In search for alternatives to conventional toxic chemotherapy, research on natural therapeutics have gained momentum due to their potential anti-cancer properties and less toxicity to normal body cells. Emerging from this interest is the curcumin flavonoid, a favourable compound responsible for the orange colour pigment of the turmeric spice. With the beneficial aspects of curcumin against cancer discussed throughout the literature, partial focus has turned towards its effects against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most lethal brain cancer. While the delivery of therapeutic xenobiotics to the brain poses challenges through the blood-brain barrier, it is now becoming achievable using nanoparticles. Typically ranging from 1-500nm, nanoparticles can be designed to target the required physiological location. Furthermore, we hypothesise that curcumin’s overall anti-cancer effects against GBM may even be enhanced through this nanoparticle technology.
The anti-cancer efficacy of curcumin to reduce GBM cell viability was assessed in vitro, with the nanoparticle’s ability to enhance these effects also briefly investigated. Utilising 2D and 3D cellular models, curcumin’s anti-cancer effects were demonstrated. Results indicate that curcumin acts to reduce GBM cell (C6, T98G) viability while also being able to reduce cellular migration and invasion, demonstrated through the clonogenic and wound-scratch assays. Furthermore, curcumin was seen to effect both underlying molecular pathways and cell cycle progression. While promising, the doses required to achieve these results are high comparable to the currently clinically used treatments, adding credence to the use of nanoparticle technology. Meanwhile, the curcumin conjugated nanoparticles have shown promising results regarding reduced doses for the treatment of 3D GBM spheroid models. This suggests that nanocurcumin exhibits beneficial anti-cancer effects against GBM and that its conjugation with nanoparticles should be further explored to find out the exact mechanism to selective anti-cancer properties.