Abstract

Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound derived from Curcuma longa, exhibits potent anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. However, its poor aqueous solubility and extensive first-pass metabolism limit its oral bioavailability. This study explores the formulation of curcumin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) to overcome these limitations. NLCs were prepared via high-shear homogenization and ultrasonication using glyceryl monostearate as solid lipid, oleic acid as liquid lipid, and Tween 80 as surfactant. The formulations were optimized based on particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency. Characterization included dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In vitro drug release followed biphasic kinetics, while in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in Wistar rats showed a 6.8-fold increase in oral bioavailability of curcumin from NLCs compared to suspension. This study confirms the potential of NLCs as an effective oral delivery system for poorly soluble phytochemicals.