Lipopolysaccharide based oral nanocarriers for the improvement of bioavailability and anticancer efficacy of curcumin

Curcumin and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as bioactive food components with synergistic effects on Alzheimer's disease

Curcumin and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) are multifunctional compounds which play an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and little has been addressed about the role of these two compounds together in the progression of the disease. There is evidence of the beneficial effect of combined administration of ω-3 PUFA and other dietary supplements such as vitamins and polyphenols in the prevention of AD, although much remains to be understood about their possible complementary or synergistic activity. Therefore, the objective of this work is to review the research focused on studying the effect and mechanisms of action of curcumin, ω-3 PUFA, and the combination of these nutraceutical compounds, particularly on AD, and to integrate the possible ways in which these compounds can potentiate their effect. The most important pathophysiologies that manifest in AD will be addressed, in order to have a better understanding of the mechanisms of action through which these bioactive compounds exert a neuroprotective effect.

Role of lipopolysaccharides in potential applications of nanocarrier systems

BACKGROUND

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are considered the main molecular component in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. The LPS molecule in the bacterial cell wall acts as a primary physical barrier and protects gram-negative bacteria from the surrounding environment. LPS (endotoxins) show immunomodulatory therapeutic properties as well as toxicity to the host cell, whereas potential applications encompass.

OBJECTIVE

This review article aims to describe the recent developments of lipopolysaccharides in nanocarrier systems for various applications such as vaccination, cancer chemotherapy and immune stimulants action. Different nanocarriers like cubosomes, niosomes, dendrimers and metal nanoparticles used in the delivery of actives are employed to decorate lipopolysaccharide molecules superficially.

METHODS

A narrative review of all the relevant papers known to the author was conducted.

CONCLUSION

Commercially available lipid nanoparticles contribute to many advances as promising nanocarriers in cancer therapy and are used as a vaccine adjuvant by improving the immune response due to their properties such as size, shape, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Whereas lipopolysaccharide-decorated nanoparticles change the host's tolerability and increase the effectiveness of molecule in cancer immunotherapy. These nanoconjugate systems enhance overall immunogenic response and effectiveness in vaccine immunotherapy and targeted therapy, not only limited to humans application but also for poultry and aquaculture. Newer opportunities using lipopolysaccharides for the treatment and management of diseases with unique characteristics like the presence of lipoprotein that act as an alternative for bacterial infections over conventional dosage forms.

Formulation design, optimization and in vivo evaluation of oral co-encapsulated resveratrol-humic acid colloidal polymeric nanocarriers

The study aims at formulation and optimization of resveratrol and humic acid co-encapsulated colloidal polymeric nanocarriers to improve stability, oral bioavailability, and antiradical activity of water-insoluble, resveratrol. The eudragit E100 polymeric material was used to fabricate resveratrol and humic acid co-encapsulated oral colloidal polymeric nanocarriers (Res-HA-co-CPNs) using emulsification-diffusion-evaporation method. Taguchi orthogonal array design was employed to check the effect of formulation factors on in vitro physicochemical characteristics. The optimized formulation was further evaluated for oral bioavailability as well as for antiradical potential. Optimized Res-HA-co-CPNs demonstrated spherical and smooth surface including mean particle size, 120.56 ± 18.8 nm; polydispersity index, 0.122; zeta potential, +38.25 mV; and entrapment efficiency, 82.37 ± 1.49%. Solid-state characterization confirmed the amorphous characteristic of optimized Res-HA-co-CPNs. In vitro release profile of Res-HA-co-CPNs showed sustained release behavior up to 48 h and CPNs were found to remain stable at the refrigerated condition for 6 months. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies revealed significant (p < 0.05) improvement of ∼62.76-fold in oral bioavailability. The radical-scavenging activity was found to be increased with time and after 72 h, it was analogous to pure Res. IC₅₀ values were reported to be decreased with time. Henceforth, developed Res-HA-co-CPNs was proven to be a proficient dosage form to increase stability, oral bioavailability, and antiradical activity of resveratrol.HighlightsResveratrol-humic acid co-encapsulated colloidal polymeric nanocarriers (Res-HA-co-CPNs) were fabricated by emulsification-diffusion-evaporation method and optimized by Taguchi orthogonal array design.The Res-HA-co-CPNs revealed favorable mean particle size and percent encapsulation efficiency with a spherical and smooth surface.The Res-HA-co-CPNs showed diffusion-controlled release of Res and were found to be stable at the refrigerated condition for 6 months.The optimized Res-HA-co-CPNs demonstrated significantly (p < 0.05) higher oral bioavailability with respect to pure Res and PM.The optimized Res-HA-co-CPNs demonstrated higher radical-scavenging activity with respect to time.

