Curcumin (Cur) has anticancer properties but exhibits poor aqueous solubility, permeability, and photostability. In this study, we aimed to develop a solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) system to enhance Cur bioavailability. The characteristics of Cur-loaded SLNs prepared by sonication were evaluated using UV-vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The mean particle size of the stearic acid-based, lauric acid-based, and palmitic acid-based SLNs was 14.70-149.30, 502.83, and 469.53 nm, respectively. The chemical interactions between Cur and lipids involved hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. The formulations with high van der Waals forces might produce a neat arrangement between Cur and lipids, leading to a decrease in particle size. The Cur formulations showed enhanced cytotoxicity in HeLa, A549, and CT-26 cells compared with pure Cur. Additionally, the anticancer effect is dependent on particle size and the type of cell line. Therefore, Cur-loaded SLNs have the potential for use in anticancer therapy.
© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.