Promoting the effects of curcumin toxicity on different cancer cell lines by developing the β-cyclodextrin-curcumin inclusion complex

Curcumin (CUR) is a hydrophobic polyphenol compound and possesses a wide range of biological applications including cancer therapy. However, its prominent application in cancer treatment is limited due to poor solubility and bioavailability. Cyclodextrins (CDs) as natural nanocapsules are comprised of glucose units. One of the characteristics of them are created complex with hydrophobic guest molecules in nanopores. In this study, in order to improve the solubility, bioavailability and efficacy of CUR, we have prepared β-cyclodextrin-curcumin (β-CD-CUR) inclusion complexes and its effect on cancer and normal cells was examined.

In this study, first β-CD-CUR complexes were prepared using freeze-drying method and formation of these complexes were characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy. The encapsulation efficiency of CUR in β-CD was calculated for each concentration. After investigating the release of CUR from β-CD at different temperatures, therapeutic effects of β-CD-CUR inclusion complexes for cancer and normal cell lines were evaluated by MTT assay.

The CUR encapsulation efficiency in β-CD was 33.92 ± 1.32%. Fluorescence spectroscopic studies confirmed formation of stable inclusion complex. The results also showed that CUR release from β-CD was higher in thermal conditions of cancer cells (42 ° C) than in normal cells and ambient temperatures. The results of MTT assay showed that encapsulated CUR in β-CD had a significant inhibitory effect on proliferation of cancer cells compared to free CUR.

results provided acceptable evidence for cell proliferation inhibition of β-CD-CUR complexes on cancer cells.  There were no adverse effects detected for normal cells.