title: A cost-effective method to prepare curcumin nanosuspensions with enhanced oral bioavailability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nanosuspension is one of the most promising strategies to improve the oral bioavailability of insoluble drugs. The existing techniques applied to produce nanosuspensions are classified as "bottom-up" or "top-down" methods, or a combination of both. Curcumin (CUR), a Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) class IV substance, is a promising drug candidate in view of its good bioactivity, but its use is limited due to its poor solubility and permeability. In the present study, CUR nanosuspensions were developed to enhance CUR oral bioavailability using a cost-effective method different from conventional techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The physicochemical properties of CUR nanosuspensions were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystalline state of CUR in different nanosuspensions analyzed using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and X-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD) confirmed its amorphous state. In vitro dissolution degree of the prepared CUR nanosuspensions using TPGS or Brij78 as stabilizer was greatly increased. Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that the oral bioavailability of CUR was increased 3.18 and 3.7 times after administration of CUR/TPGS nanosuspensions or CUR/Brij78 nanosuspensions, when compared with the administration of CUR suspension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CUR nanosuspensions produced by our cost-effective method could improve its oral bioavailability. In addition, the low-cost and time-saving method reported here is highly suitable for a fast and inexpensive preparation.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, No. 9 West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, PR China. Electronic address: wyutong0703@163.com.
authors.forename: Yutong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, No. 9 West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, PR China. Electronic address: 835553485@qq.com.
authors.forename: Changyuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, No. 9 West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, PR China. Electronic address: 790713952@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, No. 9 West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, PR China.
authors.forename: Yanfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, No. 9 West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, PR China. Electronic address: lilei0304@dmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004355:Drug Stability; D008297:Male; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000191:economics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013535:Suspensions; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013535:Suspensions; D014810:Vitamin E; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C043444:octadecyl polyoxyethylene ether; D003474:Curcumin; C014225:tocophersolan
keywords: Bioavailability; CO(2); Curcumin; Nanosuspension