Curcumin Nanoparticles Attenuate Production of Pro-inflammatory Markers in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Macrophages

The surface charge of nanoparticles is an important factor that controls efficiency and cellular uptake. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of curcumin nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) with different surface charges, in terms of toxicity, internalization, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities towards alveolar macrophages cells.

The surface charge of curcumin nanoparticles (positive, negative and neutral), with an average diameter of 30 nm, were synthesized and characterized. Polyvinyl-alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone and dextran were used as coatings to confer negative, positive and neutral charges. The synthesized Cur-NPs were evaluated for particle size, encapsulation efficiency, surface charge, qualitative and quantitative cellular uptakes, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Positively charged nanoparticles showed higher cytotoxicity effects compared to negative and neutral particles. The same trend was observed in antioxidant activity, which included radical scavenging and nitric oxide production. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activity (interleukin-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) depleted in the order: positive>negative>neutral. The void neutral-, positively- and negatively-charged nanoparticles did not show any cytotoxic effects.

The difference in activity for different surface charges of Cur-NPs may be due to the internalization rate of the particles by alveolar macrophages. Intracellular uptake measurements demonstrated that Cur-NPs with positive surface charges possessed the strongest interaction with alveolar macrophages.