Nanocurcumin: Potential natural alkaloid against oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Oral cancer has high mortality and morbidity. The traditional treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is often a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Curcumin is a natural alkaloid used for centuries against various ailments including cancer. Nanotechnology has its profound application in the diagnosis/prognosis and for therapeutics in cancer. In therapeutics, nanotechnology can convey site-specific delivery of pharmaceutical agents by conferring new properties to the agents and only targeting the drugs to the tumor site, thus reducing systemic toxicity. The encapsulation of curcumin into polymeric nanoparticles seems to be beneficial, since it allows the administration of curcumin hydrophobic drug as an aqueous dispersion. Curcumin reports to inhibit cell proliferation and apoptosis in head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma and suppresses OSCC cell growth. Most research studies conducted have focused on the anticancer properties of bulk curcumin and its application in adjuvant therapy. The challenge that bulk curcumin poses in terms of its limited uptake and permeability into tissues cannot be ruled out. The possible efficacy of nanocurcumin its effects on OSCC cell line has not been explored adequately. This study aims to review and assess the efficacy of nanocurcumin and its potential as a natural alkaloid against OSCC.