Composite Hydrogels with Calcium-Curcumin Complexes

<b>Introduction:</b> Managing periodontal diseases, which are characterized by inflammation and bacterial infection of gingival tissues surrounding teeth, remains a significant challenge in oral health. There is a pressing need for localized strategies to control tissue inflammation within the oral environment. This study aims to develop a hydrogel composite material incorporating calcium-curcumin complexes for targeted delivery to gingival tissues. Curcumin, derived from turmeric, is known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties but suffers from poor bioavailability due to limited solubility. Investigating the formation and characterization of calcium-curcumin complexes aims to develop new biomaterials for controlling tissue inflammation and infection, thereby enhancing the bioavailability of curcumin.<br/><b>Methods:</b> The calcium-curcumin complex is synthesized by combining calcium chloride and curcumin in a solvent mixture of N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) and anhydrous ethanol, followed by heating at 120°C for 48 hours. This complex is then encapsulated within an alginate matrix. Under acidic conditions, it is proposed that the complexes will degrade and release calcium ions and curcumin, forming a calcium ion ionically crosslinked hydrogel with curcumin releasing from the alginate matrix. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirm the successful synthesis and structure of the complex. Rheological tests are performed to evaluate the hydrogel's formation and mechanical properties, driven by the release of calcium ions under acidic conditions. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy is employed to quantify the release profile of curcumin.<br/><b>Results:</b> The synthesis and characterization processes validated the formation of the calcium-curcumin complex with the desired structural attributes. Rheological tests demonstrated the effective formation of an ionically crosslinked hydrogel upon the release of calcium ions in acidic environments. UV-Vis spectrometry indicated a controlled and sustained release of curcumin from the hydrogel matrix.<br/><b>Conclusions:</b> This study presents the development of novel composite materials combining calcium-curcumin complexes with alginate hydrogels for potential biomedical applications. The versatile materials platform described can be adapted to incorporate other divalent cations and organic ligands to form similar complexes, thereby broadening its impact within the biomaterials field.