ABSTRACT
The majority of intravenously administered molecular formulations cannot reach their maximum efficacy due to their poor stability in the circulation and their consequent short half-life. Curcumin has been shown to modulate the expression of a large number of proteins involved in tumor cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration. The in vitro results were further translated in vivo in a non-orthotopic model of brain tumor. The platforms described have been used for the treatment and imaging of solid tumors by exploiting the hyper-permeable tumor blood vessels. The enhanced permeation and retention effect, has guided the design of blood-borne spherical nanoparticles for many years. While spherical nanoparticles are synthesized through a bottom-up approach, consisting in the self-assembly of all the components or emulsion polymerization techniques. The processes by which macrophages internalize objects are many and include phagocytosis, endocytosis, and micropinocytosis.
