Anti‐microbial activity of curcumin nanoformulations: New trends and future perspectives

• Published in: Phytotherapy research Vol. 34; no. 8; pp. 1926 - 1946
• Main Authors: Sharifi, Simin, Fathi, Nazanin, Memar, Mohammad Yousef, Hosseiniyan Khatibi, Seyed Mahdi, Khalilov, Rovshan, Negahdari, Ramin, Zununi Vahed, Sepideh, Maleki Dizaj, Solmaz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.08.2020; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: anti‐bacterial activity; Bioavailability; Biological activity; Curcumin; Derivatives; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Emulsions; Hydrogels; In vivo methods and tests; Infectious diseases; Lipids; Metabolism; Micelles; Microbial activity; Microorganisms; Nanocomposites; Nanoemulsions; Nanofibers; nanoformulation; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Permeability; Pharmaceuticals; Photodegradation; Polymer films; Quantum dots; Side effects; Solubility; anti-bacterial activity; nanoformulation; curcumin
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6658

Curcumin has been used in numerous anti‐microbial research because of its low side effects and extensive traditional applications. Despite having a wide range of effects, the intrinsic physicochemical characteristics such as low bioavailability, poor water solubility, photodegradation, chemical instability, short half‐life and fast metabolism of curcumin derivatives limit their pharmaceutical importance. To overcome these drawbacks and improve the therapeutic ability of curcuminoids, novel approaches have been attempted recently. Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems can increase the efficiency of curcumin in several diseases, especially infectious diseases. These innovative strategies include polymeric nanoparticles, hydrogels, nanoemulsion, nanocomposite, nanofibers, liposome, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), polymeric micelles, quantum dots, polymeric blend films and nanomaterial‐based combination of curcumin with other anti‐bacterial agents. Integration of curcumin in these delivery systems has displayed to improve their solubility, bioavailability, transmembrane permeability, prolong plasma half‐life, long‐term stability, target‐specific delivery and upgraded the therapeutic effects. In this review paper, a range of in vitro and in vivo studies have been critically discussed to explore the therapeutic viability and pharmaceutical significance of the nano‐formulated delivery systems to elevate the anti‐bacterial activities of curcumin and its derivatives.