Design, Optimization, and Evaluation of a Functionalized Mesoporous Nanoparticle System Loaded with Curcumin for Oral Cancer Therapy

A mesoporous silica-based nanoparticulate drug delivery system encapsulating curcumin was designed to enhance the targeted delivery of the therapeutic agent to tumor tissues in oral cancer. The drug was entrapped within functionalized mesoporous material, MCM 41, by solvent evaporation technique, and folic acid was used as a targeting agent. The optimization of the prepared formulation was done employing a statistical approach, i.e., Box Behnken Design. The physicochemical properties of the prepared nanoparticulate, including the drug, mesoporous material, and other excipients, were thoroughly evaluated employing a range of analytical methods. The influence of functionalized mesoporous MCM 41 nanoparticles on curcumin bioavailability was checked by an In-vivo study performed using an animal model. The drug entrapment capacity was found to be 85%, with a considerable enhancement of bioavailability. The functionalization of MCM 41 mesoporous material led to the sustained release of the medicament in all tested conditions. Curcumin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles with active targeting agent folic acid were found to be adequate for active targeting of drugs to tumor tissues of oral cancer.