Ursolic acid- betulinic acid-CCM NPs: A delivery system for improving the stability and bioavailability of CCM

The research constructed a co-assembly nanoparticles (NPs) of ursolic acid (UA) and betulinic acid (BA) as carriers to load the active substance curcumin (CCM) by co-precipitation method, aiming to improve the stability and bioavailability of CCM in the human body and enabling CCM to play more functions in the production of functional foods. The average particle size of UA-BA-CCM NPs was 222.6 nm and zeta potential was −26.63 mV. The UA-BA-CCM NPs had small size and great stability. The drug loading was up to 20.42 %. Moreover, the hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking existed in the three molecules. The result was verified by Molecular Dynamics Simulation, FITR, and UV experiments. In simulated in vitro release experiments, the release rate of the NPs was lower than free CCM in gastric phase, improving CCM bioavailability. Meanwhile, the UA-BA-CCM NPs performed better clearing free radicals than free CCM. Thus, UA-BA-CCM NPs delivery system not only could improve stability and bioavailability of CCM, but also might make CCM play a role in the functional food.