We report a one-step emulsification and rapid freeze-drying process to develop a curcumin-ionic liquid (CCM-IL) complex that could be readily dispersed in water with a significantly enhanced solubility of ∼8 mg mL-1 and half-life (t1/2) of ∼260 min compared with free CCM (solubility ∼30 nM and t1/2 ∼ 20 min). This process using an IL consisting of a long chain carbon backbone as a surfactant, may provide an alternative way of enhancing the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs.