The functional curcumin liposomes induce apoptosis in C6 glioblastoma cells and C6 glioblastoma stem cells in vitro and in animals

Abstract

Glioblastoma is a kind of malignant gliomas that is almost impossible to cure due to the poor drug transportation across the blood–brain barrier and the existence of glioma stem cells. We prepared a new kind of targeted liposomes in order to improve the drug delivery system onto the glioma cells and induce the apoptosis of glioma stem cells afterward. In this experiment, curcumin was chosen to kill gliomas, while quinacrine was used to induce apoptosis of the glioma stem cells. Also, p -aminophenyl-α-D-mannopyranoside could facilitate the transport of liposomes across the blood–brain barrier and finally target the brain glioma cells. The cell experiments in vitro indicated that the targeted liposomes could significantly improve the anti-tumor effects of the drugs, while enhancing the uptake effects, apoptosis effects, and endocytic effects of C6 glioma cells and C6 glioma stem cells. Given the animal experiments in vivo, we discovered that the targeted liposomes could obviously increase the survival period of brain glioma-bearing mice and inhibit the growth of gliomas. In summary, curcumin and quinacrine liposomes modified with p -aminophenyl-α-D-mannopyranoside is a potential preparation to treat brain glioma cells and brain glioma stem cells.

Combination of curcumin with autologous transplantation of adult neural stem/progenitor cells leads to more efficient repair of damaged cerebral tissue of rat

“…Furthermore, the synergistic effect of curcumin and stem cells has been reported in an animal model of spinal cord injury (SCI) (Ormond et al., 2014; Ruzicka et al., 2018). Nevertheless, there is controversy regarding the proliferative effects of curcumin on stem cells (Kang, Cha, & Jeon, 2006; Wang et al., 2017). Hence, the present study aimed to address the efficacy of curcumin in combination with autologous transplantation of adult NS/PCs and PM in an animal model of acute brain injury.…”

Benefits of curcumin in brain disorders

“…They have been used to enhance the oral bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs. Several studies have confirmed that encapsulating curcumin in liposomes enhances its hydrophilicity by ninefold compared to unformulated curcumin . Furthermore, curcumin entrapped within liposomes coated with chitosan shows better pharmacokinetic profile.…”

“…Furthermore, curcumin entrapped within liposomes coated with chitosan shows better pharmacokinetic profile. Here, the encapsulation efficacy was reported to be 97.40% . Reports also indicate that co‐administration of lecithins improves the bioavailability of curcumin.…”

“…Several studies have confirmed that encapsulating curcumin in liposomes enhances its hydrophilicity by ninefold compared to unformulated curcumin. [155][156][157] Furthermore, curcumin entrapped within liposomes coated with chitosan shows better pharmacokinetic profile. Here, the encapsulation efficacy was reported to be 97.40%.…”

“…Here, the encapsulation efficacy was reported to be 97.40%. 157 Reports also indicate that co-administration of lecithins improves the bioavailability of curcumin. Takahashi et al 158 made a new formulation of curcumin encapsulated in lecithin-coated T A B L E 1 Pharmacokinetic profile of curcumin and C-NPs in different brain regions following intravenous administration liposomes and reported good dispersion and increased the plasma levels in Sprague-Dawley rats.…”