Enhanced Curcumin Bioavailability through Nonionic Surfactant/Caseinate Mixed Nanoemulsions

Abstract

The potential of heterogeneous systems like oil‐in‐water (O/W) nanoemulsions is exploited as an oral delivery system for curcumin, a natural lipophilic compound with numerous health benefits. Two types of O/W nanoemulsions, one stabilized by sodium caseinate (Cas‐O/W), a surface‐active and emulsifying protein, and the other stabilized by a blend of caseinate and Tween 20 (Mix‐O/W), were loaded with the bioactive compound and tested through a simulated gastrointestinal digestion process to evaluate their effects on delivering of curcumin. It was first demonstrated that the amount of curcumin solubilized through Mix‐O/W nanoemulsion was higher than that in Cas‐O/W nanoemulsion. Cas‐O/W nanoemulsions, indeed, at their best, solubilized about 55 µg/mL of curcumin while Mix‐O/W nanoemulsions reached a curcumin concentration around 180 µg/mL. Furthermore, for both the systems an increase of curcumin loading capacity was recorded with the rise of incubation temperature. Finally, after the in vitro simulated digestion process, the potential curcumin bioavailability was evaluated and the data suggested that Mix‐O/W nanoemulsions provided more than twice the amount of curcumin compared to Cas‐O/W nanoemulsions. On balance, the outcomes of this investigation demonstrated that the mixed emulsifier system offered a higher amount of lipophilic compound with a low fat intake compared to nanoemulsions stabilized by sodium caseinate. Practical Application The outcomes of this study allow the recognition of the protein/surfactant‐stabilized nanoemulsions as a suitable solution to deliver curcumin. The nanoemulsions proposed here provide a high intake of curcumin, a lipophilic compound, with low fat content. The use of such delivery systems helps to overcome limits in oral bioavailability related with the scarce solubility of some compounds in food preparations and beverages.

Highly Bioavailable Forms of Curcumin and Promising Avenues for Curcumin-Based Research and Application: A Review

“…A number of formulations have utilized various techniques to decrease particle size as incorporation of curcumin in: liquid droplet nano-micelles containing lauroyl polyoxy 32-glycerides (Gelucire ® ) and polysorbate 20 (BioCurc ® ) [15]; fenugreek-derived galactomannan fiber (CurQfen ® ) [28]; liquid droplets containing Gelucire ® and caprylocaproyl polyoxyglycerides (Labrasol ® ), a BioCurc ® formulation [29]; colloidal dispersions using ghatti gum and glycerin (Theracurmin ® ) [30][31][32][33]; a matrix of glycerol esters of fatty acids, medium chain triglycerides, hydroxymethylcellulose and sodium alginate (MicroActive Curcumin®) [34]; a proprietary mixture of surfactants, polar lipids and solvents (HydroCurc ® ) [35]; solid lipid curcumin particles composed of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), soy lecithin, stearic acid and vitamin C esters (Longvida ® ) [36]; a blend of sodium caseinate and Tween 20 [37]; proprietary microcapsules (Curcushine™); and a complex with acacia gum, quillaia (high in saponins) and sunflower oil (TurmiPure ® ).…”

Food as medicine: targeting the uraemic phenotype in chronic kidney disease

“…A significant problem with using curcumin therapeutically, is its' low bioavailability. It has been proposed that the combination of curcumin with piperine (a compound found in black pepper) and oil-in-water nanoemulsions 211 increase its bioavailability [212][213] .…”

Alginate-Assisted Lemongrass (Cymbopogon nardus) Essential Oil Dispersions for Antifungal Activity

“…Emulsions are extensively used for this purpose in many major industries such as pharmaceutical, food and biotechnology because they can be produced in a simple and manageable way using food grade ingredients [ 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”