Development and In-vitro Evaluation of a Natural Polysaccharide Hydrogel for Curcumin Delivery

Curcumin, a natural polyphenol found in turmeric, is widely recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, its therapeutic potential is often restricted by its low water solubility and limited bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, we synthesized a biodegradable hydrogel composed of chitosan and xanthan gum to function as a curcumin delivery vehicle. The hydrogel, optimized with a 3:1 ratio of xanthan gum to chitosan, achieved a production yield of 66%, exhibited a substantial swelling degree of 2373%, and demonstrated a high curcumin loading efficiency of 92.17%. Given curcumin's anti-inflammatory properties, the hydrogel's potential for treating periodontal diseases was evaluated. In vitro release experiments conducted in artificial saliva indicated a sustained release of curcumin over 7 days, with the majority being released within the first 5 days. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays using human gingival fibroblast cells confirmed the non-toxic nature of the curcumin-loaded hydrogel. The findings suggest that this hydrogel presents a promising platform for curcumin delivery, enhancing its therapeutic efficacy and bioavailability for treating inflammatory conditions such as periodontal diseases.