH hydrogels against CUR by taking Wistar rat (male and female) as animal model. Toxicological evaluation studies of curcumin loaded sodium alginate based hydrogels were carried out to see the effect of formulated hydrogels on organs of animals. These results revealed that there is no any significant toxicity is observed in organs of animal and suitable for the oral administration.