Preparation and in vitro evaluation of glycyrrhetinic acid-modified curcumin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers

Molecules. 2014 Feb 21;19(2):2445-57. doi: 10.3390/molecules19022445.

Abstract

Curcumin, a phenolic antioxidant compound derived from the rhizome of the turmeric plant Curcuma longa, has proven to be a modulator of intracellular signaling pathways that control cancer cell growth, inflammation, invasion and apoptosis, revealing its anticancer potential. In this study, a Glycyrrhetinic Acid-Modified Curcumin-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier (Cur-GA-PEG-NLC) was prepared by the film ultrasound method to improve the tumor-targeting ability. The drug content was detected by an UV spectrophotometry method. The encapsulation efficiency of curcumin in the nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) was determined using a mini-column centrifugation method. The encapsulation efficiency for various Cur-GA-PEG-NLC was within the range of 90.06%-95.31% and particle size was between 123.1 nm and 132.7 nm. An in vitro MTT assay showed that Cur-GA10%-PEG-NLC had significantly high cellular uptake and cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells compared with other groups.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Curcumin / chemistry
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Carriers*
  • Drug Stability
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid / chemistry
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid / pharmacology
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Lipids / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Particle Size

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Lipids
  • Curcumin
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid