Stable curcumin-loaded polymeric micellar formulation for enhancing cellular uptake and cytotoxicity to FLT3 overexpressing EoL-1 leukemic cells

  • Singkome Tima
  • , Songyot Anuchapreeda
  • , Chadarat Ampasavate
  • , Cory Berkland
  • , Siriporn Okonogi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study aims to develop a stable polymeric micellar formulation of curcumin (CM) with improved solubility and stability, and that is suitable for clinical applications in leukemia patients. CM-loaded polymeric micelles (CM-micelles) were prepared using poloxamers. The chemical structure of the polymers influenced micellar properties. The best formulation of CM-micelles, namely CM-P407, was obtained from poloxamer 407 at drug to polymer ratio of 1:30 and rehydrated with phosphate buffer solution pH 7.4. CM-P407 exhibited the smallest size of 30.3 ± 1.3 nm and highest entrapment efficiency of 88.4 ± 4.1%. When stored at −80 °C for 60 days, CM-P407 retained high protection of CM and had no significant size change. In comparison with CM solution in dimethyl sulfoxide (CM-DMSO), CM kinetic degradation in both formulations followed a pseudo-first-order reaction, but the half-life of CM in CM-P407 was approx. 200 times longer than in CM-DMSO. Regarding the activity against FLT3 overexpressing EoL-1 leukemic cells, CM-P407 showed higher cytotoxicity than CM-DMSO. Moreover, intracellular uptake to leukemic cells of CM-P407 was 2–3 times greater than that of CM-DMSO. These promising results for CM-P407 will be further investigated in rodents and in clinical studies for leukemia treatment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)57-68
Number of pages12
JournalEuropean Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics
Volume114
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2017

Keywords

  • Block copolymeric micelles
  • Cellular uptake
  • Curcumin
  • FLT3
  • Leukemia
  • Poloxamer 407
  • Stability

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Stable curcumin-loaded polymeric micellar formulation for enhancing cellular uptake and cytotoxicity to FLT3 overexpressing EoL-1 leukemic cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this