Curcumin nanoemulsion: A novel strategy to increase bioavailability and enhance anticancer effects

Curcumin, the major polyphenolic constituent of turmeric, has attracted considerable attention due to its anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Despite its potent bioactivities, its practical and clinical applications remain limited because of poor aqueous solubility, rapid metabolic degradation, and low bioavailability. In recent years, curcumin nanoemulsions have emerged as an advanced delivery system capable of improving chemical stability, enhancing cellular uptake, and increasing its therapeutic efficacy. This review first discusses the chemical structure, biological characteristics, and anticancer potential of curcumin. It then critically evaluates the advantages, experimental findings, comparisons with other nano-delivery systems, and current limitations of curcumin nanoemulsions. A wide range of nanotechnology-based strategies have emerged with the aim of enhancing the solubility, stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery of curcumin. A diverse set of nanocarrier platforms, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, inorganic nanocarriers, dendrimers, and cyclodextrin-containing complexes, have shown promising results in preclinical and early clinical evaluations. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive perspective on the applications of curcumin nanoemulsions, along with their technological and translational challenges.