Macrophage targeted polymeric curcumin nanoparticles limit intracellular survival of through induction of autophagy and augment anti-TB activity of isoniazid in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance in tuberculosis has left us with limited resources to treat and manage multi drug resistant (MDR) cases of tuberculosis, prompting the development of novel therapeutics. (MTB) perturbs the host protective pathways for its survival, therefore host directed therapeutic (HDT) interventions offer an attractive alternative strategy. Curcumin (CMN), the principle curcuminoid from is known to have anti-TB activity against MDR strains of MTB in macrophages.

Intramacrophage Delivery of Dual Drug Loaded Nanoparticles for Effective Clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The escalating global burden of tuberculosis necessitates radical strategies to curb its spread. In this study, rifampicin (RIF), a first line anti-tubercular antibiotic and curcumin (CUR), a promising antimycobacterial compound were co-encapsulated in polymeric nanoparticles to achieve intramacrophage delivery and improved Mycobacterium tuberculosis clearance. The dual loaded nanoparticles revealed average size ∼400 nm, low polydispersity and zeta potential of -26.

Polymeric curcumin nanoparticles by a facile in situ method for macrophage targeted delivery.

Targeting macrophages is a promising strategy for improved therapy of intracellular infections as macrophages exhibit rapid phagocytosis of particles >200 nm. Entrapment of Curcumin (CUR) in nanocarriers could provide bioenhancement and macrophage targeting. We present a simple and facile nanoprecipitation approach for instantaneous and on-site generation of curcumin nanoparticles (ISCurNP).