Zinc curcumin complex on fluoride doped hydroxyapatite with enhanced biological properties for dental and orthopedic applications

Since antiquity, curcumin, from turmeric is utilized in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) to treat bone disorders. However, the hydrophobic nature and poor absorption of curcumin limit its clinical applications. There is a need to develop a novel strategy that can significantly enhance curcumin's biological properties. The current work reports the utilization of Zn2+-curcumin complex from a fluoride doped hydroxyapatite matrix for osteosarcoma inhibition, osteoblast growth, and anti-bacterial properties. The interaction between Zn2+ and curcum in increases curcumin release by similar to 2.5 folds. The fabricated drug delivery system shows up to similar to 1.6 times enhancement in osteoblast cell viability. The presence of curcumin results in similar to 4 times more osteosarcoma inhibition compared to control. The antibacterial efficacy of this system is confirmed against Staphylococcus aureus, due to the presence of antibacterial fluoride, zinc, and curcumin. This multifunctional drug delivery system can be utilized for various bone-tissue engineering and dental applications.