Abstract

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that curcumin (Cur) has anti-plasmodial activity; however, its weak bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and limited chemical stability have restricted its application in clinical usages. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are a type of Drug-Delivery Systems (DDSs) whose core matrix is composed of both solid and liquid lipids. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to prepare and characterize curcumin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (Cur-NLC) for malaria treatment. METHODS: For producing NLC, coconut oil and cetyl palmitate were selected as a liquid and solid lipid, respectively. In order to prepare the Cur-NLC, the microemulsion method was applied. General toxicity assay on Artemia salina as well as hemocompatibility was investigated. Anti-plasmodial activity was studied on mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. RESULTS: The NLCs mean particle size and Polydispersity Index (PI) were 145 nm and 0.3, respectively. Further, the zeta potential of the Cur-NLC was -25 mV. The NLCs indicated a pseudo-spherical shape observed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The loading capacity and encapsulation efficacy of the obtained Cur-NLC were 3.1 +/- 0.015% and 74 +/- 3.32%, respectively. In vitro, Cur release profiles showed a sustained-release pattern up to 5 days in the synthesized Cur-NLC. The results of in vivo antiplasmodial activity against P. berghei revealed that antimalarial activity of Cur-NLC was significantly higher compared with that of free Cur at the dose of 40 mg/kg/day. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that NLC would be used as a potential nanocarrier for the treatment of malaria.