Therapeutic Applications of Curcumin Nanoformulations

Overview

Journal AAPS J

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2015 Sep 4

PMID 26335307

Citations 101

Authors

Murali M Yallapu

Prashanth K Bhusetty Nagesh

Meena Jaggi

Subhash C Chauhan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a bioactive and major phenolic component of turmeric derived from the rhizomes of curcuma longa linn. For centuries, curcumin has exhibited excellent therapeutic benefits in various diseases. Owing to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, curcumin plays a significant beneficial and pleiotropic regulatory role in various pathological conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, inflammatory disorders, neurological disorders, and so on. Despite such phenomenal advances in medicinal applications, the clinical implication of native curcumin is hindered due to low solubility, physico-chemical instability, poor bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and poor pharmacokinetics. However, these issues can be overcome by utilizing an efficient delivery system. Active scientific research was initiated in 2005 to improve curcumin's pharmacokinetics, systemic bioavailability, and biological activity by encapsulating or by loading curcumin into nanoform(s) (nanoformulations). A significant number of nanoformulations exist that can be translated toward medicinal use upon successful completion of pre-clinical and human clinical trials. Considering this perspective, current review provides an overview of an efficient curcumin nanoformulation for a targeted therapeutic option for various human diseases. In this review article, we discuss the clinical evidence, current status, and future opportunities of curcumin nanoformulation(s) in the field of medicine. In addition, this review presents a concise summary of the actions required to develop curcumin nanoformulations as pharmaceutical or nutraceutical candidates.

Citing Articles

Curcumin-Loaded Lipid Nanocarriers: A Targeted Approach for Combating Oxidative Stress in Skin Applications.

Liakopoulou A, Letsiou S, Avgoustakis K, Patrinos G, Lamari F, Hatziantoniou S Pharmaceutics. 2025; 17(2).

PMID: 40006512 PMC: 11859734. DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17020144.

A Standardized Extract of Roscoe Regulates Clinical and Biological Outcomes in Two Different EAE Mouse Models.

Borgonetti V, Governa P, Morozzi M, Sasia C, Videtta G, Biagi M Biomedicines. 2025; 13(2).

PMID: 40002693 PMC: 11852164. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13020278.

Curcumin and Its Derivatives in Hepatology: Therapeutic Potential and Advances in Nanoparticle Formulations.

Karatayli E, Sadiq S, Schattenberg J, Grabbe S, Biersack B, Kaps L Cancers (Basel). 2025; 17(3).

PMID: 39941855 PMC: 11816286. DOI: 10.3390/cancers17030484.

Nephrotoxic effect of cypermethrin ameliorated by nanocurcumin through antioxidative mechanism.

Alshahrani S, Ashafaq M, Jali A, Almoshari Y, Alam M, Al Shahi H Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025; .

PMID: 39878820 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-025-03825-5.

Preparation of oat galactolipid and anti-liver cancer effects of oat galactolipid-modified curcumin-loaded liver targeting vesicle.

Ren H, Chen N, Liu Y, Wu M, Yan J, Chang M Front Pharmacol. 2025; 15():1511666.

PMID: 39845799 PMC: 11751016. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1511666.

References

Kakkar V, Muppu S, Chopra K, Kaur I . Curcumin loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: an efficient formulation approach for cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury in rats. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2013; 85(3 Pt A):339-45. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2013.02.005. View

Palmal S, Maity A, Singh B, Basu S, Jana N, Jana N . Inhibition of amyloid fibril growth and dissolution of amyloid fibrils by curcumin-gold nanoparticles. Chemistry. 2014; 20(20):6184-91. DOI: 10.1002/chem.201400079. View

Singh N, Khullar N, Kakkar V, Kaur I . Attenuation of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury with curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles. BioDrugs. 2014; 28(3):297-312. DOI: 10.1007/s40259-014-0086-1. View

Janesirisakule S, Sinthusake T, Wanichwecharungruang S . Nanocarrier with self-antioxidative property for stabilizing and delivering ascorbyl palmitate into skin. J Pharm Sci. 2013; 102(8):2770-9. DOI: 10.1002/jps.23641. View

Devadasu V, Wadsworth R, Kumar M . Protective effects of nanoparticulate coenzyme Q10 and curcumin on inflammatory markers and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats: a possible remedy to diabetic complications. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2015; 1(6):448-55. DOI: 10.1007/s13346-011-0041-3. View

