DES/O microemulsion for solubilizing and delivering curcumin via the nasal administration to treat acute asthma

As a natural small molecule drug derived from turmeric, curcumin is known for its good biosafety and a range of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective effects. Even though, its insolubility in water and instability severely limit its bioavailability and clinical applications. The present study developed a deep eutectic solvent (DES) in oil microemulsion (DES/O-ME) system loaded with Cur for intranasal administration, aiming to enhance both the solubility and permeability of Cur to significantly increase its bioavailability. The project first constructed and screened the optimal choline chloride-based DES. Subsequently, the DES/O-ME system was prepared and optimized to achieve uniform particle size and stability using a pseudo-ternary phase diagram and electrical conductivity measurements. The resulting DES/O-ME system was thoroughly evaluated for its solubilization efficacy, permeability, mucosal cytotoxicity, and stability. Additionally, the therapeutic efficacy of the Cur-DES/O-ME was assessed in vivo using a murine model of allergic asthma. This comprehensive evaluation highlights the potential of the DES/O-ME system as a promising intranasal drug delivery platform to overcome the limitations of curcumin’s bioavailability and clinical application.