Curcumin-Loaded Platelet Membrane Bioinspired Chitosan-Modified Liposome for Effective Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Cancer is a serious threat to human health, and chemotherapy for cancer is limited by severe side effects. Curcumin (CUR) is a commonly used natural product for antitumor treatment without safety concerns. However, low bioavailability and poor tumor accumulation are great obstacles for its clinical application. Our previous research has demonstrated that platelet membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles can efficiently ameliorate the in vivo kinetic characteristics and enhance the tumor affinity of payloads. Nevertheless, the antitumor efficiency of this formulation still needs to be thoroughly investigated, and its drug release behavior is limited. Herein, CUR-loaded platelet membrane bioinspired chitosan-modified liposome (PCLP-CUR) was constructed to improve CUR release. PCLP-CUR was shown to have long retention time, improved bioavailability, strong tumor targeting capacity and effective cellular uptake. The incorporation of chitosan enabled PCLP-CUR to release cargoes quickly under mild acidic tumor conditions, leading to more complete drug release and favoring subsequent treatment. Both in vitro and in vivo investigations showed that PCLP-CUR could significantly enhance the anticancer efficacy of CUR with minimal side effects through biomimetic membrane and chitosan modification. In summary, this developed delivery system can provide a promising strategy for tumor-targeting therapy and phytochemical delivery.

Liposome-Based Drug Delivery Systems in Cancer Research: An Analysis of Global Landscape Efforts and Achievements

“…This targeted approach not only enhances the effectiveness of the chemotherapy but also has the potential to reduce the adverse side effects commonly associated with these powerful medications. Incorporating the natural compound curcumin into liposomes for cancer treatment is a promising frontier, as liposomes offer an ingenious approach to its integration [ 63 ]. These lipid carriers provide a tailored delivery system for curcumin, ensuring its targeted arrival at cancer cells.…”

Advances in cell membrane-based biomimetic nanodelivery systems for natural products

“…Through platelet membrane concealment, drugs showed better bioavailability and higher retention in the bloodstream. The integration of chitosan allowed Cur, upon accumulation in tumors via the EPR effect, to react to the intracellular pH of cancer cells and promote the effective release of cytotoxic medicines, which displayed great anticancer efficacy (Wan et al., 2023 ). Cur and resveratrol, two active ingredients in natural products, were encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles and surface-coated with platelet membrane.…”

Recent Applications of Chitosan and Its Derivatives in Antibacterial, Anticancer, Wound Healing, and Tissue Engineering Fields

“…This research offers a thorough academic assessment of a liposomal delivery system for curcumin modified with chitosan. The PCLP-CUR nanocarrier's novel platelet membrane camouflage and chitosan modification combination show significant potential for improving curcumin administration and effectiveness in cancer therapy [198].…”