Investigating the antimicrobial properties of alginate hydrogel with curcumin

Abstract

Introduction: The spread of microbial diseases and their high treatment costs have revealed the importance of prevention and control of diseases more than ever. In this regard, plant extracts attracted a lot of attention in the field of medical sciences due to their antioxidant, antimicrobial and medicinal properties. However, these extracts also have limitations, including volatility, insolubility in aqueous media, and sensitivity to environmental conditions. To overcome these limitations, the use of alginate, a biodegradable polysaccharide with antibacterial and non-toxic properties, in combination with zein (corn protein) and dopamine has been proposed. This combination can create a hydrogel bed with antibacterial properties. In addition, adding curcumin a bioactive substance can further strengthen antibacterial property of substrate.Objectives: The main goal of this research is to investigate the encapsulation technique as a suitable method to protect curcumin and increase its antimicrobial efficiency in a hydrogel bed. This technique can provide solution to improve the performance and stability of curcumin in different applications. Materials and Methods: In this research, hydrogel containing curcumin is prepared using the encapsulation method. Then, the antimicrobial activity of the produced hydrogels against caries-causing bacteria is evaluated using the standard disk diffusion method. This method allows for a detailed investigation of antimicrobial effectiveness of the hydrogel.Results: The oxidized alginate polydopamine hydrogel and composite hydrogel of polydopamine, curcumin, and zein showed antimicrobial properties against S. aureus and E. coli.Discussion and Conclusion: This research deals with the synthesis and investigation of antibacterial properties of alginate hydrogel modified with combined polydopamine-zein-curcumin nanoparticles. The obtained results show that composite material has significant potential in various fields including medicine, drug delivery and food packaging. This innovative hydrogel can serve as an efficient system for protection and controlled release of curcumin, which leads to improved antibacterial properties and increases its potential applications