Curcumin-loaded proliposomes produced by the coating of micronized sucrose: influence of the type of phospholipid on the physicochemical characteristics of powders and on the liposomes obtained by hydration

The feasibility of producing proliposomes containing curcumin, as well as liposome dispersions, using different mixtures of purified and nonpurified soybean phospholipids was studied. Proliposomes were produced through coating of micronized sucrose and physicochemically characterized over 30 days of storage. In addition, the possible interactions among the components were investigated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The proliposomes demonstrated a low propensity of water adsorption and low hygroscopicity. In addition, the curcumin content retained in the powders ranged from 67 to 92%. The liposomes were produced following proliposome hydration. Atomic force microscopy indicated the vesicles presented spherical shapes and photon correlation spectroscopy detected that their hydrodynamic diameters ranged from 207 to 222 nm. Finally, the curcumin-loaded liposomes preserved up to 63% of the bioactive compound but remained stable for only 15 days of storage.