Sole-amorphous-sugar-based solid dispersion of curcumin and the influence of formulation composition and heat treatment on the dissolution of curcumin

An amorphous solid dispersion technique, in which hydrophobic drug molecules are dispersed in an amorphous matrix comprised solely of a sugar, was applied to curcumin that has excellent physiological functions. The sole-amorphous-sugar-based solid dispersion (SAS-SD) of curcumin was prepared by vacuum foam drying from methanol, using various disaccharides as the drug carrier-forming component. Aqueous dissolution of curcumin from the SAS-SD showed “spring-and-parachute” shape profile and was markedly increased when a sugar (α-maltose or trehalose) was added in a composition range ≥100 g-sugar/g-curcumin. Further dissolution was achieved by heating the SAS-SD at close to and above the melting points of curcumin.