Docosahexaenoic acid–mediated, targeted and sustained brain delivery of curcumin microemulsion

Abstract

We disclose microemulsions (ME) of curcumin (CUR) with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich oil (CUR DHA ME) for targeted delivery to the brain. MEs of CUR (5 mg/mL) with and without DHA-rich oil (CUR Capmul ME) suitable for intravenous and intranasal administration exhibited negative zeta potential, globule size 66-fold(intranasal) and >21–fold (intravenous) the IC50 value in the U-87MG cell line suggests great promise of CUR DHA ME for therapy of brain cancer by both routes.

Keywords

• brain targeting
• curcumin microemulsion
• docosahexaenoic acid
• u-87 mg human glioblastoma cell line
• intranasal
• intravenous