ABSTRACT

This study aimed to explore the potential application of starch nanoparticles as the nanocarriers for the controlled release of piperine. Starch nanoparticles with mean particle sizes ranging from 50 nm to 200 nm have been synthesised as nanocarriers for encapsulation of piperine. Piperine has been successfully loaded onto starch nanoparticles via the in-situ nanoprecipitation method. The loading capacity of piperine was affected by the synthesis conditions such as types and concentrations of surfactants as well as initial piperine concentrations. Under optimum conditions, starch nanoparticles exhibited a maximum piperine loading capacity of 4.74 mg mg^–1. Piperine was observed to release out from starch nanoparticles in a slow and steady manner over a period of 168 h under physiological pH.

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