Abstract:

Curcumin-encapsulated poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) nanoparticles was prepared using supercritical
carbon dioxide antisolvent assisted with ultrasound and the preparation process was optimized by response surface
methodology. The effects of the mass ratio of curcumin to PLGA, the flow rate of solution, and ultrasonic power on
properties of curcumin-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles were investigated. The optimal conditions were determined
as follows: the mass ratio, 3:1; the flow rate, 1.8 mL/min; and the ultrasonic power, 180 W. Under these conditions, the
embedding rate reached 93.89%, and the average particle size was about 90 nm with a narrow distribution.

Key words: curcumin, supercritical CO2, PLGA, embedding rate, nanoparticle, response surface methodology