Mechanistic Insight into the Effects of Curcumin on Neuroinflammation-Driven Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a persistent and unremitting condition that has immense effects on patients' quality of life. Studies have shown that neuroinflammation is associated with the induction and progression of chronic pain. The activation of microglia and astrocytes is the major hallmark of spinal neuroinflammation leading to neuronal excitability in the projection neurons. Excessive activation of microglia and astrocytes is one of the major contributing factors to the exacerbation of pain. However, the current chronic pain treatments, mainly by targeting the neuronal cells, remain ineffective and unable to meet the patients' needs. Curcumin, a natural plant product found in the Curcuma genus, improves chronic pain by diminishing the release of inflammatory mediators from the spinal glia. This review details the role of curcumin in microglia and astrocytes both in vitro and in vivo and how it improves pain. We also describe the mechanism of curcumin by highlighting the major glia-mediated cascades in pain. Moreover, the role of curcumin on inflammasome and epigenetic regulation is discussed. Furthermore, we discuss the strategies used to improve the efficacy of curcumin. This review illustrates that curcumin modulating microglia and astrocytes could assure the treatment of chronic pain by suppressing spinal neuroinflammation.

Optimization and antimicrobial efficacy of curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles against foodborne bacteria in hamburger patty

The aim of the present study was to design a delivery system of curcumin (CU) loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (CU-CSLNs) for evaluating the antimicrobial properties in hamburger patty. Solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) was prepared through a homogenizing technique. A response surface methodology was applied to optimize the CU-CSLNs to minimize the particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), as well as to maximize the zeta potential to avoid aggregation of particles. The optimized sample revealed a spherical morphology under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) with particle sizes of 126.87 ± 0.94 nm and 0.21 ± 0.025 PDI. The zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency (EE %) were found to be -30 ± 0.3 mV and 99.96 ± 0.01%, respectively. The CSLNs exhibited higher in vitro antimicrobial effect (142 µg·ml^-1 ) against Staphylococcus aureus and generic Escherichia coli as compared to free CU (1000 µg·ml^-1 ). Finally, the CSLNs antimicrobial effect was tested in hamburger patty inoculated with foodborne pathogens during eight days of storage at 4 °C. The results indicated that CSLNs had a higher antimicrobial effect than free CU. This study provides insight into the preparation of the novel antimicrobial nanoparticles for food safety applications.

Current Trends in Drug Delivery System of Curcumin and its Therapeutic Applications

Curcumin is a poly phenolic compound extracted from turmeric. Over the past years, it has acquired significant interest among researchers due to its numerous pharmacological activities like anti- cancer, anti-alzheimer, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and so on. However, the clinical use of curcumin is still obstructed due to tremendously poor bioavailability, rapid metabolism, lower gastrointestinal absorption, and low permeability through cell that makes its pharmacology thrilling. These issues have led to enormous surge of investigation to develop curcumin nano formulations which can overcome these restrictive causes. The scientists all across the universe are working on designing several drug delivery systems viz. liposomes, micelles, magnetic nano carriers, etc. for curcumin and its composites which not only improve its physiochemical properties but also enhanced its therapeutic applications. The review aims to systematically examine the treasure of information about the medicinal use of curcumin. This article delivers a general idea of the current study piloted to overwhelm the complications with the bioavailability of curcumin which have exhibited an enhanced biological activity than curcumin. This article explains the latest and detailed study of curcumin and its conjugates, its phytochemistry and biological perspectives and also proved curcumin as an efficient drug candidate for the treatment of numerous diseases. Recent advancements and futuristic viewpoints are also deliberated, which shall help researchers and foster commercial translations of improved nanosized curcumin combination for the treatment of various diseases.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Dynamic Behavior of Well-defined Dithiomaleimide-functionalized Maltodextrins

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Maltodextrins have an increasing number of biomedical and industrial applications due to their attractive physicochemical properties such as biodegradability and biocompatibility. Herein, we describe the development of a synthetic pathway and characterization of thiol-responsive maltodextrin conjugates with dithiomaleimide linkages. 19F NMR studies were also conducted to demonstrate the exchange dynamics of the dithiomaleimide-functionalized sugar end groups.

