Dimethylcurcumin liposomes: preparation, modification, and in vitro antitumor effect.

AbstractDimethylcurcumin (DMC) is a derivative of curcumin. Studies have shown that DMC can enhance the degradation of androgen receptors (AR), thereby inhibiting AR-related diseases. However, the extremely poor water solubility and fast metabolism in vivo of DMC greatly limit its clinical applications. In the present study, liposomes loaded with DMC were prepared by an improved membrane hydration method. The formulation was modified to obtain DMC-liposomes with particle size between 110 and 150 nm, moderate encapsulation efficiency, and good freeze-drying stability. In vitro release studies showed that DMC-liposomes displayed sustained drug release. Cellular uptake studies showed that cellular uptake of DMC-liposomes was enhanced compared to free DMC. Compared with free DMC, DMC-liposomes were more toxic to 22Rv1 and HepG2 cells in vitro. These results suggest that DMC-liposomes are a promising DMC formulation for anticancer DMC delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]