Dendrosomal nano-curcumin; The novel formulation to improve the anticancer properties of curcumin

Abstract

Curcumin is a hydrophobic polyphenol extracted from the plant curcuma longa with established<br />anticancer properties. However, curcumin benefits have been impaired by its very low water<br />solubility, low absorption, rapid metabolism and clearance from the body. Recently,<br />nanotechnology promises to be helpful in development of drugs delivery systems by recent<br />advances in macromolecular design of nanocarriers. In this review, we present the novel<br />generation of nano-vehicles termed dendrosomes which are readily synthesized from<br />esterification of oleic acid and polyethylene glycol residues. Dendrosomes efficiently<br />encapsulate curcumin in a spherical micellar or polymersome structures which leads to increase<br />aqueous solubility of this hydrophobic agent and higher bioavailability of curcumin. Anticancer<br />potency of this nanoformulation was confirmed in different mouse and human cancer<br />cells including fibrosarcoma, colon, glioblastoma, bladder, gastric, breast and hepatocellular<br />carcinoma in vitro and vivo. It has also demonstrated that this nano preparation has no<br />cytotoxicity effects on normal cells. Finally, these results introduce dendrosomal curcumin as<br />potent anti-tumor agent although further clinical examinations are needed.