Song Jihyeon, Kim Jun Yeong, You Gayeon, Kang Yoon Young, Yang Jiwon, Mok Hyejung
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029 Korea.
Biotechnol Bioprocess Eng. 2022;27(2):163-170. doi: 10.1007/s12257-021-0198-7. Epub 2022 May 2.
In this study, nanocomplexes composed of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) derived from the root of the licorice plant () were formulated for the delivery of curcumin (CUR). Sonication of amphiphilic GA solution with hydrophobic CUR resulted in the production of nanosized complexes with a size of 164.8 ± 51.7 nm, which greatly enhanced the solubility of CUR in aqueous solution. A majority of the CURs were released from these GA/ CUR nanocomplexes within 12 h. GA/CUR nanocomplexes exhibited excellent intracellular uptake in human breast cancer cells (Michigan cancer foundation-7/multi-drug resistant cells), indicating enhanced anti-cancer effects compared to that of free CUR. In addition, GA/CUR nanocomplexes demonstrated high intracellular uptake into macrophages (RAW264.7 cells), consequently reducing the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α. Furthermore, GA/CUR nanocomplexes successfully reduced the levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and splenomegaly in a rheumatoid arthritis model.
在本研究中，制备了由甘草植物根部提取的甘草酸（GA）组成的纳米复合物，用于递送姜黄素（CUR）。将两亲性GA溶液与疏水性CUR进行超声处理，得到了尺寸为164.8±51.7nm的纳米级复合物，这极大地提高了CUR在水溶液中的溶解度。大部分CUR在12小时内从这些GA/CUR纳米复合物中释放出来。GA/CUR纳米复合物在人乳腺癌细胞（密歇根癌症基金会-7/多药耐药细胞）中表现出优异的细胞内摄取能力，表明与游离CUR相比具有增强的抗癌效果。此外，GA/CUR纳米复合物在巨噬细胞（RAW264.7细胞）中表现出较高的细胞内摄取，从而减少了促炎细胞因子肿瘤坏死因子-α的释放。此外，GA/CUR纳米复合物在类风湿性关节炎模型中成功降低了血清促炎细胞因子水平和脾肿大。
