Effects of micellar media on the bioavailability, solubility, and stability of curcumin

Abstract

Curcumin (CUR), a polyphenolic pigment of turmeric, -possess biological and medicinal properties. Regardless of having a wide range of therapeutic applications, CUR’s poor bioavailability, owing to its meagre solubility and stability, limits its application from being used as a promising drug. Several surfactants (nonionic, anionic, and cationic) have been tried to overcome the limitations of CUR. Studies suggest that the incorporation of CUR in micellar media plays a significant role in improving the solubility and stability of CUR. The choice of surfactant depends on the critical micelle concentration and the degree to which the CUR partitions into the micelles. Further, CUR-surfactant interactions can be brought about by various techniques, viz., microencapsulation, solid dispersion, and nanoemulsions. This article focuses on the influence of the micellar media on the stability, solubility, and bioavailability of CUR, along with the different methodologies used to prepare CUR-surfactant systems. Moreover, the medicinal applications of CUR-loaded surfactant systems are also briefly discussed.