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Biomolecules
Volume 16
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10.3390/biom16010176
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

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

by
Christina Samiotaki
1,
Stavroula Nanaki
1,
Rizos Evangelos Bikiaris
2,
Evi Christodoulou
1,
George Z. Kyzas
2,
Panagiotis Barmpalexis
3 and
Dimitrios N. Bikiaris
1,*
1
Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
2
Hephaestus Laboratory, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, 654 04 Kavala, Greece
3
Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biomolecules 2026, 16(1), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010176 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 11 December 2025 / Revised: 17 January 2026 / Accepted: 19 January 2026 / Published: 21 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Section Bioinformatics and Systems Biology)
Versions Notes

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.
Keywords: galantamine; curcumin; poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid); carbon dots; intranasal delivery galantamine; curcumin; poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid); carbon dots; intranasal delivery

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MDPI and ACS Style

Samiotaki, C.; Nanaki, S.; Bikiaris, R.E.; Christodoulou, E.; Kyzas, G.Z.; Barmpalexis, P.; Bikiaris, D.N. Design and Physicochemical Characterization of Hybrid PLGA–Curcumin/Carbon Dot Nanoparticles for Sustained Galantamine Release: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Biomolecules 2026, 16, 176. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010176

AMA Style

Samiotaki C, Nanaki S, Bikiaris RE, Christodoulou E, Kyzas GZ, Barmpalexis P, Bikiaris DN. Design and Physicochemical Characterization of Hybrid PLGA–Curcumin/Carbon Dot Nanoparticles for Sustained Galantamine Release: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Biomolecules. 2026; 16(1):176. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010176

Chicago/Turabian Style

Samiotaki, Christina, Stavroula Nanaki, Rizos Evangelos Bikiaris, Evi Christodoulou, George Z. Kyzas, Panagiotis Barmpalexis, and Dimitrios N. Bikiaris. 2026. "Design and Physicochemical Characterization of Hybrid PLGA–Curcumin/Carbon Dot Nanoparticles for Sustained Galantamine Release: A Proof-of-Concept Study" Biomolecules 16, no. 1: 176. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010176

APA Style

Samiotaki, C., Nanaki, S., Bikiaris, R. E., Christodoulou, E., Kyzas, G. Z., Barmpalexis, P., & Bikiaris, D. N. (2026). Design and Physicochemical Characterization of Hybrid PLGA–Curcumin/Carbon Dot Nanoparticles for Sustained Galantamine Release: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Biomolecules, 16(1), 176. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010176

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