Evaluation of the target effect of folic acid conjugated nano curcumin system on cells highly expressed folate receptors.

Abstract

Nano curcumin (n-Cur) is a phytopolyphenol extracted from turmeric (Curcuma longa), which has been shown to improve the solubility and limitations of curcumin (Cur) but failed to produce target specificity. In this study, the authors proved that the addition of folic acid to the n-Cur (n-Cur-Fl) helps Cur to achieve a specific target towards folate-receptor-expressing cells through the Boyden chamber assay of high folate receptors (inflammatory or cancer cells). Results showed that n-Cur-Fl increased the ability to target specifically to inflammatory cells (RAW264.7 induced by lypopopisacharide) or cancer cells (Hela) highly expressing folate receptors, up to 70 or 30 times more than conventional n-Cur, respectively. While the authors could not see this ability in A549 cells, which did not express high folate receptors. These molecular data indicated the potential of using n-Cur-Fl to improve the blocking of inflammation by Cur targeting the inflammatory region specifically.