Novel formulation strategies for enhancing curcuminoid bioavailability: Nanoencapsulation, complexation, and co-administration approaches

Leading pharmacologists have long argued that curcumin's therapeutic promise is undermined by its poor oral bioavailability, yet few comparative evaluations of formulation strategies exist. This research compared nanoencapsulation (PLGA and chitosan nanoparticles), phospholipid complexation, cyclodextrin inclusion, and piperine co-administration for their ability to improve curcuminoid solubility, dissolution, and simulated absorption. PLGA nanoparticles achieved the highest performance, with a 9.2-fold increase in area under the curve (AUC) and 93.8% cumulative release at 24 hours compared to 43.1% for free curcumin. Piperine co-administration provided a modest 4.2-fold AUC increase. Particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency were characterized for all nanoformulations. These findings rank nanoencapsulation as the most effective strategy for overcoming curcumin's bioavailability limitations.