Synthesis and Characterization of Inhalable Flavonoid Nanoparticle for Lung Cancer Cell Targeting.

Current cancer treatments are not adequate to cure cancer disease, as most chemotherapeutic drugs do not differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous cells; which lead to systemic toxicity and adverse effects. We have developed a promising approach to deliver a potential anti-cancer compound (curcumin) for lung cancer treatment through pulmonary delivery. Three different sizes of curcumin micellar nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) were fabricated and their cytotoxicity effects (proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle progression) were evaluated against non-small-cell lung cancer, human lung carcinoma (A549) and human lung adenocarcinoma (Calu-3). The in vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that Cur-NPs were more effective to kill lung cancer cells compared to DMSO-solubilised raw curcumin. The potency of the anti-cancer killing activities was size-dependent. Both raw curcumin and Cur-NPs were not toxic to healthy lung cells (BEAS-2B). Smaller Cur-NPs accumulated within nucleus, membrane and cytoplasm. Cur-NPs also induced apoptosis and caused G2/M arrest in both A549 and Calu-3 cell lines. Compared to raw curcumin, Cur-NPs were more effective in suppressing the expression of the inflammatory marker, Interleukin-8 (IL8). The aerosol performance of Cur-NPs was characterized using the next generation impactor (NGI). All Cur-NPs showed promising aerosolization property with mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) ranging between 4.8-5.2 and 2.0-2.1, respectively. This study suggests that inhaled curcumin nanoparticles could potentially be used for lung cancer treatment with minimal side effects.

Therapeutic actions of curcumin in bone disorders.

Curcumin is the active component of turmeric extract derived from the Curcuma longa plant. In the last decade, curcumin has raised a considerable interest in medicine owing to its negligible toxicity and multiple therapeutic actions including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities. Among the various molecular targets of curcumin, some are involved in bone remodeling, which strongly suggests that curcumin can affect the skeletal system. The review sheds light on the current and potential applications of curcumin to treat bone disorders characterized by an excessive resorption activity. Within the scope of this review, the novel formulations of curcumin to overcome its physico-chemical and pharmacokinetic constraints are also discussed.

Recent advances in curcumin nanoformulation for cancer therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Natural compounds are emerging as effective agents for the treatment of malignant diseases. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), the active constituent of turmeric extract, has gained significant interest as a plant-based compound with anti-cancer properties. Curcumin is physiologically very well tolerated, with negligible systemic toxicity observed even after high oral doses administration. Despite curcumin's superior properties as an anti-cancer agent its applications are limited due to its low solubility and physico-chemical stability, rapid systemic clearance and low cellular uptake. AREAS COVERED: This review focuses on the development of curcumin nano-particle formulation to improve its therapeutic index through enhanced cellular uptake, localization to targeted areas and improved bioavailability. The feasibility of nano-formulation in delivering curcumin and the limitations and challenges in designing and administrating the nano-sized curcumin particles are also covered in this review. EXPERT OPINION: Nanotechnology is a promising tool to enhance efficacy and delivery of drugs. In this context, formulation of curcumin as nano-sized particles could reduce the required therapeutic dosages and subsequently reduced its cell toxicity. These nanoparticles are capable to provide local delivery of curcumin targeted to specific areas and thereby preventing systemic clearance. In addition, using specific coating, better pharmacokinetic and internalization of nano-curcumin could be achieved. However, the potential toxicity of nano-carriers for curcumin delivery is an important issue, which should be taken into account in curcumin nano-formulation.

Curcumin and its derivatives: their application in neuropharmacology and neuroscience in the 21st century.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a polyphenol extracted from the plant Curcuma longa, is widely used in Southeast Asia, China and India in food preparation and for medicinal purposes. Since the second half of the last century, this traditional medicine has attracted the attention of scientists from multiple disciplines to elucidate its pharmacological properties. Of significant interest is curcumin's role to treat neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) and malignancy. These diseases all share an inflammatory basis, involving increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and oxidative damage to lipids, nucleic acids and proteins. The therapeutic benefits of curcumin for these neurodegenerative diseases appear multifactorial via regulation of transcription factors, cytokines and enzymes associated with (Nuclear factor kappa beta) NFκB activity. This review describes the historical use of curcumin in medicine, its chemistry, stability and biological activities, including curcumin's anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The review further discusses the pharmacology of curcumin and provides new perspectives on its therapeutic potential and limitations. Especially, the review focuses in detail on the effectiveness of curcumin and its mechanism of actions in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and brain malignancies.

Dental calculus composition following use of essential-oil/ZnCl2 mouthrinse.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that anticalculus agents cannot completely inhibit calculus formation but can influence the types of calcium phosphate which form, i.e., they can influence the composition of the inorganic component of human dental calculus (HDC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The composition of HDC specimens obtained from a 16-week multi-center clinical study using three regimens were analyzed, investigators blinded. The treatment regimens were: (a) standard dentifrice (SD), (b) pyrophosphate antitartar dentifrice, and (c) SD with Tartar Control Listerine Antiseptic mouthrinse (containing essential oils and 0.09% zinc chloride). 25 individual samples and eight pooled samples from each group were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: (1) relative frequency of occurrence for: (a) bacteria: Group A = 100%, Group B = 60%, and Group C = 25%; (b) Carbonate hydroxyapatite (CHA): Groups A, B, and C = 100%; (c) dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD): Group A = 55%; Group B = 45%; Group C = 80%; (2) The relative amount of DCPD is inversely proportional to that of CHA in HDC: the higher the amount of DCPD, the lower the amount of CHA. Group C regimen with essential oil/ZnCl2 mouthrinse and standard dentifrice showed a significant anti-microbial effect and favored the formation of DCPD, the most soluble Ca-P.