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Stati G, Rossi F, Trakoolwilaiwan T, Tung LD, Mourdikoudis S, Thanh NTK, Di Pietro R. Development and Characterization of Curcumin-Silver Nanoparticles as a Promising Formulation to Test on Human Pterygium-Derived Keratinocytes. Molecules 2022; 27:282. [PMID: 35011514 PMCID: PMC8746426 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pterygium is a progressive disease of the human eye arising from sub-conjunctival tissue and extending onto the cornea. Due to its invasive growth, pterygium can reach the pupil compromising visual function. Currently available medical treatments have limited success in suppressing efficiently the disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that curcumin, polyphenol isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, induces apoptosis of human pterygium fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent manner showing promising activity in the treatment of this ophthalmic disease. However, this molecule is not very soluble in water in either neutral or acidic pH and is only slightly more soluble in alkaline conditions, while its dissolving in organic solvents drastically reduces its potential use for biomedical applications. A nanoformulation of curcumin stabilized silver nanoparticles (Cur-AgNPs) seems an effective strategy to increase the bioavailability of curcumin without inducing toxic effects. In fact, silver nitrates have been used safely for the treatment of many ophthalmic conditions and diseases for a long time and the concentration of AgNPs in this formulation is quite low. The synthesis of this new compound was achieved through a modified Bettini's method adapted to improve the quality of the product intended for human use. Indeed, the pH of the reaction was changed to 9, the temperature of the reaction was increased from 90 °C to 100 °C and after the synthesis the Cur-AgNPs were dispersed in Borax buffer using a dialysis step to improve the biocompatibility of the formulation. This new compound will be able to deliver both components (curcumin and silver) at the same time to the affected tissue, representing an alternative and a more sophisticated strategy for the treatment of human pterygium. Further in vitro and in vivo assays will be required to validate this formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Stati
- Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Rossi
- UCL Healthcare Biomagnetic & Nanomaterials Laboratories, The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS, UK; (F.R.); (T.T.); (L.D.T.); (S.M.)
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University, Via Torino, 155/b, 30170 Venice, Italy
| | - Thithawat Trakoolwilaiwan
- UCL Healthcare Biomagnetic & Nanomaterials Laboratories, The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS, UK; (F.R.); (T.T.); (L.D.T.); (S.M.)
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Healthy Infrastructure Research Group, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Le Duc Tung
- UCL Healthcare Biomagnetic & Nanomaterials Laboratories, The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS, UK; (F.R.); (T.T.); (L.D.T.); (S.M.)
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Stefanos Mourdikoudis
- UCL Healthcare Biomagnetic & Nanomaterials Laboratories, The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS, UK; (F.R.); (T.T.); (L.D.T.); (S.M.)
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technicka 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nguyễn Thi Kim Thanh
- UCL Healthcare Biomagnetic & Nanomaterials Laboratories, The Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS, UK; (F.R.); (T.T.); (L.D.T.); (S.M.)
- Biophysics Group, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Roberta Di Pietro
- Department of Medicine and Ageing Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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