Curcumin-loaded PEG-functionalized carbon nanotubes: a novel strategy for Alzheimer's management.

IF 3 Q2 PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY

Therapeutic delivery Pub Date : 2025-06-04 DOI:10.1080/20415990.2025.2513213

Shrutee Pawar, Vasanti Suvarna

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Aims: Curcumin (CUR) exhibits strong therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's disease due to its antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-amyloid effects. However, its clinical application is limited by poor brain bioavailability. This study aimed to enhance CUR delivery to the brain via nasal administration using a novel formulation of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-functionalized carboxylated (COOH) Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT).

Materials and methods: CUR-loaded MWCNT-COOH-PEG was developed and optimized using a 3² factorial design. The system was characterized for entrapment efficiency, particle size, zeta potential, and in vitro release. Neuroprotective efficacy was assessed through apoptosis inhibition in PC12 cells, and CUR concentration in the brain was measured post-nasal administration.

Results: The formulation achieved an entrapment efficiency of 91.4 ± 0.8%, a zeta potential of -31.1 ± 1.05 mV, and a particle size of 310 ± 7.92 nm. In vitro release was 95.42 ± 0.0004% at pH 5.5 and 89.98 ± 0.0039% at pH 7.4. CUR at 18.75 µg/mL inhibited apoptosis in PC12 cells after 24 h. Higher brain CUR concentrations were observed 4 h post-administration.

Conclusion: CUR-loaded MWCNT-COOH-PEG effectively enhances brain bioavailability of CUR, demonstrating significant neuroprotective effects, and offers a promising approach for Alzheimer's therapy.

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姜黄素负载peg功能化碳纳米管：阿尔茨海默病管理的新策略。

目的：姜黄素（CUR）具有抗氧化、神经保护、抗炎和抗淀粉样蛋白作用，对阿尔茨海默病具有很强的治疗潜力。然而，其临床应用受到脑生物利用度差的限制。本研究旨在利用聚乙二醇（PEG）功能化羧基化（COOH）多壁碳纳米管（MWCNT）的新配方，通过鼻腔给药增强CUR对大脑的递送。材料和方法：采用32因子设计开发并优化了cu负载的MWCNT-COOH-PEG。对该体系的包封效率、粒径、zeta电位和体外释放度进行了表征。通过抑制PC12细胞凋亡来评估神经保护效果，并测量经鼻给药后脑内CUR浓度。结果：该配方的包封效率为91.4±0.8%，zeta电位为-31.1±1.05 mV，粒径为310±7.92 nm。体外释放度在pH 5.5为95.42±0.0004%，在pH 7.4为89.98±0.0039%。18.75µg/mL的CUR在24 h后抑制PC12细胞的凋亡，给药后4 h观察到更高的脑CUR浓度。结论：载CUR的MWCNT-COOH-PEG可有效提高CUR的脑生物利用度，显示出显著的神经保护作用，为阿尔茨海默病的治疗提供了一条有前景的途径。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Therapeutic delivery PHARMACOLOGY & PHARMACY-

CiteScore

5.50

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Delivering therapeutics in a way that is right for the patient - safe, painless, reliable, targeted, efficient and cost effective - is the fundamental aim of scientists working in this area. Correspondingly, this evolving field has already yielded a diversity of delivery methods, including injectors, controlled release formulations, drug eluting implants and transdermal patches. Rapid technological advances and the desire to improve the efficacy and safety profile of existing medications by specific targeting to the site of action, combined with the drive to improve patient compliance, continue to fuel rapid research progress. Furthermore, the emergence of cell-based therapeutics and biopharmaceuticals such as proteins, peptides and nucleotides presents scientists with new and exciting challenges for the application of therapeutic delivery science and technology. Successful delivery strategies increasingly rely upon collaboration across a diversity of fields, including biology, chemistry, pharmacology, nanotechnology, physiology, materials science and engineering. Therapeutic Delivery recognizes the importance of this diverse research platform and encourages the publication of articles that reflect the highly interdisciplinary nature of the field. In a highly competitive industry, Therapeutic Delivery provides the busy researcher with a forum for the rapid publication of original research and critical reviews of all the latest relevant and significant developments, and focuses on how the technological, pharmacological, clinical and physiological aspects come together to successfully deliver modern therapeutics to patients. The journal delivers this essential information in concise, at-a-glance article formats that are readily accessible to the full spectrum of therapeutic delivery researchers.