title: (Copper-curcumin) β-cyclodextrin vaginal gel: delivering a novel metal-herbal approach for the development of topical contraception prophylaxis.
abstract: Delivering a safe and effective topical vaginal contraceptive is the need of present era. We explored the potential of a metal (copper) and herbal moiety (curcumin) for this topical contraceptive prophylaxis. Complex of copper and curcumin (Cu-Cur) was synthesized and the concerns regarding its aqueous solubility was resolved by including it into the hydrophobic cavity of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) as (Cu-Cur)CD inclusion complex. Dose assessment was made on the basis of in-vitro spermicidal assays and cell cytotoxicity studies. Finally the (Cu-Cur)CD loaded vaginal gel was prepared, characterized and evaluated for in-vitro spermicidal activity and preclinical toxicity studies. Spectral and morphological characterizations confirmed the synthesis of (Cu-Cur) and (Cu-Cur)CD inclusion complex. Spermicidal assays and Hela cell cytotoxic data revealed an optimized 1.5% (Cu-Cur)CD for further studies. 1.5% w/w (Cu-Cur)CD loaded carbopol 974p gel provided 100% motility even at 2-fold dilution and preclinical toxicity studies in Rats and Rabbits revealed its highly safe profile. The hypothesis of considering metal-herbal complex and its cyclodextrin complex has worked and the well planned strategy of including it in (β-CD) cavity provided a preeminent platform for vaginal delivery. In-vitro assays and preclinical toxicity analysis confirmed its potential to be used as highly safe and effective prophylaxis.
authors.affiliation: DBT Lab, Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Chauhan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaurav
authors.affiliation: DBT Lab, Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Rath
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goutam
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Haffkine Institute for Training Research and Testing, Parel, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Kesarkar N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Rohan
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Haffkine Institute for Training Research and Testing, Parel, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Kothari T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Sweta
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Haffkine Institute for Training Research and Testing, Parel, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Chowdhary S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Abhay
authors.affiliation: DBT Lab, Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India. Electronic address: amitkumargoyal1979@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Goyal K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Amit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012995:Solubility; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies / Q000737:chemistry*; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; D003300:Copper; D003474:Curcumin; C031215:betadex
keywords: Copper–curcumin; Nano-inclusion complex; Spermicidal gel; β-Cyclodextrin