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Review
. 2023 Jul 25;9(8):596.
doi: 10.3390/gels9080596.

Enhancing Therapeutic Efficacy of Curcumin: Advances in Delivery Systems and Clinical Applications

Hossein Omidian  1 , Renae L Wilson  1 , Sumana Dey Chowdhury  1
Affiliations
Review

Enhancing Therapeutic Efficacy of Curcumin: Advances in Delivery Systems and Clinical Applications

Hossein Omidian et al. Gels. .

Abstract

Curcumin, a potent active compound found in turmeric and Curcuma xanthorrhiza oil, possesses a wide range of therapeutic properties, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing activities. However, its clinical effectiveness is hindered by its low bioavailability and rapid elimination from the body. To overcome these limitations, researchers have explored innovative delivery systems for curcumin. Some promising approaches include solid lipid nanoparticles, nanomicelle gels, and transdermal formulations for topical drug delivery. In the field of dentistry, curcumin gels have shown effectiveness against oral disorders and periodontal diseases. Moreover, Pickering emulsions and floating in situ gelling systems have been developed to target gastrointestinal health. Furthermore, curcumin-based systems have demonstrated potential in wound healing and ocular medicine. In addition to its therapeutic applications, curcumin also finds use as a food dye, contraception aid, corrosion-resistant coating, and environmentally friendly stain. This paper primarily focuses on the development of gel compositions of curcumin to address the challenges associated with its clinical use.

Keywords: curcumin gel formulations; gastrointestinal bioavailability; ocular inserts; periodontal therapy; transdermal delivery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors partly used OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model. The authors reviewed, revised, and edited the document for accuracy and take full responsibility for the content of this publication. The authors used Bing AI image creator to draw the graphical abstract.

Figures

Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Chemical structure of curcumin, diferuloylmethane [1].
Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Cryo-TEM images of niosomes (a) empty, (b) loaded with curcumin, and (c) loaded with curcumin and gentamicin (Curc/GS co-loaded); (B) Curc-GS niosomal thermosensitive in situ gel at 35 °C and at ambient temperature; (C) in vitro release profiles of curcumin and gentamicin sulfate from selected Curc/GS co-loaded niosomes and from hybrid niosomal in situ gel [65].
Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Cryo-TEM images of niosomes (a) empty, (b) loaded with curcumin, and (c) loaded with curcumin and gentamicin (Curc/GS co-loaded); (B) Curc-GS niosomal thermosensitive in situ gel at 35 °C and at ambient temperature; (C) in vitro release profiles of curcumin and gentamicin sulfate from selected Curc/GS co-loaded niosomes and from hybrid niosomal in situ gel [65].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pure isolated bacterial colonies of P. gingivalis after (A) 7 days and (B) 10 days on Columbia agar plate; (C) agar-formed media cultured from the tube with the MIC of curcumin showing no P. gingivalis growth [92].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Stages of burn wound healing potential study of curcumin-loaded novel self-assembled nanogels gel–core hyaluosome (Curc-GC-HS) compared to conventional transfersomal gel (Curc-T-Pl gel) and other conventional gels Curc–HA gel, Curc in pluronic gel (Curc–Pl gel), gel-core hyaluosome (GC-HS), and HA gel. Adapted with permission [47].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Image of curcumin in situ gelling polymeric solid insert into the inferior conjunctival cul de sac of rabbit eye, transformed from solid to gel for enhancing ocular performance [52].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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