Abstract:

Objective To improve the water solubility, circulation time in vivo and anti-tumor effect of the curcumin. Methods Degradable methoxypolyethylene glycolspolylactide (mPEG-PLA) with various molecular weights was synthesized as the carrier and stabilizer for preparing the curcumin nanoparticles. The polymer was characterized and the encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, distribution of size, micromorphology, in vitro release behaviors, pharmacokinetics, and anti-tumor effect of the curcumin nanoparticle were studied. Results The encapsulation efficiency was 95%; the drug loading was 17%; the mean particle size was 98 nm; and the distribution was even. Spherical particles were observed under transmission electron microscope. The in vitro release effect was satisfactory, but the differences of release behaviors of nanoparticles with carriers of different molecular weights were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared to the pure curcumin, the area under the curve (AUC) of the curcumin nanoparticle increased significantly and the maximum inhibiting rate towards the tumor was 68.7%. The differences of body weights of mice of the control group and test group were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion The release effect of curcumin nanoparticles is satisfactory both in vitro and in vivo and the inhibiting rate towards the tumor is high. No advert reactions are found.

Key words: curcumin, methoxypolyethylene glycols-polylactide, nanoparticle, tumor