# Design and Physicochemical Characterization of Hybrid PLGA–Curcumin/Carbon Dot Nanoparticles for Sustained Galantamine Release: A Proof-of-Concept Study

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a nanoparticle system combining curcumin and carbon dots to improve the delivery and release of galantamine, a drug used in Alzheimer's treatment.

## Contribution

A novel hybrid nanoparticle system for sustained galantamine release using PLGA-curcumin and carbon dots is introduced.

## Key findings

- The hybrid nanoparticles showed a multi-phase sustained release of galantamine over 12 days.
- Curcumin conjugation modulated polymer structure and release kinetics effectively.
- The system demonstrated spherical morphology with uniform size distribution.

## Abstract

The present study reports the design and physicochemical characterization of a hybrid nanoparticle system for the potential intranasal delivery of galantamine (GAL), aimed at improving its bioavailability. Carbon dots (CDs) were used to load GAL, enhancing its dissolution and stability, and were subsequently incorporated into a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)–curcumin (PLGA–Cur) conjugate matrix. The successful formation of the PLGA-Cur conjugate was verified via 1H-NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, while the loading of GAL and its physical state in the CDs was assessed via FTIR and pXRD, respectively. The resulting GAL-CD/PLGA–Cur nanoparticles were spherical, with particle sizes varying from 153.7 nm to 256.3 nm, a uniform morphology and a narrow size distribution. In vitro release studies demonstrated a multi-phase sustained release pattern extending up to 12 days. Spectroscopic and thermal analyses confirmed successful conjugation and molecular interactions between GAL and the carrier matrix. This proof-of-concept hybrid system demonstrates promising controlled, multi-phase sustained galantamine release in vitro, highlighting the role of curcumin conjugation in modulating polymer structure and release kinetics and providing a foundation for future biological evaluation.