Curcumin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for nasal administration: design, characterization, and in vivo study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Particle size distribution.

Figure 2. SEM image of NLC formulation.

Figure 3. DSC thermogram of physical mixture (A), CRM (B), and CRM-NLCs (C).

Figure 4. X-ray diffractogram of CRM (A), lyophilized powder of blank NLCs (B), and lyophilized powder of CRM-NLCs (C).

Figure 5. In vitro drug release from NLCs.

Figure 6. Microscopic images illustrate the histopathological condition of nasal mucosa after 6 h exposure to (A), negative control-simulated nasal fluid pH 6.4; (B) CRM-loaded NLC, and (C) positive control IPA.

Figure 7. In vitro cytotoxicity assay.

Table 1. Pharmacokinetic parameters following intranasal administration of CRM-loaded NLC and plain drug suspension.

Pharmacokinetic parameters	CRM-NLCs	CRM suspension
Cmax ± SD (ng/ml)	86 201 ± 8182.1	54 321 ± 2098.8
Tmax ± SD (min)	120 ± 2.801	180 ± 5.029
AUC0–48 ± SD  (ng min/ml)	53 241 082 ± 403 215.0	24 132 010 ± 90 183.4
Relative bioavailability  (%)	439 ± 9.86	–