Title:Curcumin Nanoemulsions Stabilized with Modified Phosphatidylcholine on Skin Carcinogenesis Protocol
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
Author(s): Beatriz Agame-Lagunes, Monserrat Alegria-Rivadeneyra, Rodolfo Quintana-Castro, Cristobal Torres-Palacios, Peter Grube-Pagola, Cynthia Cano-Sarmiento, Rebeca Garcia-Varela, Alfonso Alexander-Aguilera*Hugo Sergio García*
Affiliation:
- Universidad Veracruzana, Facultad de Bioanalisis, Iturbide S/N, Col. Centro, Veracruz, Ver. 91700,Mexico
- UNIDA, Tecnologico Nacional de Mexico/Instituto Tecnologico de Veracruz. Calz. Miguel Angel de Quevedo 2779, Veracruz, Ver. 91897,Mexico
Keywords:
Curcumin, nano-emulsions, skin carcinogenesis, modified lecithin, medium-chain fatty acids, gene expression, histology.
Abstract:
Background: Cancer is one of the main causes of death by disease; several alternative treatments have
been developed to counteract this condition. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma
longa, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties; however, it has low water solubility and poor
intestinal absorption. Carrier systems, such as nanoemulsions, can increase the bioavailability of lipophilic bioactive
compounds.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of curcumin nanoemulsions prepared with lecithin modified with medium-chain
fatty acids as an emulsifier, on the expression of the Cdk4, Ccne2, Casp8 and Cldn4 genes involved in the carcinogenesis
process in K14E6 transgenic mice.
Methods: The emulsifier was prepared by interesterification of medium-chain fatty acids, pure lecithin, and immobilized
phospholipase-1 on Duolite A568. An Ultraturrax homogenizer and a Branson Ultrasonic processor were used
for the preparation of nano-emulsions, and a Zetasizer evaluated the particle size. qRT-PCR analysis was performed
to quantify the cancer-related genes expressed in the K14E6 mice. The development and evolution of skin carcinogenesis
were assessed through histological analysis to compare cell morphology.
Results: Ca 59% of the MCFA were incorporated via esterification into the PC within 12 hours of the reaction. An
emulsifier yield used to formulate the NE of 86% was achieved. Nanoemulsions with a particle size of 44 nm were
obtained. The curcumin nano-emulsion group had a 91.81% decrease in the tumorigenesis index and a reduction in
tumor area of 89.95% compared to the sick group. Histological analysis showed that the group administered with free
curcumin developed a microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma, as opposed to the group with nanoemulsion which
presented only a slight inflammation. In gene expression, only a significant difference in Cdk4 was observed in the
nanoemulsion group.
