Therapeutic potential of curcumin-integrated starch biomaterials in wound regeneration

Abstract

Bioplastics are an eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastics, with potential applications in the biomedical field. Curcumin, a bioactive compound present in Curcuma longa, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties. In this study, potato starch/curcumin biopolymer films were synthesized and evaluated for their mechanical, functional, and biodegradation properties, followed by in vivo wound healing assessment in Wistar albino rats. The incorporation of curcumin increased the film thickness from 0.12 ± 0.01 mm to 0.16 ± 0.02 mm, the tensile strength from 3.25 ± 0.15 MPa to 4.18 ± 0.12 MPa, and the water contact angle from 15.31° ± 0.5° to 68.42° ± 0.8°, indicating enhanced hydrophobicity and mechanical stability. The water solubility decreased from 38.5 ± 1.3% to 24.6 ± 1.1%, whereas the moisture content decreased from 12.3 ± 0.6% to 7.8 ± 0.4%. In vivo studies of excision wounds (15 mm diameter) revealed that, by day 14, curcumin-incorporated films achieved 96.8 ± 1.2% wound closure compared with 82.5 ± 2.1% in untreated controls and 88.4 ± 1.5% with starch-only films. The wound healing performance was comparable to that of the marketed placental extract gel, with no signs of infection. These findings demonstrate that the integration of curcumin significantly improves the mechanical, barrier, and therapeutic properties of starch-based biopolymers, making them promising, cost-effective, and biodegradable wound dressing materials.