Curcumin Loaded PEGylated Nanoemulsions Designed for Maintained Antioxidant Effects and Improved Bioavailability: A...

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Curcumin, a potent antioxidant, has limited bioavailability for parenteral delivery.
• Developing stable and effective nano-delivery systems is crucial for therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize PEGylated nanoemulsions for parenteral curcumin delivery.
• To evaluate the physicochemical stability, antioxidant activity, and in vivo performance of these nanoemulsions.

Main Methods:

• Experimental design guided formulation of PEGylated nanoemulsions.
• Physicochemical characterization (droplet size, PDI, zeta potential, osmolality).
• Stability, antioxidant activity (DPPH, FRAPS), in vitro release, cytotoxicity (MTT), and pharmacokinetic studies.

Main Results:

• Nanoemulsions exhibited optimal physicochemical properties (105 nm size, <0.15 PDI, -40 mV zeta potential).
• Formulations remained stable for two years with intact antioxidant capacity.
• PEGylated nanoemulsions demonstrated enhanced plasma residence time and improved curcumin bioavailability.

Conclusions:

• Developed PEGylated nanoemulsions are a safe and effective parenteral delivery system for curcumin.
• The system preserves curcumin's stability and antioxidant efficacy.
• This approach significantly improves curcumin's pharmacokinetic profile for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.