Curcumin-Loaded pH-Sensitive Biopolymer Hydrogels: Fabrication, Characterization, and Release Properties

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Bioactive substance delivery vehicles prepared with natural biopolymers are of interest because of their favorable functional properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The Mesona chinensis polysaccharide (MCP)-chitosan (CH) polyelectrolyte composite hydrogels were fabricated by electrostatic interaction. The effects of CH concentrations on the physicochemical properties of MCP-CH hydrogels were investigated, and the delivery capacity of curcumin was evaluated. Results exhibited that the elasticity, hardness, water-holding capacity, and thermostability of MCP-CH hydrogels were improved with the increase of CH concentration. Hydrogels with a high CH content have a more pronounced honeycomb structure. Moreover, MCP-CH hydrogels have a good encapsulation effect on curcumin and can be enhanced by increasing the concentration of CH. In vitro curcumin release showed that MCP-CH hydrogels prolong the release of curcumin in a simulated gastrointestinal environment. Therefore, MCP-CH hydrogels have great potential as effective hydrophobic bioactive substance delivery vehicles in the delivery system.