Highly Soluble and Stable, High Release Rate Nanocellulose Codrug Delivery System of Curcumin and AuNPs for Dual Chemo-Photothermal Therapy

Abstract

As a natural antitumor drug, curcumin (CUR) has received increasing attention from researchers and patients due to its various medicinal properties. However, currently CUR is still restricted due to its low and stand-alone therapeutic effects that seriously limit its clinical application. Here, by using cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a nanocarrier to load CUR and AuNPs simultaneously, we developed a hybrid nanoparticle as a codrug delivery system to enhance the low and stand-alone therapeutic effects of CUR. Aided with the encapsulation of β-cyclodextrin (βCD), both the solubility and the stability of CUR are greatly enhanced (solubility increased from 0.89 to 131.7 μg/mL). Owing to the unique rod-like morphology of CNCs, the system exhibits an outstanding loading capacity of 31.4 μg/mg. Under the heat effects of coloaded AuNPs, the system demonstrates a high release rate of 77.63%. Finally, with CNC as a bridge nanocarrier, all aforementioned functions were integrated into one hybrid nanoparticle. The all-in-one integration ensures CUR to have enhanced therapeutic effects and enables the delivery system to exhibit combined chemo-photothermal therapy outcomes. This work presents a significant step toward CUR’s clinical application and provides a new strategy for effective and integrative treatment of tumor disease.

Global publication trends and research hotspots of curcumin application in tumor: A 20-year bibliometric approach

“…According to recent studies, the nano preparations of curcumin mainly include nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, polymers, nano gel, etc. They can overcome the biological defects of curcumin and improve its stability and cell bioavailability in vitro and in vivo ( 30 , 31 ). Although there are many shortcomings, at present, curcumin nanoparticles still have good development potential and application prospects in tumor treatment.…”

Red light-triggerable nanohybrids of graphene oxide, gold nanoparticles and thermo-responsive polymers for combined photothermia and drug release effects

“…17–20 Since hyperthermia enhances the anticancer activity of Cur, 21 photothermal nanosystems are interesting Cur delivery systems. 22…”

“…[17][18][19][20] Since hyperthermia enhances the anticancer activity of Cur, 21 photothermal nanosystems are interesting Cur delivery systems. 22 Two-component nanohybrid composites that integrate the properties of GO with nanoparticles or organic molecules were widely reported in the literature 23,24 and investigated for different applications including drug delivery, 25 NO photorelease, 26 and antibacterial 27 activity. Differently, very few examples of three-component GO-based nanosystems are present in the literature.…”

Poly(pro-curcumin) Materials Exhibit Dual Release Rates and Prolonged Antioxidant Activity as Thin Films and Self-Assembled Particles

“…Ongoing efforts have been focused on increasing the aqueous solubility of curcumin by encapsulating it in the hydrophobic cores of liposomes, − micelles, , β-cyclodextrins, − and nanoparticles. − Nanocarriers such as cellulose nanocrystals, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and polyNIPAM nanogel have also been developed featuring solubilization and triggered release of curcumin in response to heat , or pH . Physically incorporating curcumin in such delivery vehicles allows for solubilization of the drug.…”