Naksuriya O, Okonogi S, Schiffelers R, Hennink W . Curcumin nanoformulations: a review of pharmaceutical properties and preclinical studies and clinical data related to cancer treatment. Biomaterials. 2014; 35(10):3365-83. DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.12.090. View

Yallapu M, Jaggi M, Chauhan S . Curcumin nanoformulations: a future nanomedicine for cancer. Drug Discov Today. 2011; 17(1-2):71-80. PMC: 3259195. DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2011.09.009. View

Doggui S, Belkacemi A, Paka G, Perrotte M, Pi R, Ramassamy C . Curcumin protects neuronal-like cells against acrolein by restoring Akt and redox signaling pathways. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2013; 57(9):1660-70. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201300130. View

Dogra N, Choudhary R, Kohli P, Haddock J, Makwana S, Horev B . Polydiacetylene nanovesicles as carriers of natural phenylpropanoids for creating antimicrobial food-contact surfaces. J Agric Food Chem. 2015; 63(9):2557-65. DOI: 10.1021/jf505442w. View

10.

Rachmawati H, Edityaningrum C, Mauludin R . Molecular inclusion complex of curcumin-β-cyclodextrin nanoparticle to enhance curcumin skin permeability from hydrophilic matrix gel. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2013; 14(4):1303-12. PMC: 3840782. DOI: 10.1208/s12249-013-0023-5. View

11.

Zorofchian Moghadamtousi S, Kadir H, Hassandarvish P, Tajik H, AbuBakar S, Zandi K . A review on antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity of curcumin. Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014:186864. PMC: 4022204. DOI: 10.1155/2014/186864. View

12.

Gupta S, Sung B, Kim J, Prasad S, Li S, Aggarwal B . Multitargeting by turmeric, the golden spice: From kitchen to clinic. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2012; 57(9):1510-28. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201100741. View

13.

Egan M, Pearson M, Weiner S, Rajendran V, Rubin D, Glockner-Pagel J . Curcumin, a major constituent of turmeric, corrects cystic fibrosis defects. Science. 2004; 304(5670):600-2. DOI: 10.1126/science.1093941. View

14.

Ramalingam P, Ko Y . Enhanced oral delivery of curcumin from N-trimethyl chitosan surface-modified solid lipid nanoparticles: pharmacokinetic and brain distribution evaluations. Pharm Res. 2014; 32(2):389-402. DOI: 10.1007/s11095-014-1469-1. View

15.

Yen F, Tsai M, Yang C, Liang C, Lin C, Chiang Y . Curcumin nanoparticles ameliorate ICAM-1 expression in TNF-α-treated lung epithelial cells through p47 (phox) and MAPKs/AP-1 pathways. PLoS One. 2013; 8(5):e63845. PMC: 3650060. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063845. View

16.

Selvam P, El-Sherbiny I, Smyth H . Swellable hydrogel particles for controlled release pulmonary administration using propellant-driven metered dose inhalers. J Aerosol Med Pulm Drug Deliv. 2010; 24(1):25-34. DOI: 10.1089/jamp.2010.0830. View

17.

Scarano W, de Souza P, Stenzel M . Dual-drug delivery of curcumin and platinum drugs in polymeric micelles enhances the synergistic effects: a double act for the treatment of multidrug-resistant cancer. Biomater Sci. 2015; 3(1):163-74. DOI: 10.1039/c4bm00272e. View

18.

Ramalingam P, Ko Y . A validated LC-MS/MS method for quantitative analysis of curcumin in mouse plasma and brain tissue and its application in pharmacokinetic and brain distribution studies. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2014; 969:101-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2014.08.009. View

19.

Lazar A, Mourtas S, Youssef I, Parizot C, Dauphin A, Delatour B . Curcumin-conjugated nanoliposomes with high affinity for Aβ deposits: possible applications to Alzheimer disease. Nanomedicine. 2012; 9(5):712-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2012.11.004. View

20.

Anwar M, Asfer M, Prajapati A, Mohapatra S, Akhter S, Ali A . Synthesis and in vitro localization study of curcumin-loaded SPIONs in a micro capillary for simulating a targeted drug delivery system. Int J Pharm. 2014; 468(1-2):158-64. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2014.04.038. View