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. 2024;19(12):1069-1085.
doi: 10.2217/nnm-2024-0008. Epub 2024 Apr 25.

Curcumin nanogel and its efficacy against oxidative stress and inflammation in rat models of ischemic stroke

Gulrana Khuwaja  1 , Sivakumar S Moni  2 , Mohammad Firoz Alam  3 , Hafiz A Makeen  4 , Sarvat Zafar  5 , Mohammad Ashafaq  3 , Hasan Alhazmi  1   6 , Asim Najmi  1 , Shabihul Fatma Sayed  7 , Syed Mohammad Shakeel Iqubal  8
Affiliations

Curcumin nanogel and its efficacy against oxidative stress and inflammation in rat models of ischemic stroke

Gulrana Khuwaja et al. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2024.

Abstract

Aim: The study was designed to develop and analyze curcumin nanoparticles. Methods: Curcumin nanoparticles were formulated and evaluated. Their efficacy in protecting against brain damage was investigated in a rat model of ischemic stroke, considering motor function, muscle strength and antioxidant enzyme activity. Results: Curcumin nanoparticles displayed a zeta potential of -55 ± 13.5 mV and an average particle size of 51.40 ± 21.70 nm. In ischemic stroke rat models, curcumin nanoparticle treatment significantly improved motor functions, and muscle strength and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes like glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase and catalase, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Conclusion: Curcumin nanoparticles showed significant neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke models.

Keywords: DLS analysis; curcumin nanoparticles; gelation technique; morphological analysis; neuroprotective effects; oxidative stress.

Plain language summary

[Box: see text].

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Possible reaction between tripolyphosphate and curcumin.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Physical characterization of curcumin nanoparticles. (A) Zeta potential analysis of injectable curcumin nanoparticles. (B) Size distribution analysis of injectable curcumin nanoparticles. (C) Statistical distribution analysis of injectable curcumin nanoparticles. St Dev: Standard deviation.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Morphological analysis of curcumin nanoparticles. (A) Scanning electron micrograph of curcumin nanoparticle (CNP) at ×20,000 magnification. (B) Scanning electron micrograph of CNP at ×30,000 magnification. (C) Scanning electron micrograph of CNP at ×50,000 magnification. μm, represented in the figures as um.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Morphological analysis of curcumin nanoparticles. (A) Transmission electron micrograph of curcumin nanoparticle (CNP) at ×20,000 magnification. (B) Transmission electron micrograph of CNP at ×30,000 magnification. (C) Transmission electron micrograph of CNP at ×50,000 magnification.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Behavior analysis of rats. (A) Analysis via Rota test. (B) Analysis via Grip test. Values are expressed as mean ± standard error of eight animals. highly significant at ****p < 0.001; significant at **p < 0.01; ns at p > 0.05. CNP: Curcumin nanoparticle; MCAO: Middle cerebral artery occlusion; ns: Nonsignificant.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Lipid peroxidation levels in treatment groups in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. (A) Hippocampus. (B) Frontal cortex. Values are expressed as mean ± standard error of eight animals. Significant at ****p < 0.01; ns: *p > 0.05. CNP: Curcumin nanoparticle; MCAO: Middle cerebral artery occlusion; ns: Nonsignificant; TBARS: Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Glutathione levels in treatment groups in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Values are expressed as mean ± standard error of eight animals. Significant at *p < 0.05; Significant at **p < 0.01. CNP: Curcumin nanoparticle.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
GST levels in treatment groups. (A) Effect of curcumin nanoparticles in the treatment group. (B) GST levels in treatment groups in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Values are expressed as mean ± standard error of eight animals. Highly significant at ****p < 0.01; ns at p > 0.05. NC is the representation of CNP. CNP: Curcumin nanoparticle; MCAO: Middle cerebral artery occlusion; ns: Nonsignificant.
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