A short review on chemical properties, stability and nano-technological advances for curcumin delivery

Introduction: Curcumin is a polyphenol found in turmeric that is derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa. Curcumin has received a worldwide attention due to being a major constituent of the traditional Chinese and Indian holistic systems, and due to its well-documented pharmacological effects against various diseases.Areas covered: In order to provide a better understanding of curcumin's biological activities, its chemical, structural, spectral and photophysical properties should be studied. Also, it is crucial to study the aqueous, spectral, photophysical, photochemical, and thermal stability. Such studies indicated that curcumin suffers from bioavailability problems such as low serum levels, limited tissue distribution, and excessive metabolism which all limit its therapeutic efficacy. This review summarizes different properties of curcumin, its stability, bioavailability problems, and recent nanotechnological approaches with special highlight on nanocapsules for curcumin delivery.Expert opinion: Poor bioavailability of curcumin could be overcome through recently emerging and promising nanotechnological approaches.

Recent advances in colloidal delivery systems for nutraceuticals: A case study - Delivery by Design of curcumin

Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound found in turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome that has potential biological benefits, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activity. Incorporation of curcumin into functional food and beverage products, however, is challenging due to its low water-solubility, poor chemical stability, rapid metabolism, and low oral bioavailability. Researchers are, therefore developing a suite of particle-based delivery systems to maximize the potential health benefits of curcumin. Colloidal delivery systems, such as micelles, microemulsions, nanoemulsions, emulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, biopolymer nanoparticles, and microgels have all been developed for this purpose. The functional performance of each of these delivery systems depends on its structure and physicochemical properties, such as particle composition, particle size, morphology, physicochemical stability, optical properties, rheology, and sensory attributes. As a result, each delivery system has its advantages and disadvantages for particular applications. Consequently, a delivery system must be specifically designed for the particular bioactive agent to be encapsulated, as well as the particular food matrix it will be incorporated into. In this review, we highlight the potential of the Delivery by Design (DbD) approach for identifying and selecting the most appropriate colloidal delivery system for a particular food application, using curcumin as a model bioactive agent.

Combating breast cancer using combination therapy with 3 phytochemicals: Piperine, sulforaphane, and thymoquinone

Despite the significant advances in screening methods for early diagnosis, breast cancer remains a global threat and continues to be the leading cancer diagnosed in women, requiring effective therapy. Currently, combination therapy has become the hallmark of breast cancer treatment due to the high incidence of tumor recurrence and disease progression after monotherapeutic treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy. Over the past decades, there has been considerable interest in studying the anticancer effect of bioactive phytochemicals from medicinal plants combined with these conventional therapies. The rationale for this type of therapy is to use combinations of drugs that work by different mechanisms, thereby decreasing the likelihood that cancer cells will develop resistance, and also reduce the therapeutic dose and toxicity of single treatments. Three agents have received great attention with regard to their anticancer properties: 1) piperine, a dietary phytochemical isolated from black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and long pepper (Piper longum L.); 2) sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate mainly derived from cruciferous vegetables; and 3) thymoquinone, the active compound from black seed (Nigella sativa L.). This review focused on the combined effect of these 3 compounds on conventional cancer therapy with the objective of observing enhanced efficacy compared with single treatments. This review also highlights the importance of the nanoformulation of such bioactive phytochemicals that could enhance their bioavailability by providing an efficient targeted delivery system with a reduced systemic dose while resulting in a more efficient dosing at the target site.

In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Bioavailability of Ginsenoside-Modified Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Containing Curcumin

Our aim was to investigate the cellular uptake, in vitro cytotoxicity and bioavailability of ginsenoside-modified nanostructured lipid carrier loaded with curcumin (G-NLC). The formulation was prepared by melt emulsification technique, in which water was added to the melted lipids and homogenized to give a uniform suspension of NLC (without ginsenoside) and G-NLC. Cellular uptake of curcumin in two colon cancer cell lines (HCT116 and HT29) was increased when administered using both NLC and G-NLC compared to control (curcumin dissolved into DMSO) as measured by fluorescence microscopy. Ginsenoside modification resulted in 2.0-fold and 1.4-fold increases in fluorescence intensity in HCT116 and HT29 cell lines, respectively, compared to plain NLC. In vitro cytotoxicity (assessed by MTT assay) had a dose-dependent relationship with curcumin concentration for both NLC and G-NLC. Although G-NLC was taken up more readily in HCT116 cells, ginsenoside modification did not produce a significant increase in cytotoxic effect; a significant increase was observed in HT29 cells. Oral administration of G-NLC in ten colon cancer patients produced an appreciable plasma level of unbound curcumin (2.9 ng/mL). In conclusion, introduction of ginsenoside into NLC enhanced the cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of curcumin as well as its oral bioavailability, and this strategy can be used to improve clinical outcomes in the treatment of colon cancer with similar genotype to HT29.

