Abstract
CURCUMIN is one of the most promising natural anticancer agents, however, its medical application has been limited by its poor water solubility and bioavailability. Attempts have been made to encapsulate curcumin in different carriers, but the interest in nanocarriers for cancer chemotherapy is growing to develop a biodegradable controlled drug delivery vehicle that improves the bioavailability and solubility of curcumin.
Here we focused on designing a biocompatible delivery system to be used as nanocarrier of the natural anticancer curcumin allowing its application either in vitro or in vivo. Therefore, mesoporous silica was prepared as a nanocarrier for curcumin. Characterization of the prepared nanocarriers was investigated using different techniques. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the spherical, smooth surface of the nano-formulation. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used for measuring the hydrodynamic size of the prepared nanocarrier. The stability was also studied by zeta potential measurement indicating its high stability. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) assessment revealed that curcumin was successfully loaded into mesoporous nanoparticles. In vitro studies elucidated that curcumin loaded nanoparticles have a more potent therapeutic effect than free curcumin against both HCT-116 and MCF-7 cancer cells. Curcumin nanocarrier can provide high therapeutic efficacy represented by the inhibition of cancer cells proliferation. Therefore, the development of such novel curcumin nanocarrier with its better curative effect will bring the nutraceutical nanoformulation to be an alternative to the chemotherapeutic drugs.