Fabrication of highly stable sonication assisted curcumin nanocrystals by nanoprecipitation method

Objectives The present study was aimed to fabricate highly stable sonication assisted curcumin nanocrystals by nanoprecipitation method to overcome the poor aqueous solubility of curcumin. Methods Sodium lauryl sulfate coated curcumin nanocrystals and poloxamer 188 coated curcumin nanocrystals were prepared using nanoprecipitation method and characterized for particle size and related parameters. Results Poloxamer 188 coating has produced a significant size reduction in the distribution width (approximately 250 times in D 90) and in the average particle size (approximately 260 times in volume weight mean) with respect to pure curcumin. Similarly, sodium lauryl sulfate coating has produced a significant size reduction in the distribution width (approximately 1000 times in D 90) and in the average particle size (approximately 750 times in volume weight mean) with respect to pure curcumin. Sodium lauryl sulfate coated curcumin nanocrystals has shown a narrow distribution even after one week than the poloxamer coated curcumin nanocrystals. Conclusions The study concludes that the anionic nature of sodium lauryl sulfate has provided higher zeta potential and offered high electrostatic force which overcomes the van der Waals force of attraction and gravitational force leading to prevention of nanocrystal aggregation resulting in narrow sized high stable curcumin nanocrystals.