Enhancing curcumin bioaccessibility through different nanoformulations

Abstract

[Excerpt] Introduction: Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic phytochemical, is known for its wide range of biological activities, however it has an extremely low water solubility as well as a low bioavailability, which limit its application as a bioactive ingredient in food. The use of delivery systems at nanoscale such as nanoemulsions (NE) and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) has been reported as a promising mean of improving the lipophilic bioactive compounds’ bioavailability and their physical and chemical stability. However, the knowledge of the behaviour of different nanoformulations as well as the fate of bioactive compounds encapsulated within them in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is of utmost importance to either assess their safety for human consumption and to produce tailored delivery systems (i.e. with optimized bioactivity). The aim of this work was the evaluation of the behaviour of two different bio-based nanoformulations (NE and SLN) incorporating curcumin when submitted to an in vitro digestion and the assessment of their cytotoxicity. [...]