Fabrication and characterization of TPP-β-cyclodextrin/chitosan supramolecular nanoparticles for delivery dual bioactive compounds

The TPP-β-cyclodextrin/chitosan (TPP-β-CD/CS) nanoparticles loading with curcumin (Cur) and vitamin C (Vc) was prepared via controllable self-assembly. The cross-linking reaction between TPP-β-CD and CS, and co-encapsulation of Cur and Vc in TPP-β-CD/CS nanoparticles were confirmed by the fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), UV–Vis (UV), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), and particle size analyzer. The results of stability and antioxidant activity indicated that co-encapsulation not only enhanced the chemical stability of Cur and Vc, but also improved antioxidant properties compared with the active ingredients used alone. Release kinetic fitted by Ritger–Peppas model revealed that the release of dual active ingredients were mainly dominated by Fickian diffusion in pH 1.2, while followed non-Fickian or anomalous diffusion in pH 7.4. Furthermore, the two-dimensional UV correlation spectroscopy (2D-UV-COS) confirmed that the release rate of Cur was faster than that of Vc during co-delivery, which helps to precisely elucidate the synergistic nutraceuticals effect of each active ingredient.