PEG 400:Trehalose Coating Enhances Curcumin-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticle Internalization in Neuronal Cells

Enhanced Intracellular Delivery of Curcumin Using Polymeric Nanocarriers: A Natural Photosensitizing Agent for Anti-Cancer Photodynamic Therapy

Curcumin ranks among the extensively investigated Phytocompounds with a wide array of therapeutic properties. It has bioactive and photoactive properties that enhance its potential as an anti-cancer agent. However, poor solubility and low bioavailability are associated with it which hinders its applications. To address the limitations related to free curcumin (CUR), the present study focuses on the synthesis of curcumin-loaded poly lactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles (CUR NPs). The single emulsion solvent evaporation technique was used to synthesize CUR NPs with an average size of 187 nm and a zeta potential of -13.3 mV. Photophysical properties, drug loading efficiency, and drug release profile of synthesized CUR NPs were studied. Confocal fluorescence imaging was employed to study the cellular uptake of both formulations of CUR. The In-vitro investigation was conducted using BT-474 human breast cancer cells to evaluate the dark and phototoxic effect of both variants of curcumin (free CUR and CUR NPs). The cytotoxicity was quantified through half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) obtained after conducting in-vitro dark and phototoxic experiments. The study revealed that CUR NPs showed better cytotoxic responses compared to the free CUR. During the phototoxic study, CUR NPs exhibit improved efficacy in the presence of light. The CUR NPs effectively deliver curcumin to enhance its potential in photodynamic therapy against cancer.

Tannic acid coated nanosuspension for oral delivery of chrysin intended for anti-schizophrenic effect in mice

Chrysin is a flavonoid drug with numerous therapeutic activities. It suffers from low intestinal absorption owing to its hydrophobicity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to exploit the efficient technique of nanosuspension (NSP) to formulate chrysin-NSP coated with tannic acid (TA) to improve the solubility and anti-schizophrenic activity of chrysin. A 23 full factorial design was constructed where the independent factors were type of polymer, surfactant concentration (0.5 or 1 %) and the aqueous phase volume (5 or 15 mL), while the dependent responses were the particle size (PS) of the obtained formulation as well as the % chrysin dissolved after 2 h (Q2h). The optimum formulation (NSP-4) composed of 1 % PEG 400 and 1 % Cremophor RH40 in 15 mL aqueous phase. It achieved a PS and Q2h values of 108.00 nm and 38.77 %, respectively. NSP-4 was then coated with TA (TA-coated NSP-4) for further enhancement of chrysin solubility. TA-coated NSP-4 revealed PS and zeta potential values of 150 ± 14 nm and -32.54 ± 2.45 mV, respectively. After 6 h, chrysin dissolved % were 53.97 and 80.22 for uncoated NSP-4 and TA-coated NSP-4, respectively, compared with only 9.47 for free chrysin. The developed formulations and free chrysin were assessed regarding their effect on schizophrenia induced in mice by cuprizone (CPZ). Treatment with the developed formulations and free chrysin ameliorated demyelination and behavioral deficit induced by CPZ via elevating MBP and PI3K/PKC activities as well as reducing GFAP expression levels. The developed formulations and free chrysin inhibited Galactin-3 and TGF-β expressions and stimulated GST antioxidant enzyme. Furthermore, they maintained the balances in glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission via modulation on neuregulin-1 and alleviated nuclear pyknosis and degeneration in the neurons. The order of activity was: TA-coated NSP-4 > NSP-4 > free chrysin.