Encapsulation of curcumin in diblock copolymer micelles for cancer therapy

Application of nanoparticles has recently promising results for water insoluble agents like curcumin. In this study, we synthesized polymeric nanoparticle-curcumin (PNPC) and then showed its efficiency, drug loading, stability, and safety. Therapeutic effects of PNPC were also assessed on two cell lines and in an animal model of breast cancer. PNPC remarkably suppressed mammary and hepatocellular carcinoma cells proliferation (P < 0.05). Under the dosing procedure, PNPC was safe at 31.25 mg/kg and lower doses. Higher doses demonstrated minimal hepatocellular and renal toxicity in paraclinical and histopathological examinations. Tumor take rate in PNPC-treated group was 37.5% compared with 87.5% in control (P < 0.05). Average tumor size and weight were significantly lower in PNPC group than control (P < 0.05). PNPC increased proapoptotic Bax protein expression (P < 0.05). Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression, however, was lower in PNPC-treated animals than the control ones (P < 0.05). In addition, proliferative and angiogenic parameters were statistically decreased in PNPC-treated animals (P < 0.05). These results highlight the suppressing role for PNPC in in vitro and in vivo tumor growth models. Our findings provide credible evidence for superior biocompatibility of the polymeric nanocarrier in pharmacological arena together with an excellent tumor-suppressing response.