Communication
Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation of Novel Glutamic Acid Grafted Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle as an Efficient Drug Carrier for Curcumin
Reshmi Kalathoorparangodathu,
Aswathy Lalitha Balachandran,
Archana Somasekharan Nair,
Haripadmam Peethambaran Chandraprabha,
Shereena Jayapalan,
Sanal Kumar Sukumaran Nair,
Rajesh Ravindran Nair,
Jyothy Parvathy Valsalakumary,
Rajesh Ramachandran Savithri,
Anoop Somasekharan Nair*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
59-64
Received:
18 July 2026
Accepted:
27 July 2026
Published:
24 August 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.wjac.20261103.11
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Abstract: The emergence of nanotechnology has transformed drug delivery approaches, enabling the design of innovative nanocarriers that can precisely target diseased sites, enhance bioavailability, and minimize adverse effects. Herein, the green synthesized ZnO Nps were initially converted to -COOH functionalized nanoparticles which was then coupled with -NH2 group of glutamic acid (GLU). It was then encapsulated with CUR by making use of hydrogen bonds. The induced amide bonds in the drug carrier assured high drug loading capacity as the encapsulation and loading efficiencies were found to be 48.1% and 92.3% respectively. All the synthesis steps were carefully monitored using FTIR, XRD, SEM, DLS and Zeta potential measurements. All data suggested successful preparation of the drug delivery vehicle. The performance of the material was evaluated using in vitro release profiles and exhibited pH selective release of drug molecules with 59.0% CUR being delivered in a sustained manner at pH 7.4 within 3 days. However, at 1.2 pH, only 21% release was observed for the same time span. The absence of primary amine groups led to inertness in acidic pH whereas at basic conditions, the unreacted –COOH groups in GLU were deprotonated leading to swelling and thereby drug release. All these suggests the potential applicability of the prepared material in pH sensitive drug delivery of CUR.
Abstract: The emergence of nanotechnology has transformed drug delivery approaches, enabling the design of innovative nanocarriers that can precisely target diseased sites, enhance bioavailability, and minimize adverse effects. Herein, the green synthesized ZnO Nps were initially converted to -COOH functionalized nanoparticles which was then coupled with -NH...
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