Advances in Nanocarrier Systems for Overcoming Formulation Challenges of Curcumin: Current Insights

Abstract

Curcumin, an organic phenolic molecule that is extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn, has undergone extensive evaluation for its diverse biological activities in both animals and humans. Despite its favorable characteristics, curcumin encounters various formulation challenges and stability issues that can be effectively addressed through the application of nanotechnology. Nano-based techniques specifically focused on enhancing solubility, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy while mitigating toxicity, have been explored for curcumin. This review systematically presents information on the improvement of curcumin’s beneficial properties when incorporated, either individually or in conjunction with other drugs, into diverse nanosystems such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, solid-lipid nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid carriers. Additionally, the review examines ongoing clinical trials and recently granted patents, offering a thorough overview of the dynamic landscape in curcumin delivery. Researchers are currently exploring nanocarriers with crucial features such as surface modification, substantial loading capacity, biodegradability, compatibility, and autonomous targeting specificity and selectivity. Nevertheless, the utilization of nanocarriers for curcumin delivery is still in its initial phases, with regulatory approval pending and persistent safety concerns surrounding their use.

Neuroprotective Effects of Curcumin in Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…However, curcumin has limited bioavailability and is metabolized in the liver by aldo–keto reductase, in addition to having low water solubility (0.4 μg/mL at normal gastric pH 1.5–4.0) and limited BBB permeability. To solve these problems, various systems have been developed, including nanocarrier preparations for curcumin delivery, such as liposomes, micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCNs), polymeric nanoparticles, cell membrane nanocarriers, and cyclodestrin [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. To determine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of curcumin, Ravindranath and Chandrasekhara (1981, 1982) [ 30 , 31 ] administered 3 H-curcumin to rats, showing that curcumin undergoes several metabolic biochemical transformations.…”