Recent advances in curcumin-loaded biomimetic nanomedicines for targeted therapies

Curcumin shows excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities, but its solubility, stability, and bioavailability are poor. Nanoparticle delivery systems can be used to enhance physicochemical stability, water solubility and targeting. However, exogenous nanoparticles are easily removed by the immune system, so novel biomimetic nanomedicines delivery system with good biocompatibility, immunogenicity, and long circulation time need to be developed. This review summarizes the latest research on curcumin-loaded biomimetic nanomedicines prepared with cell membranes, extracellular vesicles, and endogenous proteins from animal cells, or prepared with extracellular vesicles from plants. The review aims to provide a theoretical basis for the development of biomimetic delivery systems from plants. With the study of the pharmacological properties of curcumin, more and more biomimetic materials have been applied and modified. Biomimetic nanoparticles show the advantages of reducing immunogenicity, increasing biocompatibility and targeting. The different classes of biomimetic nanoparticles have special advantages, and even more need to be combined to improve the development and utilization of curcumin.