Curcumin nanocochleates: Use of design of experiments, solid state characterization, in vitro apoptosis and cytotoxicity against breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Aim of the present investigation is to develop a curcumin loaded nanocochleates (CU-NC) from the preformed nanoliposomes (CU-NL) using a design of experiments. Plackett-Burman screening design (PBD) was implemented to investigate the effects of formulation and process variables on particle size (Y-1) and Entrapment Efficiency (Y-2). Stirring speed (X-5), amount of phospholipid (X-4) and cholesterol (X-8) were identified as significant (P < 0.05) factors, which were further optimized using Box-Behnken design (BBD). Optimized CU-NC showed particle size, Entrapment efficiency and zeta potential of 204.14 nm, 84.21 +/- 1.91 and - 8.20 mV respectively. Curcumin was partially crystalline and amorphous form in Cu-NL and CU-NC respectively, X-ray diffraction and thermal study revealed. CU-NC retarded drug release up to 24 h and followed Higuchi release kinetic model. Noteworthy CU-NC showed 45.77 and 85.81% reduction in breast cancer MCF-7 cells viability than CU-NL and curcumin dispersion respectively. CU-NC treated cells showed nuclear condensation, and nuclear fragmentation of cells and the apoptotic bodies when observed using cell permeable nucleic acid stain. Statistical design of experiments can be used to formulate the CU-NC at the optimized conditions showing the desired constraints for particle size and entrapment efficiency with better anticancer potential.