Curcumin-Loaded Lipid Cubic Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles: Preparation, Optimization, Physicochemical Properties and Oral Absorption.

Abstract In order to improve the oral absorption of curcumin, curcumin-loaded lipid cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles were prepared and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The hot and high-pressure homogenization method was used to prepare the nanoparticles. The formulation and process were optimized by uniform design with drug loading and entrapment efficiency as index, and physicochemical properties were also investigated. Spherical nanoparticles were observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM), with average particle size of 176.1 nm, zeta potential of -25.19 mV, average drug loading of (1.5 ± 0.2)% and entrapment efficiency of (95 ± 1.8)%. The in vitro release of curcumin from the nanoparticle formulation showed a sustained property, while the pharmacokinetics results after oral administration of curcumin loaded lipid cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles in rat showed that the oral absorption of curcumin fitted one-compartment model and relative bioavailability was 395.56% when compared to crude curcumin. It can be concluded from these results that the lipid cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles, as carriers, can markedly improve the oral absorption of curcumin.