Fabrication of Sustained Release Curcumin-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (Cur-SLNs) as a Potential Drug Delivery System for the Treatment of Lung Cancer: Optimization of Formulation and In Vitro Biological Evaluation

Abstract

The goal of current research was to develop a new form of effective drug, curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (Cur-SLNs) and test its efficacy in the treatment of lung cancer. Different batches of SLNs were prepared by the emulsification–ultrasonication method. For the optimization of formulation, each batch was evaluated for particle size, polydispersity index (PI), zeta potential (ZP), entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL). The formulation components and process parameters largely affected the quality of SLNs. The SLNs obtained with particle size, 114.9 ± 1.36 nm; PI, 0.112 ± 0.005; ZP, −32.3 ± 0.30 mV; EE, 69.74 ± 2.03%, and DL, 0.81 ± 0.04% was designated as an optimized formulation. The formulation was freeze-dried to remove excess water to improve the physical stability. Freeze-dried Cur-SLNs showed 99.32% of drug release and demonstrated a burst effect trailed by sustained release up to 120 h periods. The erythrocyte toxicity study of Cur-SLNs and its components demonstrated moderate hemolytic potential towards red blood cells (RBCs). The cytotoxic potential of the formulation and plain curcumin was estimated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against A549 cell line. After 48 h of incubation, Cur-SLNs demonstrated more cytotoxicity (IC50 = 26.12 ± 1.24 µM) than plain curcumin (IC50 = 35.12 ± 2.33 µM). Moreover, the cellular uptake of curcumin was found to be significantly higher from Cur-SLNs (682.08 ± 6.33 ng/μg) compared to plain curcumin (162.4 ± 4.2 ng/μg). Additionally, the optimized formulation was found to be stable over the period of 90 days of storage. Hence, curcumin-loaded SLNs can be prepared using the proposed cost effective method, and can be utilized as an effective drug delivery system for the treatment of lung cancer, provided in vivo studies warrant a similar outcome.

Selection and Control of Process Conditions Enable the Preparation of Curcumin-Loaded Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanoparticles of Superior Performance

“…Therefore, these results certified that the PLGA NPs, when resorting to proper storage conditions, were efficient to preserve CUR even after 1 year. This provides important information on the shelf life of these nanoformulations, complementing previous studies that evaluated storage stability up to 6 months initially. , …”

“…This provides important information on the shelf life of these nanoformulations, complementing previous studies that evaluated storage stability up to 6 months initially. 58,59 3.7. Toxicity Studies.…”

Lipid Nanoparticles in Lung Cancer Therapy

“…Exploring compounds derived from nature, such as polyphenols and terpenoids, introduces potential anticancer properties with lower toxicity profiles. Curcumin [62][63][64][65][66] and other polyphenols exhibit anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. Terpenoids like oridonin [67,68] and other natural extracts have shown efficacy against various cancer mechanisms.…”

“…The findings indicated that these Cur-SLNs exhibited higher cytotoxicity against lung cancer cells compared to free curcumin, with significant uptake by the cells. This suggests that the solid lipid nanoparticles enhance the delivery and efficacy of curcumin, making it more effective in targeting and killing cancer cells [63]. Further exploring the applications of curcumin, solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with curcumin were characterized for their physicochemical properties and analyzed for anticancer efficiency both in vitro and in vivo, with a particular emphasis on apoptosis induction.…”

Recent Advancements, Limitations, and Future Perspectives of the use of Personalized Medicine in Treatment of Colon Cancer

“…Curcumin was found to inhibit cell growth in HCT-116 and HT29 colon cancer cell lines. 180 , 181 It interacts with many targets and thus influences key signaling pathways related to colon cancer, such as receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, Wnt signaling pathway, Notch signaling, and p53 pathway. Resveratrol, a natural phenol derived from grapes, raspberries, and mulberries, is another phytochemical with anti-colon cancer potential.…”