a Appearances of pure CPH solution and Cur in CPH, NaCas and PBS solutions ([CPH] and [NaCas] = 2.5 mg/mL, [Cur] = 0.15 μg/mL). b UV–Vis absorbance spectra of pure CPH (red), free Cur in PBS (black), and Cur in CPH (blue) and NaCas solutions (gray). The arrows indicate the maximum absorbance wavelength of Cur in each solution. c Water solubility of Cur in PBS, CPH and NaCas solutions. Different characters (a–c) on the top of columns represent significant difference among the samples (P < 0.05, n = 3)