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Curcumin Nanoparticles Attenuate Production of Pro-inflammatory Markers in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Macrophages

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ABSTRACT

Purpose

The surface charge of nanoparticles is an important factor that controls efficiency and cellular uptake. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of curcumin nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) with different surface charges, in terms of toxicity, internalization, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities towards alveolar macrophages cells.

Methods

The surface charge of curcumin nanoparticles (positive, negative and neutral), with an average diameter of 30 nm, were synthesized and characterized. Polyvinyl-alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone and dextran were used as coatings to confer negative, positive and neutral charges. The synthesized Cur-NPs were evaluated for particle size, encapsulation efficiency, surface charge, qualitative and quantitative cellular uptakes, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Results

Positively charged nanoparticles showed higher cytotoxicity effects compared to negative and neutral particles. The same trend was observed in antioxidant activity, which included radical scavenging and nitric oxide production. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activity (interleukin-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) depleted in the order: positive>negative>neutral. The void neutral-, positively- and negatively-charged nanoparticles did not show any cytotoxic effects.

Conclusion

The difference in activity for different surface charges of Cur-NPs may be due to the internalization rate of the particles by alveolar macrophages. Intracellular uptake measurements demonstrated that Cur-NPs with positive surface charges possessed the strongest interaction with alveolar macrophages.

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Abbreviations

CLSM:

Confocal laser scanning microscope

CUR:

Curcumin

DAPI:

4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole

DMSO:

Dimethyl sulfoxide

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DPPH:

1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl

FBS:

Fetal bovine serum

HDAC2:

Histone deacetylase-2

IL-17:

Interleukin-17

IL-1β:

Interleukin-1beta

IL-6:

Interleukin-6

IL-8:

Interleukin-8

iNOS:

Induciblcbve nitric oxide synthase

L-NAME:

L-nitro-arginine methyl ester

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

MCP-1:

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1

MIP-1α:

Monocyte inflammatory protein-1

MTS:

3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolim

Mw :

Molecular weight

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor kappa B

NO:

Nitric oxide

NPs:

Nanoparticles

PBS:

Phosphate buffer saline

PDI:

Polydispersity index

PLGA:

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid

PVA:

Polyvinyl alcohol

PVP:

Polyvinylpyrrolidone

TEM:

Transmission electron microscope

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor alpha

VP:

Void particles

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DISCLOSURES

WH Lee is the recipient of Cancer Institute New South Wales (CINSW) Early Career Fellowship. PM Young is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (project number FT110100996). D Traini is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (project number FT12010063). The authors are grateful to Dr Lyn Moir for her assistance in conducting flow cytometry analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Respiratory Technology, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research and Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2037, Australia

    Wing-Hin Lee, Ching-Yee Loo, Paul M. Young & Daniela Traini

  2. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Ramin Rohanizadeh

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  1. Wing-Hin Lee
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  2. Ching-Yee Loo
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Correspondence to Daniela Traini.

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Lee, WH., Loo, CY., Young, P.M. et al. Curcumin Nanoparticles Attenuate Production of Pro-inflammatory Markers in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Macrophages. Pharm Res 33, 315–327 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-015-1789-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-015-1789-9

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