Sustainable Curcumin-Loaded Poly(Glyceryl Adipate) Nanoparticles Attenuate Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis: A Comprehensive Study from Synthesis to Gene Expression Analysis

Abstract

Curcumin can behave potently as an anti-inflammatory agent, but unfortunately, it suffers from a detrimental aqueous solubility and a limited bioavailability, which hinders its usage in clinical applications. Formulating a polymeric nanosized biocompatible system can increase the delivered curcumin fraction intra-articularly for inflammatory diseases. Poly(glyceryl adipate) nanoparticles were synthesized using a polycondensation process yielding six different polymers, which was followed by a preparation of different curcumin-loaded formulations using the nanoprecipitation method. The selected formulation exhibited a particle size of 115.8 ± 10.9 nm, a mean PDI of 0.191 ± 0.038, a zeta potential of −22.9 ± 1.5 mV, and an EE of about 95%. This formulation was subjected to physicochemical characterization, including TEM, FTIR, DSC, and an in vitro release study. The stability was assessed in the presence of sodium sulfate at different concentrations, and the long-term stability was assessed through three months of storage. The cytocompatibility was evaluated by an MTT assay on normal and cancerous cell lines, revealing no significant cytotoxicity, and RT-qPCR was done in order to point out the anti-inflammation effect of the produced nanoparticles. Finally, a molecular docking study was held against Bruton’s tyrosine kinase. The formulation’s findings demonstrate the potential of nanoparticles, providing a basis for further in vivo studies targeting arthritis therapy.