Encapsulation of Curcumin in Diblock Copolymer Micelles for Cancer Therapy

Figure 2

Morphology and particle size distribution of PNPC. (a) Red line shows average results of freshly prepared PNPC samples (0–25% curcumin encapsulation in PNP). It shows three particle sizes, 18.3 ± 5.3, 65.5 ± 30, and 283 ± 112 nm. Green line shows average results of PNPC samples after one week at 25°C (0–25% curcumin encapsulation in PNP). It shows one particle size of 99.4 ± 42.6 nm. Blue line shows average result of all samples with two sizes, 18.3 ± 5.3 (they seem to be micelles) and 99.4 ± 65 nm (they seem to be polymersomes). (b) Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results. AFM image of redissolved PNPC after freeze-drying (0.05 mg/mL) also showed two particle forms and sizes. Smaller particles (<40 nm) seem to be micelles and larger particles (>40 nm) seem to be polymersomes.

(a)

(b)