Micellar solubilisation enhances the antiinflammatory activities of curcumin and boswellic acids in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Native extracts of curcumin and boswellia are known to exert antiinflammatory properties but have poor bioavailability when given orally. Using advanced micellation technology, it has been possible to produce stable solubilisates of these extracts with markedly enhanced bioavailability. In the present study, we compared the chronic antiinflammatory activities of native and micellar curcumin in the rat adjuvant arthritis model, using diclofenac as a reference drug.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Adjuvant arthritis was induced by injecting Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) into the right hind paw of rats and monitoring paw volume over 3 wk. The drugs were given daily for 3 wk, starting from the day of adjuvant inoculation. The serum was collected at end of the experiment for the assay of inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters. Statistical comparisons between different groups were carried out by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test.

RESULTS

Solubilized curcumin showed better antiinflammatory activity than its native form. The reduction in paw volume was reflected in corresponding changes in relevant mediators of inflammation like tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and lipid peroxidation markers. The combination of curcumin and boswellia solubilisates synergistically produced an even more potent therapeutic effect.

CONCLUSION

The findings confirm that micellar solubilisation of curcumin and boswellia not only increases their bioavailability, but also enhances their biological activity. Micellar curcumin, in particular in combination with micellar boswellia, may thus represent a promising concomitant tool for antiinflammatory treatment and a potential antiinflammatory alternative to synthetic drugs.

Mutlifunctional nanoparticles prepared from arginine-modified chitosan and thiolated fucoidan for oral delivery of hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs

Self-assembled nanoparticles (NPs) from arginine-modified chitosan (CS-N-Arg) and thiolated fucoidan (THL-fucoidan) were synthesized to enhance the transport of dextran and curcumin across intestinal epithelial cell layer. CS-N-Arg/THL-fucoidan NPs exhibited a pH-sensitive assembly-disassembly and drug release property. Evaluations of the NPs in enhancing the transport of a hydrophilic macromolecule (FITC-dextran) and a hydrophobic drug (curcumin) were investigated in Caco-2 cell monolayers. The cationic CS-N-Arg in the NPs induced disruption of intestinal epithelial tight junctions as indicated by the decrease of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Permeation studies revealed that the NPs enhanced the paracellular permeation of macromolecular dextran through the monolayer barrier. In addition, the multifunctional NPs increased the permeability of rhodamine 123 because the thiomer THL-fucoidan in the NPs inhibited P-glycoprotein. Cellular uptake and permeability of curcumin encapsulated in the NPs were improved due to increasing their water solubility and stability.

A randomized, double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of a diet supplemented with curcuminoids extract, hydrolyzed collagen and green tea extract in owner's dogs with osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

We have previously demonstrated that a mixture of Curcuminoids extract, hydrolyzed COllagen and green Tea extract (CCOT) inhibited inflammatory and catabolic mediator's synthesis by bovine and human chondrocytes. A randomly allocated, double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of a diet containing this CCOT mixture on dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA). Therefore, 42 owner's dogs with OA were randomly assigned to receive for 3 months an experimental diet (control) or the same diet supplemented with CCOT.

RESULTS

Ground reaction forces did not show statistical differences between groups. After 3 months of feeding, there was a significant reduction of pain at manipulation in the CCOT group, but not in the control group. The evolution for pain at manipulation depended on the diet. The three other parameters evaluated by veterinary subjective assessment (lameness, pain at palpation and joint mobility) did not show statistical differences. Concerning owner subjective assessment, pain severity score worsened in the control group but remained stable in CCOT group. The evolution for pain severity depended on the diet. No statistical difference was found for pain interference, except for the ability to rise to standing from lying down, which was significantly improved in the CCOT compared to the control group. Serum OA biomarkers did not show statistical differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Objective variables measured, such as ground reaction forces and OA biomarkers, did not show statistical differences. However, indicators of pain appeared reduced in dogs receiving CCOT mixture for 3 months. The difference of evolution between groups suggests that a greater number of dogs may be necessary to reach a stronger effect on other parameters.

