Preparation and Evaluation of Water-Soluble Curcumin-Cyclodextrin-PVP Inclusion Complexes

Abstract

Curcumin, the principal bioactive constituent of turmeric, has attracted considerable interest because of its therapeutic attributes, which encompasses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Nonetheless, its clinical utilization is impeded by inadequate water solubility and diminished bioavailability. This research sought to improve the solubility and antimicrobial efficacy of curcumin by creating inclusion complexes with β-cyclodextrin and polyvinylpyrrolidone. Curcumin-β-cyclodextrin-polyvinylpyrrolidone complexes were formulated using the kneading method with different polyvinylpyrrolidone concentrations (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%). Solubility investigations revealed that the 1.5% polyvinylpyrrolidone complex demonstrated a 30-fold increase in solubility relative to pure curcumin. UV-visible spectrophotometry validated the enhancement of solubility, whereas optical microscopy and particle size analyses underscored the uniformity and stability of the complexes. The dissolution profile of the optimized complex demonstrated markedly improved drug release under physiological conditions. Additionally, antimicrobial assays revealed enhanced efficacy of curcumin- curcumin-β-cyclodextrin-polyvinylpyrrolidone complexes against Gram-positive bacteria, specifically Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. The findings indicate that Curcumin-β-cyclodextrin-polyvinylpyrrolidone inclusion complexes present a viable approach to address the solubility and bioavailability issues of curcumin, facilitating its broader use in pharmaceutical formulations.