Enhancing Curcumin Oral Bioavailability Through Nanoformulations.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of formulation strategies without systematic search methodology or original human data
PubMed 30771095 · doi:10.1007/s13318-019-00545-z
What was done
This narrative review synthesizes formulation approaches designed to overcome the pharmacokinetic limitations of oral curcumin, including poor aqueous solubility, low permeability, P-glycoprotein efflux, and rapid metabolism. The review surveys conventional delivery systems (cyclodextrin complexes, solid dispersions, solid self-emulsifying systems) and details nano-based strategies, including nanosuspensions, lipid-based nanoparticles (liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions), polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers, phytosomes, and inorganic nanoparticles.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical findings, effect sizes, or quantitative pharmacokinetic comparisons (such as changes in maximum concentration or area under the curve). It provides a qualitative overview describing the mechanisms and potential advantages of various nanosystem platforms for improving curcumin absorption and targeted delivery.
Why it matters
Curcumin has shown extensive therapeutic potential in preclinical studies, but negligible oral bioavailability severely limits its clinical translation. Evaluating nano-based carrier systems identifies engineering routes to enhance systemic exposure and stability.
Limits
The publication is a non-systematic narrative review providing no search criteria, study counts, sample sizes, or risk of bias assessments. The abstract presents no quantitative pharmacokinetic metrics or human clinical trial data, relying primarily on theoretical and preclinical drug-delivery models.
Cited by
- context Phytosomal delivery improves the bioavailability of curcumin by slowing its rapid hepatic clearance and metabolism.