Radioprotective activity of curcumin-encapsulated liposomes against genotoxicity caused by Gamma Cobalt-60 irradiation in human blood cells

Abstract

Purpose: While the radioprotective activity of curcumin against genotoxicity has been well established, its poor oral bioavailability has limited its successful clinical applications. Nanoscale formulations, including liposomes, have been demonstrated to improve curcumin bioavailability. The objective of the present work was (1) to prepare and characterize curcumin-encapsulated liposomes (i.e. size, colloidal stability, encapsulation efficiency, and payload), and (2) subsequently to evaluate their radioprotective activity against genotoxicity in human blood cells caused by Gamma Cobalt-60 irradiation.

Materials and methods: The curcumin-encapsulated liposomes were prepared by lipid-film hydration method using commercial phosphatidylcholine (i.e. Phospholipon^® 90G). The blood cells were obtained from healthy male donors (n = 3) under an approved ethics protocol. The cell uptake and the radioprotective activity of the curcumin-encapsulated liposomes were characterized by fluorescence microscopy and micronucleus assay, respectively.

Results: Nanoscale curcumin-encapsulated liposomes exhibiting good physical characteristics and successful uptake by the human blood cells were successfully prepared. The radioprotective activity of the curcumin-encapsulated liposomes was found to be dependent on the curcumin concentration, where an optimal concentration existed (i.e. 30 μg/mL) independent of the irradiation dose, above which the radioprotective activity had become stagnant (i.e. no more reduction in the micronuclei frequency).

Conclusions: The present results established for the first time the radioprotective activity of curcumin-encapsulated liposomes in human blood cells, which coupled by its well-established bioavailability, boded well for its potential application as a nanoscale delivery system of other radioprotective phytochemicals.

Keywords:

• Radioprotective agents
• radioprotective phytochemicals
• curcumin liposomes
• ionizing radiation

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge the research funding from the Nuclear Research Institute (Dalat City, Vietnam) and to thank Quang-Tuan Che for his contributions to the experimental works.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Notes on contributors

Dr. Minh-Hiep Nguyen is currently the Deputy Director of Radiation Technology Center at the Nuclear Research Institute in Dalat City (Vietnam). He earned his PhD from Korea University (South Korea) after which he completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore.

Dr. Ngoc-Duy Pham is currently the Director of the Biotechnology Center at the Nuclear Research Institute in Dalat City (Vietnam).

Bingxue Dong is currently a third-year PhD candidate in the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at NTU (Singapore).

Dr. Thi-Huynh-Nga Nguyen is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Dalat University in Dalat City (Vietnam).

Dr. Chi-Bao Bui is currently a Professor and the Head of Neuroscience lab in the Center for Biomolecular Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). His research interests are in the cancer biology and translational skin biology.

Dr. Kunn Hadinoto is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at NTU (Singapore). He earned his PhD from Purdue University and his research focus is on the development of novel drug delivery systems.