Curcumin-based nanoformulation as a potential treatment for peripheral neuropathies

Curcumin, a natural polyphenol of rhizome Curcuma longa, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, partly through the modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Peripheral neuropathies are highly prevalent disorders, affecting approximately 2-3% of the general population and up to 24% of individuals over 55 years of age, and still effective therapies remain limited. Based on our experience evaluating regenerative strategies in experimental models of peripheral nerve injury, we propose a curcumin-based nanoformulation as an alternative neuroregenerative approach. Considering the poor solubility and bioavailability of curcumin in biological fluids, curcumin-loaded poly lactic co-glycolic acild (PLGA) nanocapsules were synthetized and characterized by DLS, NMR and IR. To assess the potential regenerative effects of curcumin, scratch assays were performed in primary dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cultures. The formulation containing 0.5 mg/mL curcumin in chloroform yielded homogeneous PLGA nanocapsules with an encapsulation efficiency of approximately 80%. Preliminary results from the scratch assay suggest that this formulation may promote wound closure in DRG cultures. These findings support the development of curcumin-based nanoformulations as promising therapeutic approaches for peripheral neuropathies, potentially combining neuroregenerative, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects to improve clinical outcomes.