IN VITRO DELIVERY OF CURCUMIN WITH CHOLESTEROL-BASED CATIONIC LIPOSOMES¹

© 2013 N. Apiratikul^a,2 , T. Penglong^b,2, K. Suksen^c, S. Svasti^b, A. Chairoungdua^c,d, B. Yingyongnarongkul^a,3

³Tel.: +66 2 3190931; fax: +66 2 3191900; e-mail: boonek@ru.ac.th

^aDepartment of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240, Thailand;
^bThalassemia Research Center, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand;
^cDepartment of Physiology and Research Center of Transport Proteins for Medical Innovation, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Received September 12, 2012; in final form November 9, 2012

Abstract. A new cholesterol-based cationic lipid was synthesized; liposomes prepared on its basis were evaluated as drug delivery vehicles for curcumin. Free and liposome-encapsulated curcumin cytotoxicity against HeLa, A549, HepG2, K562 and 1301 cell lines was assessed. Liposomal curcumin with ED₅₀ values ranging from 2.5-10 μM exhibited 2-8 times higher cytotoxicity than free curcumin. The synthetic cholesterol-based cationic lipid also enhanced cellular uptake of curcumin into tested cells. Cationic liposome alone showed low cytotoxicity at high doses with ED₅₀ values of 90-210 μM.

Keywords: cationic lipids, cholesterol-based, liposome, curcumin, drug delivery, cytotoxicity

¹The article is published in the original.
²These authors contributed equally to this work.

Биоорг.химия 2013, 39 (4): 497-503