Alginate-Based Gel Particle as a Novel Drug Delivery Vehicle for Curcumin

Overview

As more and more hydrophobic compounds are turned away each year due to the fact that the cannot dissolve in the human body, the goal of this project was to a novel alginate-based drug delivery vehicle for curcumin in such a way that the particle could be metabolized by the body, unlike most other particles, and to provide a system that had anti-bacterial properties. It was hypothesized that if the curcumin:CTAB alginate gel particle was given to bacteria such as S. aureus or E. coli, then bacterial growth would be inhibited. The curcumin was iso- lated from turmeric at a local chemistry laboratory. The critical micelle concentration of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was determined at another local chemistry laboratory. Different curcumin dilutions were then pre- pared utilizing the data obtained from the critical micelle concentration. Then cloud point titration was performed on each of the curcumin dilutions and a CTAB (1.25 mM) solution. Then these solutions were pipetted into a S. aureus suspension and an E. coli suspension. When an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on optical density values for S. aureus after 6 hours and after 24 hours, the p-value was found to be less than 0.05 meaning that the results were significant. When an ANOVA was performed on optical density values for E. coli after 6 hours, the p-value was found to be 1.22E-2; however, when an ANOVA was performed on optical density values for E. coli after 24 hours, the p-value was found to be 0.250. Therefore it was concluded that the novel curcumin:CTAB alginate gel particle had anti-bacterial effects and that surfactant charge played a role in bacterial inhibition.

Competition history

• ISEF 2016 Energy: Sustainable Materials and Design · Entry CHEM061

Resources

• ISEF abstract page ↗

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