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Related Experiment Video

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Transferrin-functionalized lipid nanoparticles for curcumin brain delivery.

A R Neves1, L van der Putten2, J F Queiroz2

  • 1LAQV, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Ciências Químicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal; CQM, Centro de Química da Madeira, Universidade da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal.

Journal of Biotechnology
|March 17, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Curcumin delivery to the brain is enhanced using transferrin-functionalized lipid nanoparticles (SLNs and NLCs). These systems improve curcumin permeation across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), offering neuroprotection.

Keywords:
Blood-brain barrierCurcuminNanostructured lipid carriers (NLC)Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN)Transferrin receptors

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Area of Science:

  • Nanotechnology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Curcumin exhibits significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties.
  • Poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and limited blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration hinder curcumin's therapeutic efficacy.
  • Lipid-based nanocarriers, including solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), are explored to overcome these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and characterize transferrin-functionalized SLNs and NLCs for enhanced curcumin brain delivery.
  • To evaluate the stability and in vitro performance of these targeted nanosystems.
  • To assess the ability of functionalized nanoparticles to improve curcumin permeation across the BBB.

Main Methods:

  • Production and characterization of curcumin-loaded SLNs and NLCs, functionalized with transferrin.
  • Assessment of particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, and stability.
  • In vitro evaluation using hCMEC/D3 cells to determine cytotoxicity and BBB permeability via transwell assays.

Main Results:

  • Nanosystems exhibited sizes under 200 nm, low polydispersity (PDI < 0.2), and negative zeta potential (approx. -30 mV).
  • Curcumin encapsulation efficiencies ranged from 65% (SLNs) to 80% (NLCs), with functionalization maintaining high levels (70-75%).
  • A 1.5-fold increase in curcumin permeation across the BBB model was observed with transferrin-functionalized nanoparticles.

Conclusions:

  • Transferrin-functionalized SLNs and NLCs effectively encapsulate curcumin and demonstrate good stability.
  • These targeted nanosystems significantly enhance curcumin transport across the blood-brain barrier.
  • The developed nanocarriers show promise for improving curcumin's therapeutic potential in neurological conditions.