A novel delivery of curcumin by the efficient nanoliposomal approach against Leishmania major

Abstract

Several side effects and drug resistance accompany the current therapies for Leishmaniasis. Nanoliposomal curcumin is applied as a new therapy approach instead of current therapy. In this study, nanoliposomal curcumin was prepared using thin-film hydration method and characterized based on encapsulation efficiency, size, and zeta potential. Curcumin was successfully loaded into nanoliposomes with an encapsulation efficiency of 92%. The surface charge of the nanoparticle was neutral, and the size of nanoparticle was 176.5 nm. Nanoliposomal curcumin is in spherical shape without any agglomeration. Cell viability assay was performed on HFF cell line to show biocompatibility of liposome nanoparticles. Anti-Leishmanial effect of different concentrations of liposomal curcumin (0.05–30 μg mL⁻¹) and amphotericin B (25 μg mL⁻¹) were studied on Leishmania major [MRHO/IR/75/ER] at various hours (24, 48, and 72) using hemocytometer technique. Nanoliposomal curcumin inhibitory concentration (IC50) at hours 24, 48, and 72 were 6.41, 3.8, and 2.33 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. As prepared nanoliposomal curcumin showed a significant antileishmanial effect and induced a better and more tangible effect on the survival of L. major promastigotes and could be suitable candidates for further investigations.

Keywords:

• Curcumin
• drug delivery; in vitro
• Leishmania
• nanoliposome

Acknowledgments

This article is the result of the thesis No. 4781 approved by the School of Medicine, Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. The authors of this article acknowledge their gratitude to Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences for its cooperation and financial support as well as colleagues who assisted us in the experimental procedure, especially Mrs Marziyeh Beigum Modares Sanavi, Mrs Nadernejad, and Mrs Zahra Esmaili.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This research received a specific grant based on a thesis submitted No. 4781 in the School of Medicine, Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.