Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025
Author Spotlight: Exploring Photodynamic Therapy with Curcumin in a Murine Model for Oral Candidiasis
Published on: October 27, 2023
Comparing deep eutectic solvents and cyclodextrin complexes as curcumin vehicles for blue-light antimicrobial
Eduardo Silva1,2, Ivo M Aroso1,2, Joana M Silva3,4
13B's Research Group, I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Avepark, Zona Industrial da Gandra, 4805-017, Barco GMR, Portugal.
Deep eutectic solvents (DES) enhance curcumin (Cur) solubility and photodynamic therapy (PDT) potential. DES-Cur shows superior photoactivity and lower cytotoxicity compared to methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD)-Cur for antimicrobial PDT applications.
Area of Science:
- Photodynamic Therapy
- Materials Science
- Antimicrobial Agents
Background:
- Curcumin (Cur), a compound from Curcuma longa L., shows promise as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT).
- Cur's clinical use is limited by poor aqueous solubility and instability at physiological and alkaline pH.
- Novel formulations are needed to overcome these limitations for effective PDT applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and compare two curcumin formulations: MβCD-Cur (complexation with methyl-β-cyclodextrin) and DES-Cur (dissolution in choline chloride: glycerol deep eutectic solvent).
- To evaluate their physicochemical properties and potential as phototherapeutic agents for blue-light antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT).
- To assess their efficacy against bacterial pathogens and cytotoxicity towards L929 murine fibroblast cells.
Main Methods:
- Production and physicochemical characterization of MβCD-Cur and DES-Cur formulations.
- Assessment of curcumin solubility enhancement in both formulations compared to curcumin powder.
- Evaluation of phototherapeutic potential, photoresponsivity, phototoxicity against bacteria, and cytotoxicity against L929 cells.
Main Results:
- Both MβCD-Cur and DES-Cur significantly improved curcumin solubility.
- MβCD-Cur exhibited hindered biological properties, higher basal cytotoxicity, and reduced photoresponsivity.
- DES-Cur demonstrated good biological properties, high photoresponsivity, significant bacterial reduction (≥99.9%), and better cell tolerability.
Conclusions:
- Deep eutectic solvent (DES) is a more effective vehicle for curcumin in phototherapeutic applications compared to methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD).
- DES-Cur shows significant potential for blue-light antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT).
- This study provides a basis for developing novel platforms for blue-light aPDT targeting superficial infections.
