Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound obtained from Curcuma longa, exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its therapeutic application is limited due to poor solubility, low bioavailability, and rapid degradation. The present study aimed to formulate and evaluate curcumin-loaded silver nanoparticles to enhance its antimicrobial efficacy and physicochemical properties. Curcumin was extracted from fresh turmeric using the Soxhlet extraction method and further purified by column chromatography. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction using silver nitrate and sodium borohydride, followed by stabilization with polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000). Curcumin was then incorporated into the nanoparticle system to obtain curcumin-loaded silver nanoparticles. The prepared formulations were evaluated for various parameters including particle size, pH, homogeneity, entrapment efficiency, stability, and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli using the disk diffusion method. Among the developed formulations, F2 was found to be optimized, showing uniform nanoparticle size distribution, high drug entrapment efficiency, acceptable pH (6.0–7.0), improved solubility, and good stability. The formulation demonstrated significant antibacterial activity, indicating a synergistic effect of curcumin and silver nanoparticles. The results suggest that curcumin-loaded silver nanoparticles can serve as a promising approach for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin and may be used in antimicrobial and pharmaceutical applications.
Asalam* et al. (2026) studied this question.