Planta Med 2017; 83(05): 434-444
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-112030
Formulation and Delivery Systems of Natural Products
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Curcumin Encapsulated into Methoxy Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Nanoparticles Increases Cellular Uptake and Neuroprotective Effect in Glioma Cells

Gregory Marslin
1   Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences (CITAB-UM), AgroBioPlant Group, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
,
Bruno Filipe Carmelino Cardoso Sarmento
2   CESPU, IINFACTS – Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde-Norte, Gandra-PRD, Portugal
3   INEB – Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
,
Gregory Franklin
4   Department of Integrative Plant Biology, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
,
José Alberto Ribeiro Martins
5   Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
,
Carlos Jorge Ribeiro Silva
5   Department of Chemistry, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
,
Andreia Ferreira Castro Gomes
6   CBMA – Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
,
Marisa Passos Sárria
6   CBMA – Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
7   INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
,
Olga Maria Fernandes Pereira Coutinho
1   Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences (CITAB-UM), AgroBioPlant Group, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
,
Alberto Carlos Pires Dias
1   Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences (CITAB-UM), AgroBioPlant Group, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 15 December 2015
revised 02 June 2016

accepted 02 July 2016

Publication Date:
14 September 2016 (online)

Abstract

Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound isolated from turmeric (Curcuma longa) with well-demonstrated neuroprotective and anticancer activities. Although curcumin is safe even at high doses in humans, it exhibits poor bioavailability, mainly due to poor absorption, fast metabolism, and rapid systemic elimination. To overcome these issues, several approaches, such as nanoparticle-mediated targeted delivery, have been undertaken with different degrees of success. The present study was conducted to compare the neuroprotective effect of curcumin encapsulated in poly(ε-caprolactone) and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles in U251 glioblastoma cells. Prepared nanoparticles were physically characterized by laser doppler anemometry, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The results from laser doppler anemometry confirmed that the size of poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol) poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles ranged between 200–240 nm for poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles and 30–70 nm for poly(ethylene glycol) poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles, and transmission electron microscopy images revealed their spherical shape. Treatment of U251 glioma cells and zebrafish embryos with poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol) poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles loaded with curcumin revealed efficient cellular uptake. The cellular uptake of poly(ethylene glycol) poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles was higher in comparison to poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles. Moreover, poly(ethylene glycol) poly(ε-caprolactone) di-block copolymer-loaded curcumin nanoparticles were able to protect the glioma cells against tBHP induced-oxidative damage better than free curcumin. Together, our results show that curcumin-loaded poly(ethylene glycol) poly(ε-caprolactone) di-block copolymer nanoparticles possess significantly stronger neuroprotective effect in U251 human glioma cells compared to free curcumin and curcumin-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles.

 
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