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Lyophilization of Curcumin-Loaded Lipodisks; pre- and post-processing evaluation of formulation characteristics
Sajid Ali1, Luís Silva1, Lars Gedda1
1Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
|February 16, 2026
Summary
Lyophilization enhances curcumin-loaded lipodisks stability. Trehalose cryoprotection preserves lipodisk morphology and drug release, supporting clinical use of these lipid-based drug delivery systems.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Lipid-based drug delivery systems, including polyethylene glycol (PEG)-stabilized lipodisks, show promise for anti-cancer therapies, particularly for hydrophobic drugs like curcumin.
- Curcumin-loaded lipodisks face challenges with drug degradation and limited shelf life, necessitating improved formulation stability.
- Lyophilization (freeze-drying) is a common technique to enhance drug formulation stability, but its effects on lipodisks are not well-studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of lyophilization on curcumin-loaded lipodisk morphology, drug loading, and in vitro release kinetics.
- To evaluate the efficacy of different cryoprotectants (lactose, sucrose, trehalose) during lipodisk lyophilization.
- To determine the optimal conditions for stable, long-term storage of curcumin-loaded lipodisks.
Main Methods:
- Curcumin-loaded lipodisks were prepared using dual centrifugation.
- Lipodisks were lyophilized with and without cryoprotectants: lactose, sucrose, and trehalose.
- Post-lyophilization analysis included morphology assessment, drug loading quantification, and in vitro drug release studies.
Main Results:
- Lyophilization preserved curcumin loading in lipodisks, although particle size tended to increase.
- Trehalose demonstrated the most significant effect in minimizing lipodisk fusion and particle size enlargement during lyophilization.
- In vitro release studies indicated that neither the freeze-drying process nor subsequent rehydration negatively impacted the drug release profiles.
Conclusions:
- Trehalose-assisted lyophilization is a viable strategy for enhancing the long-term stability of curcumin-loaded lipodisks.
- This approach helps maintain the structural integrity and drug release characteristics of lipodisks.
- The findings support the potential clinical translation of these stabilized curcumin-loaded lipodisk formulations.
