Purpose: The present study was to formulate curcumin solid lipid nanoparticles (Cur-SLNs) with P-gp modulator excipients, TPGS and Brij78, to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of curcumin. Methods: The formulation was optimized by Plackett-Burman screening design and Box-Behnken experiment design. Then physiochemical properties, entrapment efficiency and in vitro release of Cur-SLNs were characterized. In vivo pharmacokinetics study and in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion were performed to investigate the effects of Cur-SLNs on the bioavailability and intestinal absorption of curcumin. Results: The optimized formulations showed an average size of 135.3 ± 1.5 nm with a zeta potential value of À24.7 ± 2.1 mV and 91.09% ± 1.23% drug entrapment efficiency, meanwhile displayed a sustained release profile. In vivo pharmacokinetic study showed AUC 0!t for Cur-SLNs was 12.27-folds greater than curcumin suspension and the relative bioavailability of Cur-SLNs was 942.53%. Meanwhile, T max and t 1/2 of curcumin for Cur-SLNs were both delayed comparing to the suspensions (p50.01). The in situ intestinal absorption study revealed that the effective permeability (P eff ) value of curcumin for SLNs was significantly improved (p50.01) comparing to curcumin solution. Conclusion: Cur-SLNs with TPGS and Brij78 could improve the oral bioavailability and intestinal absorption of curcumin effectively. KeywordsCurcumin, in situ intestinal absorption, oral bioavailability, P-glycoprotein, solid lipid nanoparticles History

(2015) Enhanced oral bioavailability of piperine by selfemulsifying drug delivery systems: invitro,invivo and insitu intestinal permeability studies, Drug Delivery, 22:6, 740-747, DOI: 10.3109/10717544.2014 AbstractThe main purpose of this work was to develop and evaluate a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) of piperine to enhance its solubility and bioavailability. The formulation was optimized by solubility test and ternary phase diagrams. Then physiochemical properties and in vitro release of SEDDS were characterized. In vivo pharmacokinetics study and in situ singlepass intestinal perfusion were performed to investigate the effects of SEDDS on the bioavailability and intestinal absorption of piperine. The optimized formulation was composed of ethyl oleate, Tween 80 and Transcutol P (3:5.5:1.5, w/w), with the level of the piperine reached 2.5% (w/w). The in vitro dissolution rates of piperine SEDDS were significantly higher than the self-prepared capsules. In vivo pharmacokinetic study showed C max1 , C max2 and area under the curve of piperine after oral administration of SEDDS in rats were 3.8-, 7.2-and 5.2-fold higher than the self-prepared capsules, respectively, and the relative bioavailability of SEDDS was 625.74%. The in situ intestinal absorption study revealed that the effective permeability and the effective absorption rate values of piperine for SEDDS were significantly improved comparing to solutions (p50.01). So SEDDS formulation could improve the oral bioavailability and intestinal absorption of piperine effectively.

This study was carried out to evaluate the protective effect of anthocyanins extract of blueberry on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) model of mice. The study employed female C57BL/6 mice (n = 50), and colitis was induced by intracolonic injection of 0.5 mg of TNBS dissolved in 50% ethanol–phosphate buffered solution. The mice were divided into five groups (n = 10): vehicle, TNBS control and anthocyanins groups that received different doses of anthocyanins extract (10, 20 and 40 mg kg−1) daily for 6 days. Both increase in body weight and diarrhea symptoms were monitored each day. After 6 days, the animals were killed, and the following parameters were assessed: colon length, morphological score, histological score and biochemical assay (NO, myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin (IL)-12, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ). The results showed that the anthocyanins extract of blueberry rendered strong protection against TNBS-induced colonic damage at a dosage of 40 mg kg−1. When compared with the control, anthocyanins extract significantly prevented loss of body weight and ameliorated the scores of diarrhea, morphology and histology. Treatment with anthocyanins extract restored IL-10 excretion, as well as caused reduction in the levels of NO, MPO, IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γ. Our research revealed the protective effect of anthocyanins extract from blueberry on TNBS-induced experimental colitis in mice, as well as examined whether high levels of dietary blueberries would lower the risk or have protective effects on human IBD, which may require further investigation.

Abstract. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a main clinical hurdle for chemotherapy of cancer, and overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a key factor. In the present study, a new co-delivery system for reversing MDR was designed and developed. The system was composed of curcumin (Cur) and piperine (Pip) encapsulated in solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) and Brij 78 [(Cur+Pip)-SLNs]. TPGS and Brij 78 could sensitize MDR tumors by inhibiting the P-gp drug efflux system. The combination of Cur and Pip, when administered in SLNs formulations, resulted in a significant enhancement in cytotoxicity and allowed efficient intracellular delivery of the drugs in drug-resistant A2780/Taxol cells. This dual inhibitory strategy may have significant potential in the clinical management of MDR in cancer.