We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

LabMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News Expo Clinical Chem. Molecular Diagnostics Hematology Immunology Microbiology Pathology Technology Industry Focus

Orally Delivered Curcumin-Loaded Microparticles Effectively Treat Mouse Model of Ulcerative Colitis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 29 Sep 2015
Print article
Image: Endoscopic image of a bowel section known as the sigmoid colon afflicted with ulcerative colitis. The internal surface of the colon is blotchy and broken in places (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).
Image: Endoscopic image of a bowel section known as the sigmoid colon afflicted with ulcerative colitis. The internal surface of the colon is blotchy and broken in places (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).
Microparticles (MPs) loaded with the efficient anti-inflammatory agent curcumin were found to effectively treat a mouse model of ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic relapsing disease associated with uncontrolled inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. It is a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and often affects the innermost mucosa of the intestine. The goal for ulcerative colitis therapy is to control inflammation, heal the mucosa, and reduce the need for surgery and hospitalization.

In the current study, investigators at Georgia State University (Atlanta, USA) used an emulsion-solvent evaporation method to fabricate MPs from pH-sensitive Evonik (Essen, Germany) Eudragit S100 and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA). Eudragit S100 is composed of anionic copolymers based on methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate that forms effective and stable enteric coatings with a fast dissolution in the upper bowel. PLGA is a copolymer used in a variety of [US] Food and Drug Administration approved therapeutic devices, owing to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. The MPs were loaded with curcumin (an efficient anti-inflammatory agent). As of June 2015, there were 116 clinical trials evaluating the possible anti-disease effect of curcumin in humans, as registered with the [US] National Institutes of Health, including studies on cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, cognitive disorders, and psychiatric conditions.

The spherical MPs that were produced had a desirable particle size ranging from 1.52 to 1.91 microns. Their loading efficiency could be regulated by changing the weight ratios of Eudragit S100 and PLGA, with some MPs exhibiting loading efficiencies over 80%. The fast release of curcumin from MPs in buffers (pH 1.2 and 6.8) could be significantly decreased by increasing the PLGA content. Eudragit 100/PLGA MPs with a weight ratio of 1:2 (MPs-4) were able to maintain sustained release of curcumin, releasing approximately 48% of the initial drug load at pH 7.2–7.4 during a 20 hour-incubation.

Results of in vivo experiments published in the August 1, 2015, online edition of the journal Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces revealed that orally administered MPs-4 had a superior therapeutic efficiency in alleviating colitis in an ulcerative colitis mouse model, compared to free curcumin.

"Orally administered microparticles may offer an efficient drug delivery system because they are characterized by a high drug loading capacity and may target colitis tissues based on abnormalities," said senior author Dr. Didier Merlin, professor of biomedical sciences at Georgia State University.

Related Links:

Georgia State University
Evonik


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Magnetic Bead Separation Modules
MAG and HEATMAG
POCT Fluorescent Immunoassay Analyzer
FIA Go
Gold Member
ADAMTS-13 Protease Activity Test
ATS-13 Activity Assay

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The 3D printed miniature ionizer is a key component of a mass spectrometer (Photo courtesy of MIT)

3D Printed Point-Of-Care Mass Spectrometer Outperforms State-Of-The-Art Models

Mass spectrometry is a precise technique for identifying the chemical components of a sample and has significant potential for monitoring chronic illness health states, such as measuring hormone levels... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The CAPILLARYS 3 DBS devices have received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance (Photo courtesy of Sebia)

Next Generation Instrument Screens for Hemoglobin Disorders in Newborns

Hemoglobinopathies, the most widespread inherited conditions globally, affect about 7% of the population as carriers, with 2.7% of newborns being born with these conditions. The spectrum of clinical manifestations... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The AI predictive model identifies the most potent cancer killing immune cells for use in immunotherapies (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

AI Predicts Tumor-Killing Cells with High Accuracy

Cellular immunotherapy involves extracting immune cells from a patient's tumor, potentially enhancing their cancer-fighting capabilities through engineering, and then expanding and reintroducing them into the body.... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The T-SPOT.TB test is now paired with the Auto-Pure 2400 liquid handling platform for accurate TB testing (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Integrated Solution Ushers New Era of Automated Tuberculosis Testing

Tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for 1.3 million deaths every year, positioning it as one of the top killers globally due to a single infectious agent. In 2022, around 10.6 million people were diagnosed... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The new AI tool can help beat brain tumors (Photo courtesy of Crystal Light/Shutterstock)

New AI Tool Classifies Brain Tumors More Quickly and Accurately

Precision in diagnosing and categorizing tumors is essential for delivering effective treatment to patients. Currently, the gold standard for identifying various types of brain tumors involves DNA methylation-based... Read more