Preparation and characterization of curcumin thermosensitive hydrogels for intratumoral injection treatment.
OBJECTIVE
This paper describes the development and optimization of curcumin thermosensitive hydrogels (CTH), a kind of gel injection for intratumoral injection treatment.


METHODS
Aimed at increasing the content and stability of effective components, an optimal formulation of CTH was chosen based on the results from orthogonal tests and the optimal pH was determined by stability test. To investigate the hydrogels drug release in vitro, residence time by RP-HPLC and therapeutic effects on ascitic hepatocarcinoma cell strain with high metastasis potential in lymphatic system (HCA-F) solid tumors in mice.


RESULTS
The selected optimal formulation of CTH was: 0.2% curcumin, 20% poloxamer 407, 4% poloxamer 188, 8% polyethylene glycol 400, 12% 1,2-propanediol and pH was 6.0. The drug release determined by RP-HPLC fit to the Higuchi model. The residence time of CTH was longer than the curcumin suspensions. Intratumoral injection of the CTH can effectively inhibit the growth of HCA-F solid tumors in mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The CTH prepared in this test demonstrates proper gel temperature and viscosity. It improves the solubility of curcumin with a relatively long period of drug release in vitro and residence time. Intratumoral injection of the CTH can effectively inhibit the growth of HCA-F solid tumors in mice.
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy .
Meng
M
Gao
Hong
H
Xu
Chenghong
C
Zhang
Kexin
K
Liu
Xu
X
Bao
Qiuchen
Q
Chu
Yan
Y
He
Yan
Y
Tian
D000818:Animals; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D056148:Chromatography, Reverse-Phase; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D065546:Drug Liberation; D004355:Drug Stability; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity
D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D020442:Poloxamer; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D003474:Curcumin
Curcumin; HCA-F solid tumors; intratumoral injection; thermosensitive hydrogels