Production, Delivery, Adsorption, and Distribution of Nano-Drug

The nanotechnology has been enormously applied to drug delivery systems. Nano-scale lipid carriers consist of solid lipid nanoparticles(SLN), Nano-structured lipid carriers (NLC), and nanoemulsion, microemulsion, which are suitable for the delivery of low-bioavailable and hydrophobic drugs. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, has several activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-aging, reducing cholesterol adsorption, alleviating gastric ulcer, and inhibiting angiogenesis. Curcumin also reported to relieve rheumatalgia, muscle pains, arthritis, and to reduce the occurrence of skin cancer, and skin inflammation. The application of curcumin for the therapeutics of skin diseases is very potential by using the topic transdermal route. In addition, the characteristics of lipophilic and low water solubility of curcumin are very suitable for the lipid-based delivery system. The nano-scale size of lipid-curcumin complex (nano-curcumin) can be retained on the stratum corneum and dermis and can be slowly released by the depot effects. This project is aimed at increasing the bioavailability of curcumin by optimizing the important compositions such as chemical enhancers, surfactants, cosurfactants, and oils by using the statistical design method. The optimization target is to find stable and uniform lipid-based carriers with controlled transdermal release properties. In the first year, the physicochemical property of nano-curcumin will be characterized and the cytotoxicity will be analyzed. In the second year, the in vitro and in vivo transdermal delivery and toxicity of nano-curcumin will be characterized and analyzed by using the murine models. In the third year, the in vivo anti-skin cancer effects of nano-curcumin will be evaluated by using the murine models. The aims of this three-year study include: 1. the nano-scale formulation development for nano-curcumin 2. the physicochemical properties of nano-lipid carriers, 3. the in vitro release mathematical models of different nano-curcumins, 4. mechanism and efficiency analysis of the delivery systems by the transdermal route, 5. the topic and transdermal effects of curcumin in murine skin cancer models.

Project ID:PB9907-12658
External Project ID:NSC99-2628-E182-002