Cellulose nanocrystals based delivery vehicles for anticancer agent curcumin

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Cancer arises from genetic mutations in healthy cells, necessitating advanced drug delivery.
• Curcumin (CUR), a potent bioactive compound, suffers from low bioavailability due to its hydrophobic nature.
• There is a growing need for biocompatible and intelligent drug delivery systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) extraction and modification.
• To evaluate CNC-based composites for curcumin (CUR) loading and controlled release.
• To explore challenges and techniques for effective CUR encapsulation in CNC systems.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on CNC extraction from lignocellulose biomass.
• Analysis of CNC post-processing techniques with polymers, cyclodextrins, and surfactants.
• Evaluation of various CNC-based composite formulations for CUR delivery.

Main Results:

• CNCs exhibit favorable properties like hydrophilicity, lipophilicity, and stability for drug loading.
• Various CNC-based composites have been developed for effective CUR encapsulation.
• Different strategies for CUR loading and controlled release using CNCs have been presented.

Conclusions:

• CNCs are highly effective carriers for improving curcumin's bioavailability and controlled release.
• CNC-based drug delivery systems show significant potential for cancer therapy.
• Further research into CNC modification and formulation is crucial for optimized drug delivery.