Synthesis, characterization and fluorescent properties of water-soluble glycopolymer bearing curcumin pendant residues

Curcumin is a potential natural anticancer drug with low oral bioavailability because of poor water solubility. The aqueous solubility of curcumin is enhanced by means of modification with the carbohydrate units. Polymerization of the curcumin-containing monomer with carbohydrate-containing monomer gives the water-soluble glycopolymer bearing curcumin pendant residues. The obtained copolymers (P1 and P2) having desirable water solubility were well-characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The copolymer P2 with a molar ratio of 1:6 (curcumin/carbohydrate) calculated from the proton NMR results exhibits a similar anticancer activity compared to original curcumin, which may serve as a potential chemotherapeutic agent in the field of anticancer medicine.

Novel nanoemulsion based lipid nanosystems for favorable in vitro and in vivo characteristics of curcumin

The goal of this study was to assess the enhanced elementary characteristics, in vitro release, anti-cancer cytotoxicity, in situ absorption and in vivo bioavailability of a novel nanoemulsion based lipid nanosystems containing curcumin (CNELNs) when administered orally. The CNELNs were first fabricated by loading water-in-oil nanoemulsions into lipid nanosystems using a nanoemulsion-film dispersion-sonication method. The gastro-intestinal absorption, in vitro release and in vivo kinetic property of CNELNs were investigated using an in situ perfusion method, a dialysis method and a concentration-time curve based method, respectively. The inhibitory effects of CNELNs on human lung cancer A549 cell growth were determined using MTT assay. The absorption constants and effective permeabilities of CNELNs in different gastro-intestinal tracts increased 2.29-4.04 times and 4.06-8.27 times that of curcumin (CUR), respectively. The relative bioavailability of CNELNs to free CUR was 733.59%. CNELNs inhibited A549 growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. CNELNs markedly improved the oral bioavailability of CUR which was probably due to the increased gastro-intestinal absorption. CNELNs had stronger inhibitory effects on the viabilities of A549 cells than that of free CUR. CNELNs might be promising nanosystems for oral delivery of CUR to satisfy clinical requirements.

Functional nanoemulsion-hybrid lipid nanocarriers enhance the bioavailability and anti-cancer activity of lipophilic diferuloylmethane

The purpose of this study was to assess the enhanced physicochemical characteristics, in vitro release behavior, anti-lung cancer activity, gastrointestinal absorption, in vivo bioavailability and bioequivalence of functional nanoemulsion-hybrid lipid nanocarriers containing diferuloylmethane (DNHLNs). The DNHLNs were first fabricated by loading water-in-oil nanoemulsions into hybrid lipid nanosystems using nanoemulsion-thin film-sonication dispersion technologies. The in situ absorption and in vitro and in vivo kinetic features of DNHLNs were measured using an in situ unidirectional perfusion method, a dynamic dialysis method and a plasma concentration-time profile-based method, respectively. The cytotoxic effects of DNHLNs in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were examined using MTT colorimetric analysis. The absorptive constants and permeabilities of DNHLNs in four gastrointestinal sections increased by 1.43-3.23 times and by 3.10-7.76 times that of diferuloylmethane (DIF), respectively. The relative bioavailability of DNHLNs to free DIF was 855.02%. DNHLNs inhibited cancer cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. DNHLNs markedly improved the absorption and bioavailability of DIF after oral administration. DNHLNs had stronger inhibitory effects on the viability of A549 cells than that of free DIF. DNHLNs might be potentially promising nanocarriers for DIF delivery via the oral route to address unmet clinical needs.

Recent developments in curcumin and curcumin based polymeric materials for biomedical applications: A review

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a popular Indian spice that has been used for centuries in herbal medicines for the treatment of a variety of ailments such as rheumatism, diabetic ulcers, anorexia, cough and sinusitis. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is the main curcuminoid present in turmeric and responsible for its yellow color. Curcumin has been shown to possess significant anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anticoagulant and anti-infective effects. This review summarizes and discusses recently published papers on the key biomedical applications of curcumin based materials. The highlighted studies in the review provide evidence of the ability of curcumin to show the significant vitro antioxidant, diabetic complication, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, anti-cancer activities and detection of hypochlorous acid, wound healing, treatment of major depression, healing of paracentesis, and treatment of carcinoma and optical detection of pyrrole properties. Hydrophobic nature of this polyphenolic compound along with its rapid metabolism, physicochemical and biological instability contribute to its poor bioavailability. To redress these problems several approaches have been proposed like encapsulation of curcumin in liposomes and polymeric micelles, inclusion complex formation with cyclodextrin, formation of polymer-curcumin conjugates, etc.