Objective: To prepare curcumin conjugated O-carboxymethyl chitosan nanoparticles(Cur-OMCS) and investigate its ability to inhibit HepG2 cells. Method: Curcumin was conjugated to O-carboxymethyl chitosan by esterification reaction. Cur-OMCS was measured by UV-Vis

IR

NMR and TEM.Anticancer activity of Cur-OMCS was investigated by MTT. Result: Cur-OMCS could form nanoparticles by self-assembly in aqueous media with average particle size of 319 nm

particle size distribution index of 0.488

Zeta potential of -26.1 mV and drug loading of 1.5%. The solution showed clear and transparent with yellow.The concentration of curcumin in aqueous media increased 300 times with critical micelle concentration of 0.040 g·L-1. The inhibitory effect on HepG2 cells of Cur-OMCS was much better than that of free curcumin with the cell proliferation inhibition rate of 80% when the concentration of curcumin reached 15 mg·L-1. Conclusion: Self-assembled nanoparticles of curcumin conjugated O-carboxymethyl chitosan increased anticancer activity of curcumin.