Cationic nanoliposomes enhance cytotoxicity activity of curcumin

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a promising natural product with pleiotropic pharmacological activities. Among these, potential anticancer properties are stirring up the research interest all around the world [1]. Therapeutic applications of curcumin would imply its proper formulation into a suitable pharmaceutical form which ideally would enhance its activity by maximising delivery to the cancer cells. We here report the effects of several nanoliposomal formulations loaded with curcumin using a modified ethanolic proliposome method [2]. Cationic nanoliposomes were produced from ethanol-dimethyl sulfoxide-based egg phosphatidylcholine with cationic surfactant dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide (DDA) containing curcumin by addition of isotonic sodium chloride. Their affects on the viability of cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) were measured after 48 hours incubation by an MTS assay [3]. Free curcumin had an LC₅₀ 90µM, whilst two different nano liposomes bearing a positive net charge in their surface were able to dramatically lower the LC₅₀ down to 2–1.5µM). The other nanoliposomal formulations exhibited the same LC₅₀ as free curcumin. The results indicate that positively charged nanoliposomes formulations enhanced the in vitro cytotoxicity activity of curcumin in cervical cancer cells and therefore they could be a promising delivery system for this potent natural product.

References: [1] Anand, P. et al. (2008) Planta Med. 74 : 1560-1569. [2] Taylor, K.M. et al. (2006) J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 58: 887-894. [3] Mosmann, T. (1983) J. Immunol. Methods 65: 55-63