Cheng K, Zhang F, Bao Y, Xu Z, Kong H, Yuan D, Zheng Z, Zhao YD, Xia J (2026) Curcumin coacervates for supramolecular-interaction-responsive cytosolic siRNA delivery to enhance pyroptosis. Theranostics 16(6):2705-2720. doi: 10.7150/thno.121865 PMID: 41510156
Objective: To demonstrate that curcumin, the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, forms phase-separated fluorescent coacervates when diluted from a concentrated organic-solvent solution into an aqueous solution.
Summary: Curcumin coacervate droplets were used to encapsulate and transport various biomacromolecules proteins and nucleic acids across the plasma membrane into the cell. Supramolecular interaction between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and curcumin disassembles curcumin coacervates, leading to cargo release in the cytosol. The authors demonstrate d tumor-targeted delivery of caspase 8 siRNA for cancer treatment in animal models, showing the potential of the curcumin/siRNA formulation as a new strategy for cancer treatment and the importance of using the β-CD–curcumin supramolecular interaction to induce enhanced pyroptosis.
Usage: BALB/c mice were subcutaneously inoculated with CT26 cells and treated with Cur/Sap+β-CD. All droplets were injected through the tail vein, and β-CD was injected with intratumor.
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