Abstract
Curcumin is considered a potential anti-asthmatic agent owing to its anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of the present study was to prepare curcumin-containing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-based microscale discoidal polymeric particles (Cur-PLGA-DPPs) and evaluate their anti-asthmatic properties using a murine asthma model. Cur-PLGA-DPPs were prepared using a top-down fabrication method. The prepared Cur-PLGA-DPPs had a mean particle size of 2.5 ± 0.4 μm and a zeta potential value of −34.6 ± 4.8 mV. Ex vivo biodistribution results showed that the Cur-PLGA-DPPs mainly accumulated in the lungs and liver after intravenous injection. Treatment with Cur-PLGA-DPPs effectively suppressed the infiltration of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and reduced bronchial wall thickening and goblet-cell hyperplasia compared to those in the phosphate-buffered-saline-treated control group. No significant changes in hematology and blood biochemistry parameters were observed after treatment with Cur-PLGA-DPPs. At equal curcumin concentrations, treatment with Cur-PLGA-DPPs exhibited better therapeutic efficacy than treatment with free curcumin. Our results suggest that the microscale Cur-PLGA-DPPs can be potentially used as a lung-targeted asthma therapy.
Highlights
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs that is characterized by reversible airway obstruction, airway hyper-responsiveness, and airway inflammation [1,2]
We found that 3 μm curcumin-containing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-discoidal polymeric particles (DPPs) reduce inflammatory cell infiltration, bronchiolar wall thickening, and goblet-cell hyperplasia in a dose-dependent manner in the lungs of mice with OVA-challenged asthma
Microscale Cur-PLGA-DPPs were designed as a polymeric vehicle of curcumin to enhance in vivo efficacy
Summary
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs that is characterized by reversible airway obstruction, airway hyper-responsiveness, and airway inflammation [1,2]. Chronic inflammation of the airways typically results in the activation and infiltration of inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, mast cells, macrophages/monocytes, neutrophils, and T lymphocytes [3]. Asthma is most commonly treated with corticosteroids, which suppress the production of inflammatory mediators and prevents the recruitment or activation of inflammatory cells [5]. Despite the excellent therapeutic effects of corticosteroids, their practical application is limited owing to considerable local and systemic side effects associated with long-term use. These side effects include dysphonia, reflex cough, bronchospasm, suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, reduced bone mineral density, skin thinning and bruising, osteoporosis, growth retardation, cataracts, glaucoma, and Cushing’s syndrome [6,7]
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