CHAPTER 15: Nanodrug Delivery Formulations for Curcumin Absorption

Curcumin (Curcuma Longa), a natural yellow phenolic extract of the rhizome turmeric, is a natural antioxidant that has been used for centuries in diets and traditional medicines. Curcumin has shown many pharmacological properties, for instance, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer, anti-microbial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, nephroprotective, antirheumatic, cardioprotective and antidiabetic activities in both preclinical and clinical studies. In spite of such a long list of brilliant advantages, curcumin suffers from low aqueous solubility, which has compromised the bioavailability and the biodistribution of curcumin. Nanotechnology and nanomaterials that deal with the substance in the molecular and nanometric levels can efficiently overcome these limitations. Nanomaterials can effectively isolate curcumin from aqueous media by encapsulation or entrapment into their vesicle or matrix, respectively. Various types of nanomaterials have been used not only for solubilization but also for targeted delivery of curcumin such as lipid-based, polymer-based, metal-based and protein/peptide-based nanostructures. This chapter provides an overview of nanoformulations that have been evaluated for curcumin delivery applications.