review · Pharmaceutics
Curcumin, a natural compound extracted from Curcuma longa L., possesses potent anticancer properties, but its clinical utility is limited by low water solubility, rapid metabolism, and poor bioavailability. Nanotechnology provides a way to overcome these limitations through curcumin-based nanoparticles. Formulations including polymeric, lipid-based, and inorganic nanoparticles improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of the compound. These nanoparticle systems exert anticancer effects by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting tumour cell proliferation, and altering cellular signalling pathways. Both preclinical and clinical investigations have shown the therapeutic efficacy of these formulations against several malignancies, notably breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. Translating these nanoparticle platforms into widespread clinical use remains hindered by formulation challenges, highlighting the necessity to refine nanoparticle design for targeted delivery and to improve therapeutic efficacy in cancer treatment.
Natural therapeutic compounds often fail in modern medicine because the human body metabolises them too quickly or absorbs them poorly. Encapsulating curcumin into nanoparticles helps deliver therapeutic doses directly to tumours. Demonstrating efficacy across difficult-to-treat diseases such as breast, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers suggests that nanomedicine could turn existing bioactive plant compounds into viable cancer treatments.
Curcumin-based nanoparticles could serve as oncology drug candidates for pharmaceutical developers targeting breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. While supported by both preclinical and clinical studies, the technology remains in a translational phase. Real-world adoption requires drug developers and formulation scientists to solve targeted delivery hurdles and optimise nanoparticle architectures before regulatory approval and market entry become feasible.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Curcumin, a bioactive compound derived from the rhizome of <i>Curcuma longa</i> L., has garnered significant attention for its potent anticancer properties. Despite its promising therapeutic potential, its poor bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and low water solubility hinder curcumin's clinical application. Nanotechnology offers a viable solution to these challenges by enabling the development of curcumin-based nanoparticles (CNPs) that enhance its bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in the design and synthesis of CNPs for cancer therapy. We discuss various NP formulations, including polymeric, lipid-based, and inorganic nanoparticles, highlighting their role in improving curcumin's pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles. The mechanisms by which CNPs exert anticancer effects, such as inducing apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, and modulating signaling pathways, are explored in details. Furthermore, we examine the preclinical and clinical studies that have demonstrated the efficacy of CNPs in treating different types of tumors, including breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. Finally, the review addresses the current challenges and future perspectives in the clinical translation of CNPs, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize their design for targeted delivery and to enhance their therapeutic outcomes. By synthesizing the latest research, this review underscores the potential of CNPs as a promising avenue for advancing cancer therapy.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17010114
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
