Formulation and Physicochemical Characterization of Chitosan-based Nanoparticles Co-loaded with Vitamin C and Curcumin for Antioxidant Delivery

Abstract

Vitamin C and curcumin have demonstrated significant potential in mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation in various chronic disease conditions. However, their clinical application remains limited due to poor stability, low bioavailability, and inadequate permeability. Despite growing interest in nanoparticle-based delivery systems, there is limited data on the co-encapsulation of these antioxidants for improved therapeutic efficiency. This study aimed to formulate and characterize chitosan-based nanoparticles co-loaded with vitamin C and curcumin as a potential antioxidant delivery system. Nanoparticles were prepared using the ionic gelation method and characterized using dynamic light scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The formulated nanoparticles exhibited particle sizes of ≤178±7.4 nm for chitosan, vitamin C-loaded, and vitamin C–curcumin nanoparticles, while curcumin-loaded nanoparticles showed a larger size of 340±26.4 nm. All formulations demonstrated polydispersity indices below 0.3, indicating uniform size distribution. FTIR analysis confirmed successful nanoparticle formation and functional group interactions. These findings suggest that chitosan-based nanoparticles can effectively enhance the stability and delivery of antioxidant compounds. The developed system shows promising potential for biomedical applications in the management of oxidative stress-related conditions, including chronic kidney disease, and provides a basis for further therapeutic and in vivo investigations.