ABSTRACT
Neurodegenerative diseases are disabling chronic disorders characterized by the progressive loss of neurons in different areas of the central nervous system. Neurodegenerative disorders are caused by multiple factors, such as the accumulation of misfolded proteins, the depletion of endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the deficiency of neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuro-inflammation, as well as various genetic mutations. This chapter summarizes the in vitro and the in vivo evaluations of curcumin, which are linked to multiple risk factors and the multi-target mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, and discuss the reported clinical investigations of varying efficacy in humans. It highlights the variety of amphiphilic curcumin-loaded nanocarriers including liposomes, liquid crystalline nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, micelles, and polymeric nanoparticles as potential nanomedicine formulations in regeneration therapies of the major neurological disorders. Polymeric nanoparticles of a biocompatible and biodegradable nature are of essential interest as drug delivery nanocarriers.
