Nanocurcumin in Oral Disease Therapy: A Review of Innovations and Future Prospects

Abstract

Curcumin exhibits strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. However, its clinical use is limited due to poor solubility, low gastrointestinal absorption, and rapid systemic metabolism. Nanocurcumin offers enhanced solubility, bioavailability, and targeted delivery through systems such as nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, and nanoemulsions. In oral health, nanocurcumin has shown significant therapeutic promise. In periodontitis models, it attenuates pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers. In radiation- and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis, randomized clinical trials report reduced lesion severity and pain scores with nanomicellar curcumin compared to placebo. Studies on oral lichen planus and aphthous ulcers have demonstrated superior symptom control and lesion resolution with nanocurcumin compared to conventional curcumin or corticosteroids. Preclinical data in oral squamous cell carcinoma reveal antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-angiogenic effects mediated through the NF-κB, STAT3, and MAPK pathways. This review explores nanoformulation strategies, their physicochemical advantages, and therapeutic outcomes across in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. It also addresses translational challenges like stability, cost, and regulatory hurdles and discusses future perspectives including personalized nanomedicine and multifunctional nanocarriers. Nanocurcumin represents a promising advancement in oral therapeutics with potential to bridge current gaps in treatment efficacy and drug delivery.