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Curcumin-loaded chitosan-cholesterol micelles: evaluation in monolayers and 3D cancer spheroid model
Omkara Swami Muddineti1, Preeti Kumari1, Eupa Ray1
1Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Shameerpet, Hyderabad - 500078, Telangana, India.
Aim:
To improve the bioavailability and anticancer potential of curcumin by using a cholesterol-conjugated chitosan micelle. Methods & methods: Cholesterol was conjugated to chitosan (15 kDa) to form self-assembled micelles, which loaded curcumin. Physicochemical characterization and formulation optimization of the drug-loaded micelles (curcumin-loaded chitosan-cholesterol micelles [C-CCM]) were performed. In vitro cellular uptake and viability of C-CCM were investigated in melanoma and breast cancer cell lines. The antitumor efficacy was evaluated in 3D lung cancer spheroid model.
Results & Conclusion:
The optimized C-CCM had size of approximately 162 nm with loading efficiency of approximately 36%. C-CCM was taken up efficiently by the cells, and it reduced cancer cell viability significantly compared with free curcumin. C-CCM enhanced the antitumor efficacy in spheroids, suggesting that C-CCM could be used as an effective chemotherapy in cancer.
